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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.
That’s it from this game then! Action from the tournament continues on the 22nd and it’s a big game as Australia will be taking on England. The action begins at 9 am GMT and join us earlier for the build up. Do join us for the coverage. Till then, goodbye and take care!
Temba Bavuma says it was a clinical performance from them, it was a great decision to bat first on this pitch. It was their best performance. Mentions the wicket looked a bit different than usual but the batters did really well. Appreciate the way Ryan Rickelton played despite variable bounce early on. Feels they pride to have such a good batting line up. Reckons they'll enjoy the win but then think about the next matches.
Hashmatullah Shahidi says they were not good enough with the bat, particularly in the first 20 overs. Shares the toss was important looking at the behaviour of the pitch but credit to South Africa for the way they bowled. Admits they have the ability to fight, today they didn't play the way they wanted. Hopefully they will play well in the next matches.
Ryan Rickelton wins the PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARD for his century. He says he was a bit nervous coming into the game but happy to contribute to the team. Tells they felt the pitch will be tacky with inconsistent bounce but the batters played nicely. Mentions it was disappointing to get out in that manner, he was trying to pull the trigger in the next few overs but others did. Says he takes pride to score big runs.
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Afghanistan were just poor in this game! Their fielding was the best and nor was the bowling. The batting too surrendered. Rahmat Shah fought a lone battle but that was it, the others crumbled under pressure and in the end, they lost by a big margin.
Quite a comfortable win then for South Africa! Over 300 was always going to be tough and Afghanistan lost a lot of wickets early. They were five down even before they crossed 100. Rabada was brilliant with the ball as he got three. Ngidi and Jansen also did well and so did Maharaj and Mulder. An overall effort from South Africa.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, OUT! TAKEN! There's the end of the game! Full and outside off. Shah looks to cut but it goes off the outside edge and it is taken by the keeper.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, Shorter and on middle. Defended again.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, On off. This is pushed to cover.
- Noor Ahmad 9 (15)
- Rahmat Shah 90 (89)
Wiaan Mulder to Noor Ahmad, OUT! TIMBER! On middle. Ahmad swings across the line and misses and this hits the stumps.
Wiaan Mulder to Noor Ahmad, On middle. Kept out.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, On middle. Shah tucks it around the corner for one.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, SIX! All the way! Shorter and on middle. The pull shot is out. It goes over the square leg fence for a biggie.
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Wiaan Mulder to Noor Ahmad, Around off. This is pushed past cover for one.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Around off. This is pushed past cover for one.
- Noor Ahmad 8 (12)
- Rahmat Shah 82 (86)
Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, Around off. This is punched to cover.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, On middle. Shah tucks it around the corner for one.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, Around off. This is pushed to cover.
Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, Around off. Ahmad waits and guides it through point for one.
Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, Beaten! Length and outside off again. Ahmad slashes but misses.
Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, FOUR! Up and over! Fuller and outside off. This is lofted over cover and this gets to the fence.
- Rahmat Shah 81 (84)
- Noor Ahmad 3 (8)
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Length and outside off. Shah slashes but misses.
Wiaan Mulder to Noor Ahmad, Around off. This is guided past point for one.
Wiaan Mulder to Noor Ahmad, On the stumps. Kept out.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Outside off. This is guided past point for one.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Outside off. This is guided past point for two.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Around off. Kept out.
A bit of a halt as Rahmat Shah is feeling his hamstrings.
- Rahmat Shah 78 (80)
- Noor Ahmad 2 (6)
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Shah keeps the strike as this is punched to covers.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, On middle, Shah works it to mid-wicket.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Hat trick of boundaries! Shorter and outside off, Shah cuts it through backward point and it races away.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Lone warrior! Floated on off, Shah skips down and lofts it over extra cover for a boundary.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Flighted on middle, Shah sweeps it behind square on the leg side for a boundary.
Keshav Maharaj to Noor Ahmad, On middle, Ahmad punches it to long off for one.
- Rahmat Shah 65 (75)
- Noor Ahmad 1 (5)
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Short in length and on middle, Shah pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary. Solid shot.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Full and outside off, Shah looks to drive it away but misses.
Wiaan Mulder to Noor Ahmad, Outside off, Ahmad hits it to third man for a run.
Wiaan Mulder to Noor Ahmad, Length and outside off, Ahmad dabs it with soft hands to the keeper who collects on a bounce.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Outside off, Shah guides it to third man for a single.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Serves it short and on off, Shah thinks to pull but leaves it.
- Noor Ahmad 0 (3)
- Rahmat Shah 60 (71)
Keshav Maharaj to Noor Ahmad, On middle, Ahmad defends and survives.
Keshav Maharaj to Noor Ahmad, Fuller delivery on middle. Ahmad solidly blocks.
Keshav Maharaj to Noor Ahmad, Very full and on off, Ahmad blocks it out.
Keshav Maharaj to Rashid Khan, OUT! GONE! Entertainment over! Flat and on middle, Khan skips down to heave, miscues his shot and hits it flat to mid-wicket where Aiden Markram holds onto it. Looks impossible now.
Keshav Maharaj to Rashid Khan, Full and angling on leg, Khan fails to sweep it but misses.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Tossed up outside off, Shah skips down and swings, slices his shot to point for one.
- Rashid Khan 18 (11)
- Rahmat Shah 59 (70)
Lungi Ngidi to Rashid Khan, Angles in a length ball on middle, Khan makes room and blocks it out.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, Full and outside off, this is driven through covers for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! More runs! Hopes still alive! Short in length and on middle, Shah pulls it to deep mid-wicket in the gap for a boundary.
