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- Afghanistan vs South Africa Cricket highlights, Champions Trophy 2025: South Africa thrash Afghanistan by 107 runs in Karachi
Afghanistan vs South Africa Cricket highlights, Champions Trophy 2025: South Africa thrash Afghanistan by 107 runs in Karachi
Rickelton cracked a 106-ball 103 with seven boundaries and a six to anchor South Africa's imposing total of 315-6 in the Group B match at the National Stadium.
South Africa's pace attack of Kagiso Rabada (3-36), Wiaan Mulder (2-36) and Lungi Ngidi (2-56) then dismissed highly-fancied Afghanistan for just 208 in 43.3 overs.
South Africa blunted the threat of Afghanistan's slow bowlers with star leg-spinner Rashid Khan going wicketless for 59 runs in his 10 overs.
Rahmat Shah top-scored for Afghanistan with a fighting 92-ball 90 with nine boundaries and a six before he was the last man out.
Chasing a formidable target, Afghanistan desperately needed a fast start but lost flamboyant openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 10 and Ibrahim Zadran for only 17 by the 10th over.
Sediqullah Atal fell for 16 while skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi went without scoring as Afghanistan were left teetering at 50-4.
Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai (18) took the score to 89 before Rabada and Marco Jansen, who got rid of Mohammad Nabi, struck to effectively end Afghanistan's hopes.
Rashid Khan briefly entertained the crowd with a quickfire 13-ball 18 including a six and three boundaries.
Earlier, Rickelton was ably assisted by skipper Temba Bavuma (58), Rassie van der Dussen (52) and Aiden Markram (52 not out) to steer South Africa to a solid total after they won the toss and batted.
Nabi, who finished with 2-51, provided an early breakthrough with his first ball by dismissing opener Tony de Zorzi, caught at mid-on for 11.
Rickelton and Bavuma then added 129 for the second wicket as Afghanistan toiled in the field.
Bavuma hit five boundaries in his 76-ball knock before he was finally caught off a short Nabi delivery to give some joy to hundreds of Afghan fans in an otherwise sparse crowd.
Rickelton, who has two Test centuries to his name but a previous best of only 91 in ODIs, completed his first white ball century with a single.
Two runs later, however, he was gone, victim of an unlucky run out.
Coming down the pitch to drive Rashid, Rickelton was forced to turn quickly and dive back into his crease as the bowler collected and fired the ball to wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Rickelton appeared to make his ground but replays showed that his bat was slightly raised so not in the crease when Gurbaz whipped off the bails.
Van der Dussen hammered two sixes and three boundaries in his 46-ball knock before falling to spinner Noor Ahmad in the 43rd over.
It was left to Markram to take South Africa past the 300-mark, clubbing six boundaries and a six in a 36-ball 52 not out that helped the Proteas to add 50 runs in the last five overs.
Australia meet England in another Group B clash in Lahore on Saturday.
Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh are in Group A. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
Noor Ahmad to Temba Bavuma, A beauty from Ahmad and Bavuma is beaten! Afghanistan appeal for caught behind and do take it upstairs. Bowls a flatter delivery, outside off and spins away. Bavuma presses across to defend but seems to miss. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was excited! UltraEdge shows a flat line. Afghanistan lose the review.
Noor Ahmad to Temba Bavuma, Ahmad keeps it full and bowls it on middle, blocked back to the bowler.
Noor Ahmad to Ryan Rickelton, Very full and outside off, Rickelton jams it out to long off for one.
Noor Ahmad to Temba Bavuma, Ahmad starts with a fuller delivery on middle, Bavuma drills it to long on for one.
- Temba Bavuma 48 (59)
- Ryan Rickelton 72 (74)
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, Tad short and on off, Bavuma plays it to long on for one more.
Gulbadin Naib to Ryan Rickelton, Angling on middle, Rickelton drills it to long on for a single.
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, Outside off, Bavuma strokes it to cover for a single.
Gulbadin Naib to Ryan Rickelton, Good length ball, outside off, Rickelton hits it through covers for a single. 100 runs together they have added.
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, Length and on off, Bavuma chops it across third man for a single.
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, FOUR! HIT AWAY! In the slot, full and on middle, Bavuma plays it straight down the ground to long on for a boundary. Super stuff from South Africa so far.
