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Afghanistan vs South Africa: Proteas Crush Afghanistan by 107 Runs in Champions Trophy

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On February 21, 2025, South Africa kicked off their ICC Champions Trophy campaign with a resounding 107-run victory over Afghanistan in Match 3 of Group B at the National Stadium in Karachi. Powered by a maiden ODI century from opener Ryan Rickelton and a clinical bowling performance led by Kagiso Rabada, the Proteas outclassed a spirited but ultimately outmatched Afghan side, signaling their intent in the tournament.

South Africa Sets a Daunting Target

The match began with South African captain Temba Bavuma winning the toss and electing to bat first on a pitch that promised runs but offered some early assistance to bowlers. The decision paid dividends as opener Ryan Rickelton anchored the innings with a sublime 103 off 106 balls, including seven fours and a six. His knock was a masterclass in pacing an innings, blending caution with aggression.
 
After an early setback with Tony de Zorzi falling for 11 to Mohammad Nabi’s first-ball strike, Rickelton found an able partner in Bavuma. The duo stitched together a 129-run stand for the second wicket, with Bavuma contributing a fluent 58 off 76 balls. Afghanistan’s spinners, typically their trump card, struggled to contain the flow of runs, with star leg-spinner Rashid Khan finishing wicketless for 59 runs in his 10 overs—a rare off-day for the talisman.
 
Following Bavuma’s departure, Rassie van der Dussen (52 off 46) and Aiden Markram (52* off 36) took charge, accelerating the scoring rate in the death overs. South Africa’s middle order flexed its muscle, propelling the team to an imposing 315/6 in 50 overs. Mohammad Nabi (2/51) was the pick of the Afghan bowlers, but sloppy fielding and a lack of penetration from the rest of the attack allowed the Proteas to post a total that seemed well beyond Afghanistan’s reach.

Afghanistan’s Chase Falters Early

Chasing 316, Afghanistan needed their dynamic openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, to fire. However, South Africa’s pace attack had other plans. Marco Jansen struck early, dismissing Gurbaz for 10, while Lungi Ngidi removed Zadran for 17, leaving Afghanistan reeling at 27/2 inside the first 10 overs. Sediqullah Atal (16) and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (0) fell in quick succession, reducing the Afghans to a precarious 50/4 by the 15th over.
 
Rahmat Shah emerged as the lone warrior, playing a valiant knock of 90 off 92 balls, studded with nine fours and a six. His innings was a blend of grit and elegance, offering Afghanistan a glimmer of hope. A 39-run partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai (18) briefly steadied the ship, but Rabada’s return to the attack snuffed out any chance of a miracle. The pacer dismissed Omarzai and later ended Shah’s resistance, finishing with figures of 3/36.
 
Rashid Khan provided a brief spark with a brisk 18 off 13 balls, including a six and three fours, but his dismissal by Keshav Maharaj triggered a collapse. Wiaan Mulder (2/36) and Ngidi (2/56) mopped up the tail, bowling Afghanistan out for 208 in 43.3 overs. The Afghan batting, so often bolstered by their spinners in the field, crumbled under the pressure of South Africa’s relentless pace attack.

Key Performances and Turning Points

Ryan Rickelton’s century was the cornerstone of South Africa’s victory, earning him the Player of the Match award. “I was nervous coming into my first proper ICC event, but to contribute like this and set up a win feels great,” he said post-match. Bavuma, van der Dussen, and Markram’s fifties ensured a total that Afghanistan couldn’t chase, while Rabada’s three wickets broke the backbone of their batting.
 
For Afghanistan, Rahmat Shah’s 90 was a standout effort, but the lack of support from his teammates underscored their struggles against quality pace bowling. The early dismissals of Gurbaz and Zadran set the tone, and the inability of their spinners—particularly Rashid—to dictate terms allowed South Africa to seize control.

Implications for the Tournament

This win gives South Africa a strong start in Group B, boosting their net run rate and positioning them as early favorites alongside Australia and England. For Afghanistan, making their Champions Trophy debut, the loss highlights the gap they need to bridge against top-tier teams in high-pressure chases. With two group games remaining, they’ll need to regroup quickly to stay in contention.

Conclusion

February 21, 2025, will be remembered as a day when South Africa showcased their all-round dominance, while Afghanistan learned harsh lessons about consistency in big tournaments. Rickelton’s emergence as a reliable opener and Rabada’s mastery with the ball signal that the Proteas are serious contenders for their first ICC trophy since 1998. For Afghanistan, Rahmat Shah’s fight offered hope, but they’ll need more than individual brilliance to make a mark in the Champions Trophy.
 
As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on how these teams respond in their upcoming clashes. For now, South Africa can celebrate a comprehensive victory that sets the tone for their campaign.
Click here for complete schedule for IPL 2025

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