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AFG vs SA Highlights: After Rickelton’s Century, Bowlers Shine as South Africa Secures a Comprehensive Victory Over Afghanistan
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy witnessed a powerful performance from South Africa as they defeated Afghanistan by a commanding margin. The match, which featured brilliant batting from South Africa’s Janneman Rickelton and a clinical bowling display, left Afghanistan struggling to match up. South Africa’s well-rounded approach with both bat and ball was a testament to their dominance in the group stage clash.
The Stage Is Set: A High-Stakes Encounter
Both South Africa and Afghanistan were aware of the significance of this match in the context of their tournament campaigns. South Africa, with a blend of experienced and young players, was one of the favorites to lift the trophy. Afghanistan, on the other hand, had been steadily rising in world cricket and had the talent to cause upsets. Their team, spearheaded by players like Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, came into the match full of confidence, but the challenge of facing a strong South African side was a tough one.
The conditions on the day of the match seemed ideal for batting, and the toss would be critical in setting the tone for the game. South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first, setting up a platform to put Afghanistan under pressure right from the start.
Rickelton’s Century Anchors South Africa’s Innings
South Africa’s opening batsman, Janneman Rickelton, who had shown glimpses of brilliance in previous matches, was the key man for his team. The opening partnership between Rickelton and Temba Bavuma got off to a steady start. While Bavuma played the role of the anchor, Rickelton took the attack to Afghanistan’s bowlers, especially targeting the spinners. His elegant stroke play was on full display as he deftly placed the ball into gaps, finding the boundaries with ease.
Afghanistan’s bowlers, including their main man Rashid Khan, found it difficult to break through. Rickelton, in particular, was in sublime form, and his confidence grew with each passing over. His footwork was crisp, and he drove the ball through the covers with a sense of authority. Alongside him, Bavuma was equally solid, providing the necessary support and rotating the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking.
By the time the partnership had crossed 100, Afghanistan was left with little room to breathe. Rickelton, who had already hit some exquisite boundaries, reached his half-century with a glorious pull shot off a short delivery from Naveen-ul-Haq. His timing and placement were impeccable, and the Afghan bowlers were struggling to keep him in check.
Bavuma, on the other hand, fell after a patient knock of 40 runs, leaving Rickelton to continue his assault. With the departure of Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen joined Rickelton at the crease. The two formed a brilliant partnership, complementing each other’s game. Van der Dussen’s ability to accelerate the scoring rate combined with Rickelton’s solid technique gave South Africa the perfect balance in their innings.
Rickelton’s hundred came up in the 35th over, and the crowd erupted in appreciation for his brilliant knock. His century was a controlled yet aggressive effort, as he navigated through Afghanistan’s bowling attack. The Afghanistan bowlers, especially Rashid Khan, looked to break the partnership but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
With a hundred under his belt, Rickelton continued to play an aggressive brand of cricket, taking on the spinners and pacers alike. His partnership with van der Dussen, who contributed with a solid knock of 45 runs, propelled South Africa to a formidable total.
South Africa’s Total: 330/6
South Africa finished their innings at 330/6, a commanding total that would put significant pressure on Afghanistan’s chase. Rickelton’s 105 off 110 balls was the highlight of the innings, with his elegant strokeplay being the bedrock of South Africa’s score. With solid contributions from van der Dussen and David Miller, South Africa’s batting depth was on full display.
Afghanistan’s bowlers, despite putting in some tight overs, could not break through consistently. Rashid Khan, the world-renowned Afghan spinner, finished with 2 wickets for 58 runs, but his efforts were not enough to halt the South African onslaught. Mohammad Nabi and Naveen-ul-Haq also bowled well, but the consistent pressure applied by South Africa’s batsmen proved too much.
Afghanistan’s Chase: A Struggle From the Start
Chasing 331 runs in a big tournament game was never going to be easy for Afghanistan, especially against a South African team with a formidable bowling attack. Afghanistan needed a solid start to their innings, but the early breakthroughs were crucial, and they could not afford to lose wickets quickly.
South Africa’s pacers, led by Kagiso Rabada, who was fresh off a match-winning performance in their previous encounter, made early inroads. Afghanistan’s opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran struggled to handle the pace and bounce of the South African bowlers.
Gurbaz, who has been one of Afghanistan’s brightest prospects, was dismissed for just 14 runs. Rabada, with his deadly pace and movement, struck first, sending Gurbaz’s off-stump flying. The Afghanistan camp was rocked by this early setback, as Zadran now had the weight of the chase on his shoulders.
With the departure of Gurbaz, Zadran tried to anchor the innings, but the pressure from Rabada and Lungi Ngidi was immense. Zadran’s resistance lasted only until he scored 25 runs, with Rabada getting the better of him with a perfectly timed yorker. Afghanistan was now 2 wickets down for just 40 runs.
Afghanistan’s Middle Order Falls Apart
Afghanistan’s middle order, which had been their strength in past matches, could not handle the quality of South Africa’s pace attack. Rashid Khan, known for his all-round abilities, was unable to make a significant impact with the bat, falling for just 12 runs.
The wickets kept falling as South Africa’s bowlers continued to apply pressure. Mohammad Nabi and Hashmatullah Shahidi, who had been dependable in past matches, could not counter the relentless pace of Rabada and Ngidi. Nabi fell for 19 runs, while Shahidi was dismissed for 28, leaving Afghanistan at 140/6.
Afghanistan’s hopes of chasing down the target were all but over. The lower-order batsmen could not put up any resistance, and in the end, Afghanistan was bowled out for just 198 runs, 132 runs short of the required target.
Rabada and Ngidi Lead the Attack
Rabada was the standout bowler for South Africa, claiming 4 wickets for 45 runs in his 9 overs. His pace and ability to swing the ball at high speeds made him a constant threat to Afghanistan’s batsmen. Along with Ngidi, who took 2 wickets for 40 runs, the South African bowlers dominated the Afghanistan line-up.
The duo’s efforts were a crucial factor in Afghanistan’s collapse, and the win was a complete team effort from South Africa. The bowlers supported their batsmen’s great work, sealing a dominant victory that will boost South Africa’s confidence in the tournament.
Conclusion: A Complete South African Performance
South Africa’s victory over Afghanistan by 132 runs in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy was a clinical and commanding display. Janneman Rickelton’s century set the tone for South Africa’s dominant total, and the bowlers, led by Kagiso Rabada, finished the job with ruthless efficiency. The comprehensive win displayed South Africa’s well-rounded strength, both with the bat and the ball.
For Afghanistan, this defeat was a tough one to swallow, as they never really got going in their chase. South Africa’s quality with the ball proved to be a significant hurdle, and Afghanistan’s inability to handle the pressure left them well short of the target.
South Africa will be pleased with their all-round performance and will head into their next games with confidence, while Afghanistan will have to regroup and reflect on their weaknesses to ensure they bounce back in their future matches. The match was a reminder of the dominance that South Africa can impose on the field when they play at their best.
