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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.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Temba Bavuma, Angled into the pads. This is flicked to square leg.
- Ryan Rickelton 23 (29)
- Temba Bavuma 3 (8)
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, A dot to end! Fuller and on middle. This is worked to mid-wicket.
Mohammad Nabi to Temba Bavuma, Around off. This is pushed down to long off for one.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, Angles it into the pads. This is worked through square leg for one.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, The reverse sweep comes out. It is more off the glove. It goes down to third man for two.
Mohammad Nabi to Temba Bavuma, On middle. This is worked down to long on for one.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, Fuller and on off. This is pushed down to long off for one.
- Temba Bavuma 1 (6)
- Ryan Rickelton 19 (25)
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Temba Bavuma, Good length and on off. Bavuma defends.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Temba Bavuma, Around off. Defended. He bowls this from around the wicket.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Angled into the pads. This is tucked on the leg side for one.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Another dot! Length and on off. This is pushed to cover.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Shorter and outside off. This is chopped to point.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Back of a length and on off. Ryan pushes it to cover.
- Temba Bavuma 1 (4)
- Ryan Rickelton 18 (21)
Mohammad Nabi to Temba Bavuma, Around off. Blocked.
Mohammad Nabi to Temba Bavuma, Slower and lands it on off. Defended.
Mohammad Nabi to Temba Bavuma, Flatter and on middle. This is worked to mid-wicket.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, On middle. This comes in with the angle. Ryan looks to defend but this goes off the inner half to mid-wicket for one more.
Mohammad Nabi to Temba Bavuma, On middle. This is nudged to square leg for one. Bavuma is off the mark.
Temba Bavuma is the new man in.
Mohammad Nabi to Tony de Zorzi, OUT! TAKEN! Nabi does not take long to strike! On his first ball. A soft dismissal. Tony de Zorzi can't believe it. It is shortish and on middle. Tony goes back and mistimes his aerial attempt on the leg side. The ball flies uppishly and straight to mid on where Azmatullah Omarzai takes an easy catch. Welcome wicket for the bowling side as the runs just started to flow.
- Ryan Rickelton 17 (20)
- Tony de Zorzi 11 (10)
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Four dots to end but 8 runs off it. Tad fuller and on middle, Rickelton pushes it to mid on.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Too full and angling on middle and leg, Rickelton flicks but finds mid-wicket.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, On a length and around off, Rickelton knocks it to mid off.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Shapes it on the pads. Rickelton turns it to square leg.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! Make it 20 runs of the last six. Bowls the hard length delivery but gives width outside off. Rickelton strokes it through extra cover for a boundary.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! Runs have started to flow! 16 runs of last five balls. Dream delivery for a left hander. Short in length and outside off, Rickelton pulls it over mid-wicket for four.
- Ryan Rickelton 9 (14)
- Tony de Zorzi 11 (10)
Azmatullah Omarzai to Ryan Rickelton, THREE! Misfield and three! Angles it full and on middle, Rickelton flicks it to mid-wicket who dives over the ball and it rolls through for three runs.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Tony de Zorzi, Pitches it up on off, Tony de Zorzi pushes it to the right of mid off for a single.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Tony de Zorzi, FOUR! Evades the infield! Azmatullah Omarzai keeps it full and bowls it outside off, Tony de Zorzi leans and crunches it aerially over point for a boundary.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Tony de Zorzi, FOUR! Flicked away! First boundary for Tony! Azmatullah Omarzai serves it full and on middle, Tony de Zorzi whips it through mid-wicket for a boundary.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Tony de Zorzi, Five dots now! Touch fuller and around off, Tony de Zorzi waits and softly punches it to mid off.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Tony de Zorzi, Tony de Zorzi steps across and defends this length ball on the off side.
- Ryan Rickelton 6 (13)
- Tony de Zorzi 2 (5)
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Three dots to end! This is full and around off, Rickelton defends it out.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, A good length ball, outside off, Rickelton bends back and cuts it to point.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Very full and on middle, angles it in. Rickelton blocks it out.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Pitched up, outside off, Rickelton drives it through covers for a couple of runs.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Good length ball, around off, Rickelton presses forward and blocks.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Tony de Zorzi, Very full and on middle, shaping in. Tony de Zorzi plays it with the angle to mid-wicket for one.
- Ryan Rickelton 4 (8)
- Tony de Zorzi 1 (4)
Azmatullah Omarzai to Ryan Rickelton, Was there an edge? Did it carry? A good length ball, outside off, swings away sharply. Rickelton has a poke at it but misses and Rahmanullah Gurbaz dives to his left to grab it. No bat on it.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Ryan Rickelton, This is full and on middle, Rickelton nudges it to mid-wicket.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Tony de Zorzi, Tony de Zorzi is off the mark! Shapes away a length ball, outside off, Tony de Zorzi hangs back and drops it to cover for one.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Tony de Zorzi, Good length ball on middle, hint of shape. Tony de Zorzi nudges it to mid-wicket.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Tony de Zorzi, Bit of extra bounce, on a length and around off, Tony de Zorzi defends with the splice of the bat to point.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Tony de Zorzi, Azmatullah Omarzai serves it too full an on middle, Tony de Zorzi solidly defends it out.
Azmatullah Omarzai to bowl from the other end.
- Ryan Rickelton 4 (6)
- Tony de Zorzi 0 (0)
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Good end from Fazalhaq Farooqi! Brings the outswinger, very full and around off, Rickelton jams it out in time.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Fuller delivery on middle, Rickelton drills it down to mid on.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Better from Fazalhaq Farooqi! Good length ball, around off, Rickelton blocks it to cover.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR! South Africa are underway! Fazalhaq Farooqi pitches it up as he looks for some swing, this is around off, Rickelton punches it past mid off and it races to the fence.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Ryan Rickelton, Right on the money! Goes for the yorker right at the base of the middle pole. Rickelton digs it out on the deck.
Match Statistics
Venue
National Stadium, Karachi
