Afghanistan handed South Africa a six-wicket victory in the first one-day international in Sharjah on Wednesday, bowling the Proteas out for a meager 106. South Africa had narrowly avoided their lowest score in ODI history but Afghan bowlers Farooqi and AM Ghazanfar were too good, Fazalhaq Farooqi with 4-35 and AM Ghazanfar 3-20, putting the game firmly into the hands of an easy chase.
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝟕
𝐃𝐨𝐭𝐬: 𝟐𝟖
𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐬: 𝟑𝟓
𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬: 𝟒
𝐄. 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟓.𝟎𝟎@FazalFarooqi10 was lethal with the new ball this afternoon in Sharjah! 🥇#AfghanAtalan | #AFGvSA | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/3JGBfK2ZfF---Advertisement---— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 18, 2024
Slow Start For Afghanistan But They Gained A Good Momentum
Afghanistan did not get off to the best of starts, as soon as Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a few runs, caught at third man off Lungi Ngidi. Of course, things did not get any better with Rahmat Shah, as Bjorn Fortuin gave him an lbw decision that left Afghanistan at 15-2 in the early stages. Fortuin was getting the better of Afghanistan’s batters and sent Riaz Hassan back into his shell for 16. Later, he packed Hashmatullah Shahidi back into the pavilion.
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However, Azmatullah Omarzai (25 not out) and Gulbadin Naib (34 off 27 balls) calmed the innings and took the team to a comfortable win in just 26 overs.
History in Sharjah! 🚩#AfghanAtalan have delivered a stellar performance to defeat South Africa for the first time in international cricket and take the 1st match of the ongoing ODI series.
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 18, 2024
Congratulations to the team and the entire nation! 👏#GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/h3iRwRQiNz
AFG Vs SA: Toss And match update
Winning the toss and with Temba Bavuma absent due to illness, Aiden Markram captained the side for the first time and chose to bat first. South Africa began with a 17-run partnership before left-arm seamer Farooqi bowled Reeza Hendricks for 9, sparking a collapse that slumped the team to 36/7. Apart from those two, Ghazanfar knocked out Tristan Stubbs and Jason Smith—both on ODI debut —without scoring as well as Kyle Verreynne for 10.
Things did not get any worse for South Africa when Andile Phehlukwayo strayed out of his crease during a leg-before appeal, which Mohammad Nabi effectively used for a run-out. After bowling just 10 overs, this looked to threaten South Africa’s record low ODI score of 69, which they had made against Australia in 1993.
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The score went past the initial peril via some brief respite offered by a quick partnership of 39 between Wiaan Mulder and Fortuin. It was while trying to get him in a fatal position that Rashid Khan, playing his first ODI since last year’s World Cup, got Fortuin’s wicket, but Mulder still added worthwhile runs to the board by scoring his maiden fifty in ODIs. He hit five boundaries and a six on the way to scoring 52 from 84 balls as Farooqi eventually dismissed him.
Rashid wrapped up South Africa’s innings at 106 in just 33.3 overs, with figures of 2-30.
