Gqeberha, South Africa, February 5 (ANI): Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan surpassed West Indies legend Dwayne Bravo to become the leading wicket-taker in T20s.
Rashid achieved this feat during the Qualifier One match for the Cape Town team against Paarl Royals in Gqeberha.
During the match, Rashid took 2/34 in his four overs, getting the scalps of Dunith Wellalage and Dinesh Karthik while defending a total of 200 runs.
Rashid now has taken 633 wickets in 461 Twenty20 matches at an average of 18.07, with his best figures being 6/17. He has achieved four five-wicket hauls throughout his career.
Throughout his 18-year career in T20 cricket, Bravo has had immense success, winning numerous gold medals for the West Indies and multiple franchises. He has taken 631 wickets with an average of 24.40, his best figures being 5/23, and has achieved the milestone of taking three five-wicket hauls in a T20 career.
Additional bowlers with 500 or more wickets in Twenty20 cricket include West Indies' Sunil Narine (574 wickets in 536 matches at 21.60, best figures of 5/19), South Africa's Imran Tahir (531 wickets in 428 matches at 19.99, best figures of 5/23), and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan (492 wickets in 444 matches at 21.49, best figures of 6/6).
The Paarl Royals chose to bat first in the match.
The opening batsmen, Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen, set the stage for the big score of 199/4 with an impressive 87-run opening partnership in just 9.2 overs.
The Royals staged a mini comeback, claiming three wickets for the cost of just six runs, leaving MI Cape Town at 91/3.
However, momentum swung back in favour of the leading team with George Linde hitting three sixes in his 14-ball 26.
With the Royals struggling to maintain their discipline in handling a couple of high-bouncing deliveries that led to Dayyaan Galiem being forced out of the attack, it enabled Dewald Brevis (44 not out off 30 balls, with four sixes) and Delano Potgieter (32 not out off 17 balls, four boundaries and a six) to 74 runs in the final five overs.
The Royals got their chase off to a strong start with Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Mitchell Owen scoring 21 runs off Trent Boult's opening over.
Pretorius's cameos (15 off 6 balls, with two fours and a six) was soon ended by Kagiso Rabada.
The Royals could not gain any momentum after that, with only captain Miller managing to put up a fight with a 26-ball 45, featuring four boundaries and a six. Also, wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik scored 31 in 28 balls, including five fours.
Southeastern Cape Town enjoyed further celebrations when captain Rashid Khan surpassed West Indian legend Dwayne Bravo as the leading Twenty20 wicket-taker by dismissing Royals all-rounder Dunith Wellalage with a clean ball.
Potgieter was awarded the 'Player of the Match' honor.
MI Cape Town will progress directly to the Saturday final at the Wanderers, while the Royals will have another chance in Thursday's Qualifier 2 at Centurion.