South Africa kicked off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a strong batting performance, scoring 315 runs for the loss of six wickets in their Group B encounter against Afghanistan at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi. The highlight of the innings was Ryan Rickelton’s century, as he powered the Proteas with a brilliant 103-run knock.
Rickelton Shines as South Africa Posts a Competitive Total
Batting first, South Africa got off to a steady start before losing their first wicket in the sixth over at 28 runs, with Tony de Zorzi departing for 11 runs. However, the Proteas quickly recovered, thanks to a solid 129-run partnership between Temba Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton.
Captain Temba Bavuma played a responsible knock, scoring 58 runs off 67 balls, before he was dismissed with South Africa at 157/2. Meanwhile, Rickelton looked in fine touch, punishing the Afghan bowlers with some exquisite shots all around the ground. His 103-run innings off 96 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, was cut short when he was run out.
Middle Order Contributions Boost South Africa’s Total
Following Rickelton’s departure, Rassie van der Dussen continued the momentum, adding 52 runs to the total. However, Afghanistan’s bowlers made a strong comeback, picking up quick wickets in the middle overs.
- David Miller failed to make a big impact and was dismissed for 14 runs.
- Marco Jansen departed for a duck, exposing South Africa’s lower order.
Despite the setbacks, Aiden Markram’s unbeaten 52 ensured South Africa crossed the 300-run mark, with Wayne Milder contributing 12 not out at the other end.
Afghanistan’s Bowling Effort
Afghanistan’s bowlers had a challenging time against South Africa’s strong batting lineup but managed to keep the scoring rate in check during crucial phases.
- Mohammad Nabi was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 2 wickets.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Noor Ahmad picked up one wicket each.
Afghanistan will now have the task of chasing 316 runs on a wicket that might offer some assistance to spinners later in the game.
Captains’ Thoughts at the Toss
Before the match, Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi expressed his preference for bowling first, had he won the toss.
We would have bowled first if we had won the toss. We have quality spinners and played strong cricket against South Africa in Sharjah. Our plan is to get early wickets and restrict them to a manageable total,he stated.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma acknowledged the unpredictability of the Karachi pitch and emphasized his team’s trust in their bowling attack.
This pitch is different from what we usually see in Pakistan. We are not sure how it will behave, so we will assess it as the match progresses. Our consistency in bowling has been our strength, and we are playing with only one spinner,Bavuma said.
South Africa’s Playing XI
- Temba Bavuma (C)
- Ryan Rickelton
- Tony de Zorzi
- Rassie van der Dussen
- Aiden Markram
- David Miller
- Wayne Milder
- Marco Jansen
- Kagiso Rabada
- Keshav Maharaj
- Lungi Ngidi
Afghanistan’s Chase: A Tough Battle Ahead
With 316 runs required for victory, Afghanistan will rely on their experienced batters to anchor the innings, while their power hitters will need to step up. South Africa’s pace attack, featuring Rabada, Ngidi, and Jansen, will pose a serious challenge.
Can Afghanistan pull off a record chase, or will South Africa’s bowlers dominate? Stay tuned for an exciting second innings!
