Champions Trophy 2025: South Africa thrash Afghanistan by 107 runs

KARACHI: South Africa defeated Afghanistan by 107 runs in the third match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Bank Cricket Stadium, here on Friday.

Chasing a target of 316, Afghanistan were bowled out for 208 in 43.3 overs.

The Afghan innings got off to a shaky start, scoring just 38 runs for the loss of two wickets in the first powerplay.

Top batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the first to be out, scoring 10 runs off 14 balls. He tried to pull Langi Ngidi but was caught by Keshav Maharaj at short fine leg.

Ibrahim Zadran (17) also failed to make an impact, bowled by Kagiso Rabada as Afghanistan struggled at 38-2. Siddiqullah Atul (16) and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (0) fell one after the other, leading Afghanistan to a 50-4 defeat.

Azmatullah Umarzai made a brief counterattack, scoring 18 runs with the help of three fours and was caught out on 89.

Rahmat Shah continued to bat sensibly but kept losing partners. Mohammad Nabi (8), Gulbadin Naib (13), and Rashid Khan (18) were all out.

A 39-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Rahmat Shah and Noor Ahmed (9 off 15 balls) provided some resistance before Ahmed was bowled clean by Wayan Mulder. Soon after, Rahmat Shah guided South Africa to a 107-run victory.

Rahmat Shah top-scored with 90 off 92 balls, hitting nine fours and a six.

For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada took three wickets for 36 runs, while Lungi Ngidi and Wayan Mulder took two wickets each.

Earlier, Ryan Rickelton scored a century as South Africa set Afghanistan a target of 316.

After electing to bat first, South Africa lost opener Tony de Zorzi early in the innings when he was dismissed for 11 runs off 11 balls.

After his dismissal, captain Temba Bumrah put on a 129-run partnership with Ryan Rickelton and took his team to 157 in 28.5 overs before falling for 58.

Rickelton then went on to form another crucial partnership with middle-order batsman Rossi van der Dussen in their opening game of the Champions Trophy 2025.

The opener put on a 44-run partnership with Dussen and completed his maiden century in the ODI format.

The partnership ended when Ryan Rickelton was run out by Rashid Khan after scoring 103 off 106 balls.

Ross van der Dussen scored 52 runs while Aiden Markram remained unbeaten on 52 off 36 balls to help South Africa reach 315/6 on the scoreboard.

It is worth mentioning here that the eight-team Champions Trophy 2025 will feature 15 matches over 19 days, which will be played in Pakistan and Dubai.

Group A includes Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and New Zealand, while Group B includes Afghanistan, England, Australia and South Africa.