KARACHI: Ryan Rickelton’s century and Kagiso Rabada’s three wickets helped South Africa rout Afghanistan by 107 runs in the third match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 here at National Bank Stadium on Friday.
Chasing a daunting score of 316, Afghanistan’s batting stumbled and were bowled out on 208 in 43.3 overs.
South Africa struck early with the prize wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (10) in the third over, caught off Lungi Ngidi’s bowling.
With the formidable pace bowling attack of Proteas, it was not easy for Afghanistan to bat on a good batting surface of Karachi. Rabada, in the penultimate over of the powerplay, removed the Ibrahim Zadran (17).
After early setbacks, it was expected that there would be some resistance from the Afghanistan middle order; however, the Proteas bowlers further piled on the misery as they removed two more batters on the score of 50 runs.
Sediqullah Atal (16) and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (0) went quickly, leaving the team in a hole.
Rahmat Shah was the only silver lining for Afghanistan, who scored a valiant knock. He formed vital partnerships with the lower order to give some hope to the team.
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He and Azmatullah Omarzai put on a 39-run stand for the fifth wicket. Omarzai provided a brief counter-attack, scoring 18 runs with three boundaries before being caught behind with 89 runs on the board.
Rahmat continued to bat sensibly but kept losing partners. Mohammad Nabi (8), Gulbadin Naib (13), and Rashid Khan (18) were all dismissed.
A 39-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Rahmat Shah and Noor Ahmad, 9 off 15 balls, provided some resistance before Ahmad was clean-bowled by Wiaan Mulder. Soon after, Rahmat Shah perished, handing South Africa a 107-run victory.
Rahmat Shah scored 90 off 92 deliveries, hitting nine fours and a six.
For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada picked up three wickets for 36 runs, while Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder grabbed two wickets each.
Ryan Rickelton was adjudged Player of the Match for his knock of 103 runs.
Earlier, Rickelton’s century and a quick-fire fifty from Aiden Markram powered South Africa to 315 against Afghanistan.
After opting to bat, the Proteas opener, Tony de Zorzi (11), fell early in the fifth over. He was caught off Mohammad Nabi, who bowled an absolute peach of a delivery.
Following his wicket, the duo of captain Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton added 129 for the second wicket. The former and latter scored half-centuries.
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The South African captain departed after a brisk 58 off 76 balls, laced with five fours.
Rickelton, on the other hand, continued his brilliant batting, along with Rassie van der Dussen (52), and scored his maiden ODI century. His innings included six fours and one huge six.
He laid a strong platform for South Africa to accelerate towards the end. However, he was run out on 103 runs in the 35th over. Following his departure, Aiden Markram (52) scored a quick-fire half-century, propelling the team to 315 in 50 overs. Markram hit six fours and one six in his innings.
Nabi was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan, who took two wickets in his ten overs, while Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai bagged one each.
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