Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan scripted history on Thursday, October 29, becoming the first bowler to claim 200 wickets in men's T20 Internationals. The milestone came during Afghanistan's second T20I against Zimbabwe at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, where the hosts secured a 19-run victory to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Rashid reached the landmark by dismissing Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter Tadiwanashe Marumani, who was trapped leg-before-wicket for two runs off five deliveries. The Afghanistan leg-spinner finished with figures of 1/29 in his four overs, maintaining control in a high-scoring contest.
The 28-year-old achieved the feat in his 120th T20I appearance, further extending his lead at the top of the format's all-time wicket-taking charts. England's Adil Rashid is second on the list with 171 wickets, while Hong Kong's Ehsan Khan and New Zealand's Ish Sodhi have taken 165 wickets each.
Afghanistan recover from early collapse to post 221
Rashid's record-breaking performance came on a day when Afghanistan staged a remarkable recovery with the bat. After losing four wickets for just five runs and slipping to 38/5, the hosts bounced back to post 221/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Azmatullah Omarzai led the recovery with a stunning 116 off 50 deliveries, while Ijaz Ahmadzai contributed 52 off 27 balls. The duo stitched together a 142-run partnership for the sixth wicket, setting a new record for the highest partnership for the sixth wicket or lower in men's T20Is.
Rashid also made a significant contribution with the bat, scoring 30 runs off just 10 deliveries, including four sixes, to help Afghanistan finish with a formidable total.
Rashid Khan continues to dominate T20I bowling charts
Zimbabwe mounted a strong response in the chase, with captain Sikandar Raza smashing 106 off 56 deliveries. However, the visitors finished at 202/5, falling 19 runs short of the target despite their captain's century.
Rashid's latest achievement adds to an already remarkable record in international cricket. He has also crossed the 200-wicket mark in men's ODIs, making him the first bowler to reach 200 wickets in both men's white-ball international formats.
The Afghanistan star had previously become the fastest bowler to reach 100 T20I wickets, achieving the milestone in 53 matches.
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