Afghanistan Vs South Africa Match Highlights
The National Stadium was filled with jubilation on February 21, 2025, when South Africa played against Afghanistan in the third match of Group B in the ICC Champions Trophy. The time was 2:00 PM local, and the coin landed in South Africa’s favor, the side often opting to field first after winning. The highly entertaining encounter that ensued over the next few hours was the quintessential display of fighting spirit, skill, and ultimately domination from the South Africans, who convincingly won by 107 runs against a brave Afghan side.
It was up to Rickelton and de Zorzi, the latter aggressive from the first ball, to set about laying the foundation of the South African innings. De Zorzi made a thrilling start, hitting 11 runs in the first over by Azmatullah Omarzai. However, he reverted to the dug-out in the fifth over, after scoring 28 runs, when Mohammad Nabi Billy Bhatia made him pay a quickfire 11 after being adjudged leg-before. Rickelton found his groove thereafter, showing his worth as a batter-keeper.
With Temba Bavuma, captain of South Africa, they fashioned a most impactful second-wicket partnership of 129 that took South Africa past 150. Bavuma pressed the accelerator, being the anchor with 58 runs off 76 balls before another wicket fell to Nabi. This time, Bavuma was caught out in the 29th over on the score board by Sediqullah Atal. Rickelton soldiered on to reach the coveted three-figure landmark after scoring an impressive 103 off 106 balls with seven fours and one six, before being run out by a mix-up with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rashid Khan.
Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram took charge, with the platform set. Van der Dussen’s 52 off 46 balls, with all the flair that accompanies any innings with aggression, was keeping the scoreboard ticking when Noor Ahmad halted the forward surge in the 43rd over, leaving South Africa at 248-4. David Miller blazed the other way and took just 14 runs from 18 balls, including a big six, but he made way for Fazalhaq Farooqi, who got him out in the 48th over.
Marco Jansen fell second ball prey to Azmatullah, but Markram was still not out on 52, off just 36 deliveries, helping South Africa post that huge 315-6 on board in 50 overs. Wiaan Mulder contributed with an unbeaten 12 from 6, adding some late flourish. Nabi (2-51) and Noor Ahmad (1-65) bowled valiantly in the innings, while the 0-59 by Rashid Khan cemented his first off day, by his lofty standards.
Chasing 316, Afghanistan needed a good start, but the pace battery of South Africa knew otherwise. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, explosive as usual, could only hit 10 off 14 when Lungi Ngidi had him caught by Keshav Maharaj in the fourth over.
Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal were trying to rebuild when Zadran succumbed to an awful spell from Kagiso Rabada and was bowled for 17 in the 10th over. Atal had an awful time and scored 16 off 32 before getting run out, and when he was out, four balls were ducked to Mulder in the 15th over; Afghanistan was now down to 50-4. Rahmat Shah then stood out, holding up a helpless, lone stand of 90 off 92 deliveries, containing nine fours, and hoped the faintest hope. Azmatullah Omarzai contributed 18 off 27 before this death-knell pace by Rabada sent him walking in the 23rd over.
The middle order crumbled as Mohammad Nabi (8 off 17) fell to Jansen and Gulbadin Naib (13 off 19) succumbed to Ngidi. Rashid Khan’s brisk 18 off 13, including a six, offered a glimmer, but Maharaj’s guile saw him caught by Markram in the 38th over. Noor Ahmad’s 9 off 15 couldn’t stem the tide, and when Mulder bowled him in the 43rd over, Afghanistan were 208-9. Rahmat’s resistance ended in the next over, caught behind off Rabada for 90, wrapping up Afghanistan’s innings at 208 in 43.3 overs. Rabada starred with 3-36, while Ngidi (2-56), Mulder (2-36), and Jansen (1-32) dismantled the batting lineup, with Maharaj’s 1-46 proving decisive.
South Africa’s 107-run triumph underscored their batting depth and bowling firepower, with Rickelton’s ton and Markram’s finishing act setting the tone, while Rabada’s spell ensured Afghanistan couldn’t mount a serious challenge. For Afghanistan, Rahmat’s 90 was a silver lining, but their inability to counter South Africa’s pace and build partnerships highlighted areas to address. As the Champions Trophy unfolds, this match at Karachi’s National Stadium will be remembered as a clinical display by a South African side firing on all cylinders.
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