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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.
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, Outside off again, Atal lets it go.
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, Bowls it well outside off, Atal shoulders arms to it.
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, Keeps it full and around off, Atal steps across and blocks it out.
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, Really tight from South Africa so far! Goes full and on off, Atal knocks it to point.
- Ibrahim Zadran 5 (9)
- Sediqullah Atal 1 (1)
Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, Length and around off, Zadran punches it to cover.
Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, Full and on middle, Zadran plays it back to the bowler.
Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, Top nut from Ngidi! A good length ball on middle, squares Zadran in half as he looks to defend, gets beaten on the inside edge and it lobs over the stumps.
Lungi Ngidi to Sediqullah Atal, Bowls it full and on middle, Atal turns it to mid-wicket for a single.
Sediqullah Atal walks in.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, OUT! Four and out! Gurbaz falls into the trap! A nice slower bumper on middle, invites Gurbaz for the pull who hits but doesn't time well. It lobs to short fine leg where Keshav Maharaj dives forward and takes it.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! First one of the chase! Short in length and on off, Gurbaz skips down and slams it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz 6 (12)
- Ibrahim Zadran 5 (6)
Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, On the pads, Gurbaz nudges it to square leg and keeps the strike.
Marco Jansen to Ibrahim Zadran, Outside off, Zadran chops it to third man for a single.
Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Narrow miss! Length and on middle, Gurbaz tucks it to square leg. Takes a sharp single. The fielder throws at the keeper's end and would have been very close had he hit.
Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Marco Jansen uses his height for the first time! Bangs it short and outside off, Gurbaz looks to pull but misses.
Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, At 135 clicks! Length ball on top of off. Gurbaz blocks it on the off side.
Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, A nagging length delivery around off, Gurbaz defends.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz 4 (7)
- Ibrahim Zadran 4 (5)
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fantastic running so far! On middle, Gurbaz softly nudges it to mid on for a run.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Swings back in a length ball on middle, Gurbaz defends.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Gurbaz steps down and nudges this length ball through square leg for a couple more.
Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, Good shot but didn't execute well! Full and shaping on the pads. Zadran flicks but gets more height. It lands safely at deep square leg. Three.
Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, South Africa bowling stump line! Good length ball on off, Zadran defends it.
Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, Lungi Ngidi starts with a length ball on middle, Ibrahim Zadran blocks on the leg side.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz 1 (4)
- Ibrahim Zadran 1 (2)
Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hard length delivery, outside off, Gurbaz chops it back to the keeper.
Marco Jansen to Ibrahim Zadran, Quick single! Length ball, around off, Ibrahim Zadran taps it in front of cover for a sharp single.
Marco Jansen to Ibrahim Zadran, A good length ball, around off, Zadran punches it to cover.
Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Gurbaz is off the mark! Fuller delivery shaping on middle, Gurbaz nudges it to mid-wicket for a single. Gurbaz is feeling some discomfort in his inner thighs as he played the ball onto his pads.
Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wide! Goes wide again, well outside off, left alone.
Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Marco Jansen brings back his line on middle and leg, this is on length. Gurbaz blocks.
Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Short in length and wide of off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz shoulders arms to it.
Back for the chase. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran to open for Afghanistan. Marco Jansen to bowl first.
...THE CHASE...
For Afghanistan, they have themselves to blame. Too many boundary balls and freebies have not helped them and also the fielding was questionable. They look like such a good team but they failed to show character on the field. They have easily given away 15-20 runs in the field. In the bowling department, apart from Nabi, everyone had a hard day at the office. Even Rashid Khan didn't look at his best. Now, Afghanistan have to show some character with the bat. It won't be easy as they are coming up against Kagiso Rabada and Co. Will it be easy? Don't think so. Will it be interesting? Definitely. Stay tuned.
That final two overs were going nicely for Afghanistan before it got ruined in the last two balls but overall it has been South Africa through and through. They chose to bat first and have done exceedingly well. Tony de Zorzi fell early on but the skipper along with Ryan Rickelton built up a fantastic partnership of 129 runs which laid the foundation for a big finish. Ryan Rickelton scored his maiden ton while the skipper fell after a fine fifty. Rassie van der Dussen hung around to score a fifty too but it was Markram's knock which made the difference in the slog overs. His innings is proving to be the pivotal point right now as it helped South Africa get over 310 mark.
- Wiaan Mulder 12 (6)
- Aiden Markram 52 (36)
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Wiaan Mulder, SIX! The last two balls, spoils the comeback Afghanistan were making. Shorter and on the body. This is pulled over the square leg fence for a biggie.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Wiaan Mulder, FOUR! Carved away! Fuller and outside off. This is drilled between point and and deep cover. Boundary results.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Aiden Markram, Just the one! Outside off. This ia driven past cover for one.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Aiden Markram, WIDE! Too wide! Outside off. Left alone.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Wiaan Mulder, Shorter and on middle. This is pulled through square leg for one.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Aiden Markram, Just brilliant! Fuller and outside off. This is jammed out to cover for one.
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Aiden Markram, That's a fabulous slower one! Outside off. Shorter. Markram looks to pull but misses.
- Aiden Markram 50 (33)
- Wiaan Mulder 1 (3)
Azmatullah Omarzai to Aiden Markram, Just the one to end! Fuller and on off. This is hit down to long off for one. That's a fine over. A momentum shifting over. Can they keep South Africa to below 310?
Azmatullah Omarzai to Wiaan Mulder, Just the 2 now. Can he end the over well now? Outside off. This is shorter and outside off. This is chopped on the off side for one.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Wiaan Mulder, Brilliant! A fuller ball. It tails back in late. Mulder jams it out. What an over so far. Just one from the first 4 balls.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Wiaan Mulder, Dots are absolute gold! Outside off. Shortish. This stays low. Mulder looks to cut but misses.
Wiaan Mulder is the new man in.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Marco Jansen, OUT! TIMBER! The leg stump goes for a walk! Angled into leg stump. Jansen looks to hit it over mid on but misses and the leg stump goes for a walk.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Aiden Markram, Shorter and angled into the body. Markram looks to cut but gets an inside edge onto the pads.
Marco Jansen comes in.
- David Miller 14 (18)
- Aiden Markram 48 (31)
Fazalhaq Farooqi to David Miller, OUT! TAKEN! That's a fine catch. That's a brilliant grab! This could make a difference of 15 to 20 runs to the final score. Miller though just couldn't get going in this game. However, this could lift the morale of the bowling side. Outside off. Miller creams it towards deep cover. The fielder runs to his right and dives to take it. Brilliant.
Match Statistics
Venue
National Stadium, Karachi
