Afghanistan achieved their most significant bilateral series win to date with a 177-run victory over South Africa in Sharjah on Friday. This victory marked their first-ever triumph against a top-five ICC-ranked team. With this win, Afghanistan leads the series 2-0, with one match remaining.
After dominating South Africa with their bowling in the previous match, Afghanistan showcased their batting strength by posting their tenth score of over 300. They set a tough target for South Africa to chase.
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan scored 311 for 4, with Gurbaz leading the charge with a score of 105. Omarzai also contributed significantly, remaining unbeaten on 86. Gurbaz’s century made him Afghanistan’s leading ODI centurion, marking his seventh hundred.
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In response, South Africa started well, with de Zorzi and Bavuma laying a solid foundation. However, Afghanistan’s spinners quickly dismantled the South African lineup.
Rashid Khan, celebrating his 26th birthday, took an impressive 5 for 19, while Kharote provided strong support with 4 for 26. South Africa’s batting lineup struggled against spin, collapsing to 134 all out in 34.2 overs.
The South Africans lost all 10 wickets in just 20.3 overs, suffering a dramatic collapse where they lost 10 wickets for only 61 runs. This marked South Africa’s fifth-largest defeat by runs.
Rashid Khan’s birthday celebration was further sweetened by his fifth career five-wicket haul. Afghanistan’s batting dominance began with Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s seventh ODI century, followed by Rahmat Shah’s 29th ODI half-century and Azmatullah Omarzai’s quick-fire 50, which he reached in just 32 balls. Omarzai’s unbeaten 86 from 50 deliveries helped Afghanistan add 93 runs in the final ten overs.
The Afghan spinners, led by Rashid and Kharote, sealed the deal with an outstanding performance. Kharote’s career-best 4 for 26 was a major highlight in South Africa’s collapse.
Afghanistan’s total was built on strong partnerships. Gurbaz and Riaz Hassan set the tone with an 88-run opening stand, followed by a 101-run partnership between Gurbaz and Shah. Though South Africa’s spinners, Bjorn Fortuin and Aiden Markram, were economical, debutant bowlers Nqaba Peter and Nandre Burger struggled to contain Afghanistan’s batting.
Lungi Ngidi performed well towards the end of the innings, but Afghanistan capitalized with late partnerships, adding 55 off 40 balls and 40 off 23 in the final overs.
Gurbaz played an aggressive inning, hitting boundaries off Ngidi and Burger early on. Although Fortuin was tight during the powerplay, Gurbaz continued his onslaught, eventually reaching his century after a tense period in the 90s. His century marked his third consecutive year with two ODI hundreds.
Afghanistan’s total went beyond 200 by the 36th over, with Omarzai launching a late attack, hitting four sixes. Nabi added a quick 13 before being dismissed, and Rashid Khan, despite a hamstring injury, stayed with Omarzai to push the total past 300.
South Africa’s chase began well, with Bavuma and de Zorzi adding 73 runs. However, Bavuma’s dismissal, followed by the introduction of Rashid Khan, triggered a collapse. The middle and lower order could not withstand Afghanistan’s spinners.
Rashid and Kharote tore through the batting lineup, with South Africa losing all ten wickets in just over 20 overs. Afghanistan’s spinners completely dominated, sealing a comprehensive win.
