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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.
Lungi Ngidi to Rashid Khan, Bye! Full and outside off, Khan swings and misses. The keeper fails to collect and they take a bye.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, Well outside off, Shah drives it to deep cover for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, Length and on off, Shah punches it to point.
- Rashid Khan 18 (9)
- Rahmat Shah 53 (66)
Keshav Maharaj to Rashid Khan, An arm ball on middle, fuller. Khan looks to punch but almost chops back onto the stumps.
Keshav Maharaj to Rashid Khan, CHANCE! An arm ball, full and on leg, Khan skips down to heave but misses and the keeper fails to grab it cleanly.
Keshav Maharaj to Rashid Khan, Tossed up on off, spins away. Khan leans to defend but misses.
Keshav Maharaj to Rashid Khan, FOUR! More runs! Flighted full and on middle, Khan sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary.
Keshav Maharaj to Rashid Khan, FOUR! Khan hits again! Short and outside off, Khan smashes it through covers and beats Tony de Zorzi's effort in the deep.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Flat and outside off, Shah slaps it to point for a single.
- Rashid Khan 10 (4)
- Rahmat Shah 52 (65)
Lungi Ngidi to Rashid Khan, FOUR! Rashid has come out swinging! Fuller and on off. He makes room and smacks it down to the long off fence for a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Rashid Khan, On middle. Kept out.
Lungi Ngidi to Rashid Khan, Beaten! Outside off. Rashid looks to drive but is beaten.
Lungi Ngidi to Rashid Khan, SIX! Off the mark in style! Shorter and outside off. This is cut over the point fence and it goes all thr way.
Lungi Ngidi to Gulbadin Naib, OUT! TAKEN! Shorter and on middle. Naib looks to pull but this goes off the splice and it is taken at mid off.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, On the stumps. On middle. This is pushed down to long off for one.
- Gulbadin Naib 13 (18)
- Rahmat Shah 51 (64)
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, Around off. Naib guides it to point.
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, On middle. Blocked.
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, Slower and outside off. This turns away. Naib looks to sweep but is beaten.
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, Around off. This is pushed to cover.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Around off. This is pushed through covers for one.
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, Outside off. This is guided through point for one.
- Rahmat Shah 50 (63)
- Gulbadin Naib 12 (13)
Marco Jansen to Rahmat Shah, Around off. Defended.
Marco Jansen to Rahmat Shah, Two! On middle. This is worked through mid-wicket for two.
Marco Jansen to Rahmat Shah, Around off. Kept out.
Marco Jansen to Gulbadin Naib, Shorter and on middle. This is pulled through square leg for one.
Marco Jansen to Gulbadin Naib, Length and outside off. Naib looks to push at it but misses.
Marco Jansen to Gulbadin Naib, Angled into the pads. Naib looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads.
- Rahmat Shah 48 (60)
- Gulbadin Naib 11 (10)
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, On middle. Kept out.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Around off. This is guided past point for one. .
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, On off. Shah punches it to cover.
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, Angled into the pads. This is worked through square leg for one.
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, Around off. This is pushed to cover.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, On middle. This is worked through square leg for one.
- Gulbadin Naib 10 (8)
- Rahmat Shah 47 (56)
Marco Jansen to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR! Pulled away! He's in fine form! Shorter and on middle. This is pulled over mid-wicket and it races away to the fence.
Marco Jansen to Gulbadin Naib, Fuller and on off. Naib drives. This goes past cover for two.
Marco Jansen to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR! Clipped away! On the pads. This is worked through square leg. This one races away to the fence.
Marco Jansen to Rahmat Shah, On middle. This is worked through square leg for one.
Marco Jansen to Rahmat Shah, On middle. Kept out.
Marco Jansen to Rahmat Shah, Two! On middle. This is worked through mid-wicket for two.
- Gulbadin Naib 0 (5)
- Rahmat Shah 44 (53)
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, On middle. This is pushed to cover.
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, On the stumps. Kept out. .
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, Angled into middle. Kept out.
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, Outside off. Naib looks to cut but misses.
Keshav Maharaj to Gulbadin Naib, Around off. Blocked.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Fuller and on off. This is pushed to mid off for one.
- Mohammad Nabi 8 (17)
- Rahmat Shah 43 (52)
Marco Jansen to Mohammad Nabi, OUT! TAKEN! Six down! The pressure was building and Nabi gave in. Jansen goes short. Not a lot of room on offer. He looks to pull but it goes off the top edge and it is taken at mid on.
Marco Jansen to Mohammad Nabi, On middle. Kept out.
Marco Jansen to Mohammad Nabi, On middle. This is pushed to cover.
Marco Jansen to Rahmat Shah, Goes shorter and on middle. This is pulled through square leg for one.
Marco Jansen to Mohammad Nabi, Shortish and on off. This a guided past point for one.
Match Statistics
Venue
National Stadium, Karachi
