Sharjah, United Arab Emirates: In the opening One-Day International (ODI) of their three-match series, Afghanistan defeated South Africa by a remarkable six wickets on Wednesday in an exciting match that will live in memory for years to come. With the victory, Afghanistan has won an ODI against the Proteas for the first time, which is a huge accomplishment for the quickly developing cricketing nation. Afghanistan now lead the 3-odi series 1-0.
Batting first, South Africa found it difficult to gain momentum and ended up with a respectable total of 106 all out in 34.4 overs. Under Rashid Khan’s leadership, Afghanistan’s bowlers wreaked havoc on South Africa’s batting order. The game changed dramatically during Fazalhaq Farooqi’s economical 7-1-35-4 period.
Afghanistan’s top order faltered in response, losing four wickets for a meagre 60 runs. But with a vital partnership, Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai steadied the ship and led Afghanistan to victory with 26 overs remaining. Omarzai’s 26-run innings and Naib’s 34-run knock made sure Afghanistan easily chased down the mark.
The triumph demonstrates Afghanistan’s outstanding advancement in international cricket. The squad has demonstrated in recent years that they are capable of competing against highly competitive nations, and this triumph further establishes their reputation as a formidable force.
It would be intriguing to watch if Afghanistan can sustain their momentum and defeat South Africa in the series as it progresses. The team would accomplish a great deal and considerably improve their standing internationally if they win the second ODI.