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AFG vs SA: On September 18 Hashmatullah Shahidi Afghanistan team made history by securing their first-ever ODI victory against South Africa. The match was took the place at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. where Afghanistan chased down a target of 107 runs winning by 6 wickets after bowling South Africa out for just 106 runs—marking the Proteas fifth-lowest ODI total.
This win was particularly sweet for Afghanistan as they had suffered a humiliating defeat against the same team in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024. where they were bowled out for a mere 56 runs. In this match Afghanistan was faced early challenges losing two wickets for just 15 runs during their chase. But Azmatullah Omarzai (25* off 36) and Gulbadin Naib (34* off 27) steadied the innings combining for an unbeaten 47 runs to lead the team to victory.
Naib performance was especially memorable. Under pressure from South African bowler Nandre Burger he found his rhythm in the 22nd over hitting two consecutive sixes that shifted the momentum in Afghanistan’s favor. The excitement of those shots fueled the team’s chase, allowing them to confidently secure the win.
For South Africa it was a day to forget. Stand-in captain Aiden Markram saw his batting lineup collapse spectacularly leading to the lowest ODI total ever recorded by a top ten-ranked team against Afghanistan. Coming off a frustrating washed-out match against New Zealand Afghanistan capitalized on South Africa vulnerabilities.
Fazalhaq Farooqi led the Afghan bowling attack, dismissing opener Reeza Hendricks in the third over and quickly following up with the key wicket of captain Markram. His dominance continued as he removed Tony de Zorzi, leaving South Africa struggling at 29/5. Young spinner Allah Ghazanfar also made an impact, sending dangerous batsman Tristan Stubbs back to the pavilion for a duck.
By the end of the power-play South Africa was in dire straits at 36/7. They faced further embarrassment when Andile Phehlukwayo was run out in a bizarre incident caught outside the crease. The Wiaan Mulder and Bjorn Fortuin briefly steadied the ship but their resistance was short-lived. Mulder managed to score a fighting fifty but was eventually dismissed by Farooqi who finished with impressive figures of 4 wickets marking his 100th international wicket in just 75 innings.
In summary Afghanistan historic win over South Africa showcased their growth as a cricketing nation and demonstrated their resilience in the face of previous disappointments.
Afghanistan stun SA in 250th ODI at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar were instrumental in Afghanistan historic six-wicket victory over South Africa in the first ODI at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Their combined effort saw them claim seven wickets helping Afghanistan restrict South Africa to just 106 runs. The Afghan team then chased down the target with 24 overs to spare taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. This victory marked Afghanistan first win against South Africa in six attempts.
Afghanistan chase began shakily losing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz without scoring. The team struggled early on finding themselves at 60/4. the Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai steadied the innings forming an unbeaten partnership of 47 runs that secured the win. The match also marked a milestone for Sharjah Cricket Stadium becoming the first venue to host 250 ODIs. Waleed Bukhatir and Khalaf Bukhatir celebrated this achievement with a cake-cutting ceremony attended by dignitaries from the Emirates Cricket Board.
Earlier in the match Farooqi led a dominant bowling performance that dismantled the South African batting lineup. While South Africa had prepared for Afghanistan renowned spin attack it was Farooqi pace that made the difference. He claimed the first wicket by bowling out Reeza Hendricks giving Afghanistan an early breakthrough. Farooqi continued his assault dismissing captain Aiden Markram just two overs later clean bowling him and leaving South Africa in disarray at 17/2. His third victim was Tony de Zorzi caught by Hashmatullah Shahidi as South Africa slipped to 25 runs with three wickets down.
Recognizing the need to change tactics Shahidi brought on spinners, which proved effective as South Africa struggled further. Ghazanfar playing only his third ODI shone alongside veteran spinner Rashid Khan. In his first over Ghazanfar dismissed Tristan Stubbs who edged a delivery to Mohammad Nabi leaving South Africa in deep trouble at 29/4.
Four balls later Ghazanfar struck again bowling out Jason Smith with a well-turned delivery. With South Africa reeling at 29/5 they were in danger of recording one of their lowest ODI totals. Despite attempts to stabilize the innings they faced relentless pressure from Afghanistan bowlers. Ghazanfar continued his fine form by trapping Kyle Verreynne for 10 runs.
Wiaan Mulder emerged as the lone fighter for South Africa scoring a gritty fifty and forming partnerships with Bjorn Fortuin and Nandre Burger. Farooqi returned to dismiss Mulder ending his resistance while Rashid Khan contributed with two wickets.
Afghanistan bowlers dominated with Farooqi taking four wickets and Ghazanfar claiming three while conceding only 20 runs in his 10 overs. This victory not only showcased Afghanistan cricketing prowess but also solidified their standing as a competitive force in the ODI format.
South Africa all-out for their 4th-lowest ODI total as Afghanistan shine in Sharjah
South Africa had a disappointing launch to their ODI series against Afghanistan on September 19 suffering a dramatic fur collapse. Despite expedients of putting once failures behind them the reality was stark South Africa was sailed out for just 106 runs marking their fifth- smallest aggregate in ODI history. This also came the smallest score ever recorded by a top ten- ranked platoon against Afghanistan.
The Coming off a frustrating marshland- eschewal against New Zealand in a one- off Test Afghanistan appeared eager for vengeance after losing to South Africa in the T20 World Cupsemi-final in June. Remarkably this match marked the first time Afghanistan sailed out South Africa in a white- ball game. Fazalhaq Farooqi Afghanistan star leader and leading gate- taker from the T20 event continued his emotional form. He dismissed nature Reeza Hendricks in the third over and snappily followed it up by brushing out captain Aiden Markram in his coming over.
Farooqi rush continued as he claimed the gate of Tony de Zorzi in the seventh over. Joining him in the attack youthful incentive Allah Ghazanfar dismissed the dangerous Tristan Stubbs for a duck and soon after debutant Jason Smith also fell without scoring. In just a short time South Africa set up themselves in dire woe at 29/5 with fears of matching their smallest- ever ODI aggregate of 69 runs which they set against Australia in Sydney back in 1993.
Mulder rescues SA after early jolts
The Afghan bowling duo continued to dominat leaving South Africa in disarray at 36/7 by the end of the power-play. Adding to their troubles Andile Phehlukwayo experienced a bizarre dismissal; after facing the ball he found himself out of his crease and was run out by wicketkeeper Gulbadin Naib. Farooqi initiated the collapse while Ghazanfar contributed significantly making it difficult for South Africa to recover—even before Rashid Khan had bowled a single delivery.
Wiaan Mulder and Bjorn Fortuin briefly steadied the innings but Fortuin was soon dismissed by Rashid Khan in a wicket-maiden over. Despite the setbacks Mulder fought back valiantly scoring his maiden ODI fifty in 80 balls while partnering with Nandre Burger. the Farooqi ultimately ended Mulder resistance by bowling him out. Rashid Khan then took the final wicket of Lungi Ngidi concluding South Africa innings at 106 runs. Farooqi impressive performance which included four wickets also marked a personal milestone: he reached 100 international wickets in just 75 innings for Afghanistan.
