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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, Length and on off. Shah pushes it to cover for one.
- Sediqullah Atal 15 (23)
- Rahmat Shah 1 (6)
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR! That's a lovely shot. This is Fullish and just outside off. Atal waits and then drives it over cover and this races away to the fence.
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, Shortish and on off. This is pushed to cover.
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, Slightly fuller this time. Atal carved it wide of point and third man for two.
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, Beaten! Getting the ball to talk is Rabada. Length and around off. This lands and moves away. Atal is beaten all ends up as he looks to defend.
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, On middle. Good length. Kept out.
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, Good length and around off. Atal looks to defend. This lands and moves away. Atal is beaten as he looks to defend.
- Sediqullah Atal 9 (17)
- Rahmat Shah 1 (6)
Wiaan Mulder to Sediqullah Atal, On the pads. Atal works it through square leg for one.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, On middle. This is clipped through square leg for one.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Good length again. This is pushed to cover.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Around off. Good length. Defended.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Length and on off. Blocked.
Wiaan Mulder to Rahmat Shah, Another one shorter but down the leg side. Wided.
Wiaan Mulder to Sediqullah Atal, On the pads. This is clipped past square leg for one.
- Rahmat Shah 0 (2)
- Sediqullah Atal 7 (15)
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, This is full and on off, Shah blocks it out. Excellent start by the Proteas.
Kagiso Rabada to Rahmat Shah, Welcomes Shah with a steepler, short and outside off, Shah leaves.
Rahmat Shah walks in next.
Kagiso Rabada to Ibrahim Zadran, OUT! BOWLED! That's how a champion bowler replies! WOW! Kagiso Rabada goes onto share a word or two as well to Zadran! Good length ball on middle, nips in a bit. Zadran makes room to punch but misses and it crashes the stumps. That six just motivated KG.
Kagiso Rabada to Ibrahim Zadran, SIX! Zadran takes the aerial route! Pressure releasing! Length and on middle, anticipated the length and it is lofted over long on for a biggie.
Kagiso Rabada to Ibrahim Zadran, Wide! Slants it down the leg side. Zadran fails to clip.
Kagiso Rabada to Ibrahim Zadran, Swing and a miss! Kagiso Rabada sticks to the same length and bowls on off, Zadran slashes and misses.
Kagiso Rabada to Ibrahim Zadran, BEATEN! Absolute beauty! South Africa deserve a wicket here! Short in length and comes with an angle on middle, Zadran is squared up in half as he looks to defend. It goes past his inside edge.
- Ibrahim Zadran 11 (25)
- Sediqullah Atal 7 (15)
Marco Jansen to Ibrahim Zadran, Outside off, Zadran dabs it to third man and keeps the strike.
Marco Jansen to Ibrahim Zadran, Dots building up! Pressure on the batters now! Fuller delivery on middle, Zadran defends it out.
Marco Jansen to Ibrahim Zadran, On a length and around off, extra bounce and Zadran awkwardly defends it out.
Marco Jansen to Ibrahim Zadran, Good length ball on middle, Zadran blocks.
Marco Jansen to Ibrahim Zadran, A sharp in angler bouncer on leg, Zadran sways away from the line of the delivery.
Marco Jansen to Ibrahim Zadran, From around the wicket, length and on middle, Zadran blocks.
- Sediqullah Atal 7 (15)
- Ibrahim Zadran 10 (19)
Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, Dot to end! Angles away a length ball, outside off, a bit full and Atal fails to push.
Kagiso Rabada to Ibrahim Zadran, On middle, skids a bit. Zadran looks to punch but inner half takes it to square leg for one.
Kagiso Rabada to Ibrahim Zadran, Length ball on middle, nips in. Zadran without any foot movement tries to heave but misses.
Kagiso Rabada to Ibrahim Zadran, Tight once again. On middle, Zadran blocks it out.
Kagiso Rabada to Ibrahim Zadran, On a length and around off, Zadran charges down and punches well but straight to point. South Africa have been spot on in everything.
Kagiso Rabada to Ibrahim Zadran, Serves a good length ball on off, Zadran splices his punch to point.
Kagiso Rabada to Ibrahim Zadran, Wide! Kagiso Rabada serves it full and down leg, Zadran misses his flick.
- Sediqullah Atal 7 (14)
- Ibrahim Zadran 9 (14)
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, Maiden from Jansen! 10 dots then! Touch short and on off, Atal steps across and blocks it out.
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, Make it 9! Touch fuller and shaping on middle, Atal pushes it to mid on.
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, 8 dots in a row! On a length and around off, Atal hops and solidly defends it.
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, Gets a bit of away swing, outside off. Atal defends well inside the line of the delivery.
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, BEATEN AGAIN! More closer to the off pole. Good length delivery and Atal fails to defend it out.
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, BEAUTY! A skiddy fuller delivery, outside off, was to be hit but Atal fails to drive it away.
- Ibrahim Zadran 9 (14)
- Sediqullah Atal 7 (8)
Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, Four dots to end the over. Hard length ball on off, Zadran knocks it to cover.
Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, Tight from Ngidi! Length and around off, Zadran pushes it to cover.
Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, Too full and on middle, Zadran drives nicely but the man at mid off cuts it off.
Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, Slants it full and on leg, Zadran pushes it straight to mid on.
Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR! IN THE GAP! Length ball, outside off, Zadran hops and punches it square past point and into the fence.
Lungi Ngidi to Sediqullah Atal, Outside off, Atal guides it to third man for a single.
- Sediqullah Atal 6 (7)
- Ibrahim Zadran 5 (9)
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, Nasty from Jansen! Hard length delivery which keeps on going and takes the flight. Atal fails to defend and gloves it just wide of first slip and to third man.
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, Wide! Effort delivery! Shorter and on leg, Atal ducks under it. Marginal call.
Marco Jansen to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR! Wonderful shot! Jansen bowls in the channel outside off, Atal stands tall and pulls it through mid-wicket for four runs.
Match Statistics
Venue
National Stadium, Karachi
