- News
- Sports News
- Cricket News
- 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 Rahmat Shah, Outside off. This is guided past point for one.
- Mohammad Nabi 7 (13)
- Rahmat Shah 41 (50)
Keshav Maharaj to Mohammad Nabi, On middle. Kept out again.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, On off. Shah pushes it to long off and takes one.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Around off. Defended.
Keshav Maharaj to Mohammad Nabi, Flatter and on off. This is pushed down to long off for one.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, On middle. This is worked through square leg for one.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Flatter and on middle. Blocked.
- Rahmat Shah 39 (46)
- Mohammad Nabi 6 (11)
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, Angled into the pads. Shah clips it past square leg and takes one.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, Two! Angled into middle. Shah flicks it down to fine leg and takes two.
Kagiso Rabada to Mohammad Nabi, Angled into the pads. Nabi clips it through square leg for one.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, Around off. This is guided past point for one.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Shorter and on the body. Shah looks to pull it goes off the glove and down to the fine leg fence.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, On middle. Kept out.
- Rahmat Shah 31 (41)
- Mohammad Nabi 5 (10)
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, On off. This is pushed down to long off for one.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Flatter and on off. This is guided to point.
Keshav Maharaj to Mohammad Nabi, Fuller and on middle. This is pushed down to long on for one.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Around off. This is pushed past cover for one.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, On the pads. Shah works it fine on the leg side and takes two.
Keshav Maharaj to Mohammad Nabi, On middle. This is pushed down to long on for one.
- Mohammad Nabi 3 (8)
- Rahmat Shah 27 (37)
Kagiso Rabada to Mohammad Nabi, Full and on the pads, Nabi tickles it behind square leg for one.
Kagiso Rabada to Mohammad Nabi, On middle, Nabi again blocks.
Kagiso Rabada to Mohammad Nabi, On a length and on middle, Nabi defends in front of him.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, Bye! Full and outside off, slower one. Shah fails to push and the keeper makes a mistake. A bye.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, Flirts with the tramline, this is outside off. Shah swings and misses.
Kagiso Rabada to Mohammad Nabi, Angles it on the pads, Nabi works it to fne leg for one. Kagiso Rabada has overstepped. Free hit coming up. Will this break shackles?
Kagiso Rabada to Mohammad Nabi, Length ball on middle, nips in. Nabi solidly blocks it.
- Rahmat Shah 27 (35)
- Mohammad Nabi 1 (3)
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Tossed up on middle, Shah blocks.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Hit hard! Well outside off, Shah slashes it and it races through point for a boundary. No chance for the fielder. Welcome boundary.
Keshav Maharaj to Mohammad Nabi, Flat and outside off, Nabi cuts it to point for a single.
Keshav Maharaj to Mohammad Nabi, An arm ball on the slower side. Nabi prods and blocks.
Keshav Maharaj to Mohammad Nabi, Flighted outside off, Nabi leans and looks to drive it away but misses.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Full and on middle, Shah taps it to covers for one more.
Mohammad Nabi is the new man in.
- Azmatullah Omarzai 18 (27)
- Rahmat Shah 22 (32)
Kagiso Rabada to Azmatullah Omarzai, OUT! GONE! Faint edge! Kagiso Rabada strikes as soon as he comes back. Such a clever bowler. Bowls it on a length and down leg, tempts Omarzai to tickle it down but the batter gets gloves on it. Ryan Rickelton dives to his left and takes it.
Kagiso Rabada to Azmatullah Omarzai, Good length ball on middle, Omarzai blocks again.
Kagiso Rabada to Azmatullah Omarzai, Fuller ball around off, Omarzai defends again.
Kagiso Rabada to Azmatullah Omarzai, On middle, Omarzai blocks it out.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, Full and outside off, Shah plays it past point for a single.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, Length and on off, Shah dabs it to third man for a quick couple of runs.
- Azmatullah Omarzai 18 (23)
- Rahmat Shah 19 (30)
Keshav Maharaj to Azmatullah Omarzai, Beaten! Nicely bowled! Slows it up, full and outside off, Omarzai leans to defend but misses it.
Keshav Maharaj to Azmatullah Omarzai, Floats it on middle, Omarzai looks to defend but inside edges it onto the pads.
Keshav Maharaj to Azmatullah Omarzai, Tossed up on off, Omarzai prods and blocks.
Keshav Maharaj to Rahmat Shah, Outside off, Shah slaps it to sweeper cover for a single.
Keshav Maharaj to Azmatullah Omarzai, Tossed up on middle, Omarzai plays it to long off for one.
Keshav Maharaj to Azmatullah Omarzai, Full and outside off, Omarzai looks to push but outside edges it to short third man. Some turn.
Keshav Maharaj to bowl now.
- Rahmat Shah 18 (29)
- Azmatullah Omarzai 17 (18)
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Length and on off, Shah chops it back to the keeper.
Wiaan Mulder to Azmatullah Omarzai, On middle, this is punched to long on for a single.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, On middle, Shah nudges it to mid-wicket for a single.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Runs have started to come. Short in length and on middle, Shah smokes it over mid on and it races in the fence.
Match Statistics
Venue
National Stadium, Karachi
