After bundling out South Africa for only 106 runs, Afghanistan comfortably won the Sharjah ODI by six wickets. While it was their first victory against South Africa in any international cricket format, it was also the Afghans’ fifth-fastest ODI win.   

It was the first ODI of the three-match ODI series between Afghanistan and South Africa in Sharjah. It was also their first international cricket meeting outside any ICC tournament. Afghanistan made the historical match memorable by dominating the complete ODI match. 

Last June, Afghanistan had a heartbreaking exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 after suffering a thrashing defeat against South Africa in the semi-final. In that game, Afghanistan were bundled out for only 56 runs on the tough batting pitch, and South Africa won that match by nine wickets. In the ODI series opener at Sharjah, Afghans set up a similar feeling for the Proteas.

SEE ALSO: Kamindu Mendis equals Test batting world record

South Africa were 36/7 at the end of the first powerplay

The left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi and off-spinner AM Ghazanfar provided a solid start for Afghanistan, as South Africa were struggling at 36/7 in 10 overs. Although the no.7 batter Wiaan Mulder fought with 52 runs off 84 balls, South Africa were all out for only 106 runs. It was South Africa’s joint seventh-lowest completed ODI total. 

Fazalhaq Farooqi (4/35) took four wickets, while Ghazanfar (3/20) picked up three wickets. Also, the star leg-spinner Rashid Khan (2/30) claimed two wickets in that innings.  

Afghanistan won by six wickets with 144 balls remaining

In chasing, although Afghans lost their top-order batters cheaply, they never let their control out of their hands. Afghans were 38/3 as the openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0) and Riaz Hassan (16), and the no.3 batter Rahmat Shah (8) lost their wicket early. Also, the captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was dismissed on 16 runs when Afghanistan were 60/4.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib comfortably ended the game with a 47-run partnership for the unbroken fifth wicket. Omarzai scored 25 not out and Naib scored 34 not out as Afghanistan chased down the target in 26 overs after losing four wickets.

Afghanistan won the ODI by six wickets with 144 balls remaining. It was their fifth-fastest ODI win. 

Afghanistan’s fastest ODI wins (Top 5)