Afghanistan secured their first-ever One Day International (ODI) victory against South Africa, achieving a comprehensive six-wicket win in the opening match of their three-game series held in Sharjah on Wednesday.
South Africa, fielding a weakened squad in the absence of several key players and their captain Temba Bavuma due to illness, struggled to make an impact. The team was bowled out for a mere 106 runs in 33.3 overs. The collapse was swift, as they plummeted to 36-7 within the first ten overs, highlighting their vulnerability.
Wiaan Mulder was the lone bright spot for South Africa, scoring his maiden ODI half-century with 52 runs. His effort provided some semblance of resistance, but it was not enough to rescue his team from an otherwise dismal performance.
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Afghanistan Overcomes Early Setback to Secure Win
In their chase, Afghanistan faced a brief setback, slipping to 38-3 early on. However, the team recovered quickly, successfully reaching the target of 107 runs in just 26 overs. Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai played pivotal roles, scoring 34 and 25 runs respectively, and forming a crucial 47-run partnership for the fifth wicket to seal the victory.
Fazalhaq Farooqi was exceptional with the ball, taking four wickets for 35 runs. He was well-supported by spinner AM Ghazanfar, who claimed 3-20, dismantling South Africa’s top order on a pitch that favored spin bowling.
The two teams will face off again in the second match of the series on Friday at the same venue, where Afghanistan will look to build on their historic win.
