Afghanistan vs South Africa LIVE Score, Champions Trophy 2025: 6-Down Afghanistan Stare At Defeat, Kagiso Rabada Strikes
In a thrilling Champions Trophy 2025 encounter, South Africa have edged closer to victory as Afghanistan stare at the possibility of a crushing defeat. The match has been a battle of survival for the Afghan side, with the pressure mounting as they have lost six wickets and are struggling to chase down a competitive target. Leading the charge for South Africa with the ball has been the ever-reliable Kagiso Rabada, who struck at a crucial juncture, leaving Afghanistan on the brink of a heavy loss.
The atmosphere at the venue has been electric, with the South African fans vocally backing their team, and every wicket taken by the Proteas is met with a roar of approval. Afghanistan, on the other hand, is fighting a rearguard action, but with the required rate creeping up and wickets falling at regular intervals, the hopes of a remarkable recovery are dimming.
The Match Situation
South Africa, after posting a challenging total of 290-7 in their allotted 50 overs, had made an early breakthrough in Afghanistan’s innings. Their bowlers had struck at regular intervals, restricting Afghanistan’s batsmen from building any meaningful partnerships. Despite some resistance from Afghanistan’s top order, the pressure kept mounting, and the Proteas were able to build the pressure, forcing mistakes.
As the match reached its final phase, Afghanistan found themselves on the ropes, with the score reading 156-6 in the 38th over. South Africa was in full control, with their bowlers keeping the Afghan batsmen on a tight leash. Despite some valiant efforts from the lower order, it seemed like the game was slipping away from Afghanistan’s hands.
Kagiso Rabada’s Moment of Brilliance
At the heart of South Africa’s charge was Kagiso Rabada, the pace spearhead. With the ball in his hand, Rabada had been relentless, probing the Afghan batsmen with pace, bounce, and swing. His rhythm and aggression had already accounted for two important wickets earlier in the match, but it was his pivotal strike in the 37th over that truly broke the back of the Afghanistan chase.
With the Afghan team struggling to keep up with the asking rate, Rabada was brought back into the attack by South African captain Temba Bavuma. The atmosphere had started to tilt in South Africa’s favor, but Afghanistan still had some capable batsmen left in the middle. One such player was the promising Najibullah Zadran, who had managed to score a quick-fire 35 runs off 45 balls. He was looking to counter-attack and get Afghanistan back into the contest, but Rabada had other plans.
With his characteristic intensity, Rabada bowled a perfect short ball that reared up from a good length. Zadran, looking to fend off the delivery, got an outside edge that flew straight into the safe hands of Quinton de Kock behind the stumps. The South African wicketkeeper made no mistake, and Zadran’s promising knock came to an end. The Proteas were jubilant, and the Afghan batting lineup was left reeling.
Rabada’s strike had come at a crucial time, and it shattered Afghanistan’s hopes of staging a comeback. At 156-7, the equation had become increasingly difficult for the Afghan tailenders, who were now required to score at a daunting rate with just three wickets remaining.
The Afghanistan Collapse
Rabada’s brilliance didn’t stop there. Following Zadran’s dismissal, the remaining Afghan batsmen, including Rashid Khan, the dangerous lower-order hitter, were left to fight a losing battle. South Africa’s bowlers, led by Rabada, maintained their discipline, applying pressure and denying the Afghanistan batters any opportunity to break free.
Rashid Khan, known for his fiery lower-order hitting, tried to play some aggressive shots, but his attempt to break the shackles ended in disaster. He mistimed a lofted drive off Anrich Nortje, and the ball went straight into the hands of deep mid-off. Another wicket down, and Afghanistan was now teetering at 159-8, still needing over 130 runs with just two wickets left.
The Afghan tailenders, whose ability to take on the South African bowlers was limited, fought valiantly, but it was clear that the game was slipping away from them. Rabada’s mastery and the disciplined attack from the South African bowlers had dismantled the Afghanistan batting lineup, leaving the match all but decided.
The Role of South Africa’s Bowlers
While Rabada’s performance was the highlight, South Africa’s overall bowling effort was exceptional. Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi had been potent from the start, creating pressure from both ends. Nortje’s pace had been relentless, and his ability to generate bounce on the surface had troubled the Afghan batsmen, while Ngidi’s tight lines had been crucial in keeping the scoring rate under control.
Rabada’s three-wicket haul stood out, but it was the collective performance of South Africa’s bowlers that had truly restricted Afghanistan to a chase that seemed beyond reach. The Proteas had been disciplined, not allowing Afghanistan to score freely or build partnerships. The attacking field placements, particularly the aggressive setting against the lower order, had left Afghanistan with little room to maneuver.
With just one wicket remaining, Afghanistan’s chances were all but extinguished. It was a matter of time before South Africa would seal the victory, and Kagiso Rabada was determined to finish the job himself.
The Final Act
As the match entered its final moments, the South African crowd was on its feet, anticipating the inevitable conclusion. Rabada, with his usual aggression and sharp focus, bowled the final over of the match. The final Afghan batsman, Noor Ahmad, fought hard but could do little against the relentless pace of Rabada.
With the score at 163-9, Rabada delivered the final blow. A full-length delivery outside off-stump tempted Noor Ahmad into a drive. He edged it straight to the slips, where Rassie van der Dussen made no mistake, completing the catch to seal South Africa’s dominant victory by 127 runs.
Conclusion
South Africa had emerged victorious in this Champions Trophy clash, and Kagiso Rabada was the star of the show. His brilliant spell of 3 wickets for 34 runs in 8.3 overs was the key to Afghanistan’s collapse, leaving them with no answer to the Proteas’ relentless pressure. Rabada’s strike at the critical juncture had set the tone, and his performance epitomized South Africa’s clinical approach to the match.
As the players walked off the field, South Africa’s dominance was clear. Afghanistan, despite their fight, had been outclassed in every department. Rabada’s performance was a reminder of his world-class abilities, and the victory left the South African team in a confident mood as they move deeper into the tournament.
For Afghanistan, there will be questions to answer, especially regarding their batting under pressure. But credit must be given to South Africa, whose clinical bowling attack and excellent fielding had dismantled Afghanistan’s hopes of chasing down the target. With the points secured, South Africa will now look ahead with optimism, knowing they have the weapons to go far in the Champions Trophy 2025.