- Ryan Rickelton 70 (72)
- Temba Bavuma 41 (55)
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, Bowls it short and outside off, Rickelton cuts it through covers for a couple. Rashid Khan not able to make an impact still.
Rashid Khan to Temba Bavuma, Tossed up on off, Bavuma gets a leading edge to his punch down to long off for one.
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, Bowls the googly on the leg side, Rickelton skips down and across as he plays it to long off for one.
Rashid Khan to Temba Bavuma, On middle, Bavuma drills it to long on for a single.
Rashid Khan to Temba Bavuma, FOUR! Bavuma takes on Rashid! Floated full and on middle, slows it up but Khan slog-sweeps it well over mid-wicket for four runs.
Rashid Khan to Temba Bavuma, Flighted on middle, Bavuma nudges it to mid-wicket.
- Temba Bavuma 35 (51)
- Ryan Rickelton 67 (70)
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, Length and on top of off, Bavuma plays it to cover for a single.
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, Angles it full and on middle, Bavuma tucks it to square leg.
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, Good length ball on middle, Bavuma punches it to mid on.
Gulbadin Naib to Ryan Rickelton, Outside off, Rickelton guides it to point for a single.
Gulbadin Naib to Ryan Rickelton, Touch fuller and outside off, Rickelton looks to push but misses and it dies to the keeper.
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, Length ball, outside off, Bavuma knocks it to cover for a single.
- Ryan Rickelton 66 (68)
- Temba Bavuma 33 (47)
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, Flat and outside off, Rickelton punches it to cover.
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! Flick of the wrists! Tossed up on middle and leg, Rickelton flicks it behind square leg. Noor Ahmad dives to his right but fails to stop cleanly. It races away.
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, That's how you come back. Beauty! Flighted full and around off, spins away. Rickelton leans to defend but is beaten on the outside edge.
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, Khan bowls it full and on middle, Rickelton eases it to Khan. What has happened here? As Khan tries to pick up with his left hand, he gets hit near the wrists. Luckily, it's not his bowling arm but he looks in serious pain. The physio is out.
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, Flatter and outside off, Rickelton strokes it down to long off where Nabi dives to his left and stops.
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, Fuller and on off, Rickelton punches it to point.
- Temba Bavuma 33 (47)
- Ryan Rickelton 60 (62)
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, Two! Outside off. This is guided past point. A slight fumble will see them get two.
Gulbadin Naib to Ryan Rickelton, Fuller and on middle. This is driven down the ground. The fielder at long on, runs to his right, slides and makes a half stop. Three taken.
Gulbadin Naib to Ryan Rickelton, On middle. Defended.
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, Outside off. This is guided down to third man for one.
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, On middle. Fuller. This is driven to mid on.
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, Good length and on off. Blocked again.
- Temba Bavuma 30 (43)
- Ryan Rickelton 57 (60)
Rashid Khan to Temba Bavuma, On middle. This is worked down to long on for one.
Rashid Khan to Temba Bavuma, Fuller and on off. This is driven to cover.
Rashid Khan to Temba Bavuma, On the stumps. Blocked.
Rashid Khan to Temba Bavuma, Around off. Flatter. Kept out.
Rashid Khan to Temba Bavuma, Around off. This is guided to point.
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, On middle. This worked down to long on for one.
- Temba Bavuma 29 (38)
- Ryan Rickelton 56 (59)
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, On middle. This is pushed down to long on for one.
Gulbadin Naib to Temba Bavuma, Dot to end! A tidy over there! On middle. Bavuma keeps it out.
Gulbadin Naib to Ryan Rickelton, Angled into middle. This is pushed down to long on for one.
Gulbadin Naib to Ryan Rickelton, Fuller and on middle. This is driven down the ground to the right of long on. Two.
Gulbadin Naib to Ryan Rickelton, On middle. Kept out.
Gulbadin Naib to Ryan Rickelton, Length and on off. Defended.
- Ryan Rickelton 53 (55)
- Temba Bavuma 29 (36)
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, Outside off. This is guided to point. A slight misfield ans a run.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, On middle. This is worked with the angle down to long on.
Mohammad Nabi to Temba Bavuma, Fuller and on off. This is driven past cover for one.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, Around off. This is pushed past cover for one.
Match Statistics
Venue
National Stadium, Karachi
