Afghanistan crumble against SA pacers in 107-run thrashing

Mir Shabbar Ali Published February 22, 2025

KARACHI: Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran is cleaned up by South African pacer Kagiso Rabada during their match at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.—AFP

KARACHI: For all the talk of the pitches here at the National Bank Stadium being batting paradises, the new ball kept fizzing past the heads of Afghanistan batters. The reputation of the surfaces along with the support of a decent crowd had instilled belief into the Afghanistan camp that the target of 315 was achievable.

But Hashmatullah Shahidi-led team looked clueless as the South African pacers put up a masterclass in the ICC Champions Trophy Group ‘B’ fixture at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.

The fast bowlers accounted for eight wickets among them to thrash Afghanistan by 107 runs with 40 balls to spare as Rahmat Shah’s 90 off 92 went in vain.

The pace and bounce was too much for the Afghanistan batters, and it was the latter which got the better of opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who couldn’t control his shot against Lungi Ngidi (2-56) to be caught on fine-leg as early as the fourth over.

Kagiso Rabada (3-36), who normally attacks with the new ball, arrived as the first change and uprooted Gurbaz’s opening partner Ibrahim Zadran to leave Afghanistan reeling at 38-2 in the 10th over.

After Sediqullah Atal was run out and Shahidi holed pacer Wiaan Mulder (2-36) to South African captain Temba Bavuma at mid-on, Rabada returned to bounce out Azmatullah Omarzai in the 23rd.

Another short ball got the better of veteran Mohammad Nabi to give Jansen his only wicket before Ngidi ended Gulbadin Naib’s short stay.

Despite Afghanistan all but beaten with a mammoth task ahead, the crowd had stayed on. As it emerged, they were waiting for their favourite Rashid Khan to come into bat.

Rashid did entertain them, cutting Ngidi brutally for a six on the very first ball he faced as fans erupted in the stands.

The fan-favourite right-hander smashed Keshav Maharaj through the covers and swept him for two more boundaries but perished off the spinner only finally allowing the spectators to start leaving the stadium as Afghanistan’s evening was over.

Earlier, it was Ryan Rickelton’s maiden ODI century that highlighted South Africa’s innings but sporadic moments of success through the length of it kept inspiring Afghanistan’s hunger for more.

Rickelton’s 103 off 106 and his 129-run partnership with captain Temba Bavuma for the second wicket set the base for South Africa’s total, but a decent death bowling show by Afghanistan restricted their opponents from taking it completely away from them.

Although South Africa were able to add 91 in the last 10 overs, Afghanistan took three wickets in the period, all of them charging up the players on the field and the fans in the stands.

The most electric instance came when Rahmat’s lightning quick sprint covered a 13-metre distance before the fielder dived to pluck a travelling ball in front of square to dismiss David Miller, South Africa’s most dangerous batter in the absence of injured Heinrich Klaasen.

Rahmat fell on the floor right in front of the Younis Khan enclosure, down the stairs of which Afghan fans ran to celebrate the moment in closest proximity with the player.

Omarzai sending Jansen’s stumps flying further amped up the atmosphere as Afghanistan ended their effort with the ball.

The Younis Khan enclosure had first erupted when Nabi forced a leading edge off opener Toni de Zorzi’s bat to dismiss the southpaw in the sixth over.

But it was all about Rickelton and Bavuma from there on. The pair kept the scoreboard ticking, taking a safe approach to reach 46-1 by the end of the first 10 overs before Rickelton drove Omarzai with prowess through the covers before flicking for another boundary to bring up his half century in 48 balls.

Bavuma smoked medium pacer Naib for his fourth boundary as himself and Rickelton reached their 100-run partnership in the 24th over. The skipper was past his own 50 in the next over.

It took Nabi’s return in the 30th over for the crowds to come back to life. Umpire Alex Wharf raising his slow left arm triggered a huge roar in the stands after Bavuma was hit on his front pad while attempting to paddle sweep.

An immediate review spared the batter but when he holed Nabi out to Sediqullah Atal at midwicket on the very next ball, it sparked an even louder response.

Rickelton took a single off Nabi in the 35th to reach his maiden ODI century as he punched in the air before raising his bat towards the South African dressing room.

But he fell prey to a bullet throw back at the wicket-keeper from bowler Rashid in the very next over as he tried to dive back into his crease only for his slightly lifted bat deciding his fate.

Rassie van der Dussen arrived to smash 52 off 46 (three fours and two sixes). He could have been more destructive, if it hadn’t been for chinaman bowler Noor Ahmed tightening his lines after early troubles to get the batter out in the 43rd.

His ouster was followed by that of Miller, whose dismissal came on the sixth ball of the 48th over — bowled by pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi — which saw Aiden Markram slam three boundaries in a row.

The right-hander’s unbeaten 52 off 36 (six fours and a six) van der Dussen’s knock were the most valuable contributions for South Africa as they managed a total which proved more than enough.

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH AFRICA:

R. Rickelton run out 103

T. de Zorzi c Omarzai b Nabi 11

T. Bavuma c Atal b Nabi 58

R. van der Dussen c Shahidi b Ahmad 52

A. Markram not out 52

D. Miller c Shah b Farooqi 14

M. Jansen b Omarzai 0

W. Mulder not out 12

EXTRAS (W-13) 13

TOTAL (fox six wickets, 50 overs) 315