The stage is set. South Africa has put up a solid total in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener. Batting first in this Group B clash, they piled up 315 runs for the loss of six wickets in their 50 overs. Now, all eyes are on Afghanistan’s chase. Can they pull off a thrilling win? Or will South Africa’s bowlers steal the show?
South Africa’s Batting Performance
South Africa Innings—315/6 (50 Overs)
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Rickelton (wk) | 103 | 106 | 7 | 1 | 97.17 | Run out (Rashid Khan/Gurbaz) |
| Tony de Zorzi | 11 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 100.00 | b Nabi |
| Temba Bavuma (c) | 58 | 76 | 5 | 0 | 76.32 | c Sediqullah Atal b Nabi |
| Rassie van der Dussen | 52 | 46 | 3 | 2 | 113.04 | c Shahidi b Noor Ahmad |
| Aiden Markram | 52 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 144.44 | Not out |
| David Miller | 14 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 77.78 | c Rahmat b Fazalhaq Farooqi |
| Marco Jansen | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | b Azmatullah |
| Wiaan Mulder | 12 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 200.00 | Not out |
| Extras | 13 | (b 0, lb 0, w 13, nb 0, p 0) | ||||
| Total | 315/6 | (50 Overs) | ||||
| Yet to Bat | Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi |
Afghanistan now faces a big challenge. Chasing 316 is no small task. The big question? Can their batsmen rise to the occasion and secure a famous win? Or will South Africa’s bowling attack be too strong to handle?
Afghanistan Bowling Performance:
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 8 | 0 | 59 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7.40 |
| Azmatullah | 6 | 0 | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6.50 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 10 | 0 | 51 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5.10 |
| Rashid Khan | 10 | 0 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5.90 |
| Gulbadin Naib | 7 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Noor Ahmad | 9 | 0 | 65 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 7.20 |
The Battle Ahead
South Africa’s bowling unit is packed with firepower. Kagiso Rabada. Lungi Ngidi. Keshav Maharaj. These names strike fear in any batting lineup. But Afghanistan has some serious hitters too. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi will be key players to watch.
The good news? Cricket fans are in for a thrilling contest. Whether it’s a nail-biting chase or a bowling masterclass, this match promises excitement.
Playing XIs
Afghanistan:
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Sediqullah Atal
- Rahmat Shah
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Gulbadin Naib
- Mohammad Nabi
- Rashid Khan
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Noor Ahmad
South Africa:
- Temba Bavuma (captain)
- Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper)
- Tony de Zorzi
- Rassie van der Dussen
- Aiden Markram
- David Miller
- Wian Mulder
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Kagiso Rabada
- Lungi Ngidi
Who will come out on top? Stay tuned for an action-packed second innings!
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Also Read: SA vs AFG: Rickelton’s First ODI Century Steals The Show
