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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.
Rashid Khan to Rassie van der Dussen, Flatter and on middle. Kept out.
Rashid Khan to Rassie van der Dussen, On the stumps. Kept out.
Rashid Khan to Aiden Markram, Flatter and on off. This is pushed down to long off for one.
Rashid Khan to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Cut away! Yet again the pressure is released. A lovely cut shot. Outside off. This is cut past point and this gets to the fence.
- Rassie van der Dussen 29 (29)
- Aiden Markram 6 (12)
Noor Ahmad to Rassie van der Dussen, Flatter and on off. Rassie cuts but to point. End of a very fine over by Noor. That will give him some confidence.
Noor Ahmad to Rassie van der Dussen, Very close! Fuller and on off. Rassie looks to sweep but misses. Goes just past the off pole. He would have loved a wicket there.
Noor Ahmad to Rassie van der Dussen, Quicker and on off. A little bit of turn into the batter. This is pushed to cover.
Noor Ahmad to Aiden Markram, Outside off. This is guided past point for one.
Noor Ahmad to Aiden Markram, Another short ball. Markram cuts it hard but straight to cover.
Noor Ahmad to Rassie van der Dussen, Flatter and outside off. Rassie looks to cut. It goes more off the top edge towards point for one.
- Rassie van der Dussen 28 (25)
- Aiden Markram 5 (10)
Rashid Khan to Rassie van der Dussen, Three taken! On middle. Rassie works it nicely wide of long on. The fielder gives it a chase and keeps it down to three. Saves a run for his side.
Rashid Khan to Aiden Markram, Fuller and on off. This is hit down to long off for one.
Rashid Khan to Aiden Markram, Two this time! Outside off. Flatter. This is guided past point for two.
Rashid Khan to Aiden Markram, That stays low! Outside off. Markram looks to cut but misses.
Rashid Khan to Rassie van der Dussen, Tossed up on off. This is swept through square leg. A single taken.
Rashid Khan to Aiden Markram, Flatter and on off. This is guided to point for one.
- Rassie van der Dussen 24 (23)
- Aiden Markram 1 (6)
Mohammad Nabi to Rassie van der Dussen, Dot to end a fine spell by Nabi! He's really been the stand out! On middle. This is worked to mid on.
Mohammad Nabi to Rassie van der Dussen, Two! Outside off. This is slapped past cover for two.
Mohammad Nabi to Aiden Markram, Flatter and on off. This is pushed to mid off. A single despite the misfield.
Mohammad Nabi to Aiden Markram, On middle. Markram works it to mid on.
Mohammad Nabi to Aiden Markram, Flatter and on middle. This is pushed back to the bowler.
Mohammad Nabi to Rassie van der Dussen, Three! Had he held onto the throw, it would have been close! On middle. The paddle scoop comes out. It is played fine on the leg side. They take two and go for three. The throw is to the keeper's end but it is not collected.
- Aiden Markram 0 (3)
- Rassie van der Dussen 19 (20)
Rashid Khan to Aiden Markram, He ends it well too! On middle. Kept out.
Rashid Khan to Aiden Markram, Flatter and on off. This is pushed to cover. That's a fine over form Rashid.
Rashid Khan to Aiden Markram, Shorter and on middle. Markram looks to pull but gets an inside edge onto the pads.
Rashid Khan to Aiden Markram, Yet another extra! Down the leg side. Wided.
Aiden Markram walks to the middle.
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, OUT! The bat is in the air! How unfortunate! How brilliant though from Rashid! Brilliant. His side needed some magic and he has provided it. On middle. Shortish as he sees Ryan come down the track. This is pushed back to the bowler who fields it and fires it onto the stumps at the other end. Gurbaz takes the bails off after collecting it. It is taken upstairs. Replays show the bat bounced just outside the crease as he looked to slide in and didn't come down in time. He falls shortly after getting to his ton. Can this be the breakthrough which gets the Afghans back in the game? A fine knock from Ryan comes to an end.
Rashid Khan to Rassie van der Dussen, Almost! On off. This turns back in. Rassie looks to flick but gets an inside edge onto the pads. It rolls to short fine leg for one.
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, Around off. This is pushed down to long off for one.
- Ryan Rickelton 102 (104)
- Rassie van der Dussen 18 (19)
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, On middle, this is punched to long on for a single.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, The slower one from Nabi which comes with the arm on middle and stays low. Rickelton swings across and edges it back on the deck. Not far away from the stumps.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, Wide! Bowls it full and over the tramline. Rickelton makes room and leaves it.
Mohammad Nabi to Rassie van der Dussen, Working in V! Gets another single as Rassie van der Dussen plays it to long on.
Mohammad Nabi to Rassie van der Dussen, Wide! Spills it well down the leg side, this is left alone.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, Bowls it full and on middle, Rickelton punches it to long on and rotates the strike.
Mohammad Nabi to Rassie van der Dussen, Fuller delivery on middle, this is knocked to mid on for one more.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, CENTURY for Rickelton! A maiden ODI hundred! What a moment for him. Tossed up on middle, Rickelton eases it to long off for a single. Rickelton could change the gears now.
- Rassie van der Dussen 16 (17)
- Ryan Rickelton 99 (100)
Rashid Khan to Rassie van der Dussen, Bowls the googly on middle, fuller length. Rassie van der Dussen solidly blocks.
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, Tossed up on off, Rickelton pushes it to long off and moves to 99.
Rashid Khan to Rassie van der Dussen, On middle, this is flicked to long on for one more run.
Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, The fielding has been below par so far! Full and on middle, Rickelton plays it to Khan who let's it roll through his hands for one.
Rashid Khan to Rassie van der Dussen, Bowls it slightly short and on off, this is pulled to deep mid-wicket for one.
Rashid Khan to Rassie van der Dussen, BEATEN! The skiddy length delivery, outside off, Rassie van der Dussen looks to defend but is well beaten.
- Rassie van der Dussen 14 (13)
- Ryan Rickelton 97 (98)
Mohammad Nabi to Rassie van der Dussen, Serves it full and on leg, this is clipped to square leg for a single.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, Tossed up on middle, Rickelton punches it to long off for a single.
Mohammad Nabi to Rassie van der Dussen, Too full and on middle, this is drilled to long on for one.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, Comes with an angle once again, on middle, Rickelton plays it to cover for one. On 95.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, An in-drifter full and on middle, Rickelton tucks it to mid on.
Mohammad Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, Bowls it too full and on off, Rickelton pushes it to cover.
Match Statistics
Venue
National Stadium, Karachi
