Rashid Khan became the first player to claim 700 T20 international wickets, taking a 700th victim in a bizarre hit-wicket dismissal during Afghanistan's five-wicket win over United Arab Emirates in Delhi. The leg-spinner, who debuted in 2015, achieved the landmark with a mode of dismissal - hit wicket - that had never occurred in his previous 699 victims across 11,794 balls bowled. Afghanistan secured their first World Cup points in Group D with the victory, overcoming a shaky start where Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck. The win keeps their faint hopes alive but requires victories against New Zealand and superior net run-rate to progress.

UAE's batting struggled against Rashid's spin, finishing at 160-9. Sohaib Khan top-scored with 68 off 48 balls, including six fours and four sixes, while Alishan Sharafu added 40. Afghanistan's chase was led by Ibrahim Zadran's 53 and Azmatullah Omarzai's 40, supported by the all-round efforts of the bowler who finished with 1-24. Muhammad Arfan took 2-30 for UAE, but Rashid's 700th wicket proved the decisive moment in the 19.2-over chase.

The win provides Afghanistan with crucial momentum in their final Group D match against New Zealand, where they must also overcome a two-point deficit to potentially overtake both UAE and New Zealand on net run-rate.