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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.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Good length ball on middle, Shah blocks.
Wiaan Mulder to Azmatullah Omarzai, Length and on off, Omarzai punches it to cover for one.
- Rahmat Shah 13 (25)
- Azmatullah Omarzai 15 (16)
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, Around off. Kept out.
Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, Shortish and on off. This is pushed past cover for one more.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, Fullish and around off. Shah plays it to cover and takes one.
Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, Around off. This is driven past cover for one.
Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR! Up and over! Fuller and outside off. This is lofted over cover and this trickles away to the fence.
Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, Length and on off. Omarzai pushes it to cover.
- Rahmat Shah 12 (23)
- Azmatullah Omarzai 9 (12)
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Angled into middle. Shah keeps it out.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, On middle. Kept out.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, On off. Blocked.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, On middle. This is tucked to mid-wicket.
Wiaan Mulder to Azmatullah Omarzai, On middle. This is tucked on the leg side for one.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Outside off. This is guided past point for one.
- Azmatullah Omarzai 8 (11)
- Rahmat Shah 11 (18)
Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR! Pulled away! On the short side. This is pulled through mid-wicket.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, Around off. This is guided past point for one.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, On the stumps. Kept out.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, Outside off. This is guided past point for one.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, FOUR! Nicely played! Waits for it and then guides it fine on the off side. Welcome boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, Back of a length and on off. Shah stands tall and pushes it to cover.
- Azmatullah Omarzai 4 (10)
- Rahmat Shah 4 (13)
Wiaan Mulder to Azmatullah Omarzai, Around off. Length. Defended.
Wiaan Mulder to Azmatullah Omarzai, On the stumps. Blocked.
Wiaan Mulder to Azmatullah Omarzai, Fuller and on off. This is driven past cover for one.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Around off. Shah guides it past point for one.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Outside off. This is guided to point.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, On middle, blocked.
- Azmatullah Omarzai 4 (7)
- Rahmat Shah 3 (10)
Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, On middle. Kept out.
Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR! Drilled! Fuller and outside off. This is hammered past cover and this gets to the fence.
Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, On middle. Kept out.
Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, Around off. Defended.
Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, On middle. This is worked through square leg for one.
Lungi Ngidi to Rahmat Shah, Angled into the pads. This is clipped past square leg for one.
- Azmatullah Omarzai 0 (2)
- Rahmat Shah 2 (9)
Wiaan Mulder to Azmatullah Omarzai, On middle. Omarzai keeps it out.
Wiaan Mulder to Azmatullah Omarzai, WIDE! Down the leg side. Wided.
Wiaan Mulder to Azmatullah Omarzai, On the stumps. Kept out.
Wiaan Mulder to Hashmatullah Shahidi, OUT! Taken! It is all falling apart way too quickly for Afghanistan! That's a simple catch. A slower one on off. Shahidi looks to drive but ends up chopping it to mid off. Afghanistan need a massive partnership now.
Wiaan Mulder to Hashmatullah Shahidi, Fuller and on off. This is pushed to cover.
Wiaan Mulder to Hashmatullah Shahidi, On the stumps. Defended.
Wiaan Mulder to Hashmatullah Shahidi, Fuller and on off. This is pushed to mid off.
- Sediqullah Atal 16 (32)
- Rahmat Shah 2 (9)
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, OUT! Run out! Atal goes and Afghanistan in huge trouble now! He looks to take one there. A risky single and he pays the price. On middle. This is pushed towards mid off. Rabada can't stop it. Atal called for it late. Jansen is quick to the ball and hits the stumps. Massive wicket.
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, Fuller and outside off. Atal looks to drive but no connection.
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, On middle. Atal gets right behind the line and defends.
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, On the stumps. Defended. .
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, On middle. Atal plays it to cover.
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, Length and on off. Blocked.
- Rahmat Shah 2 (9)
- Sediqullah Atal 16 (26)
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Angled into middle. Defended well.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, On middle. Kept out.
Wiaan Mulder to Sediqullah Atal, Around off. This is pushed past cover for one.
Wiaan Mulder to Sediqullah Atal, Good length and on off. Kept out.
Wiaan Mulder to Sediqullah Atal, Angles it away from off. Atal looks to push at it but is beaten.
Match Statistics
Venue
National Stadium, Karachi
