Afghanistan vs South Africa live updates: Champions Trophy 2025
KARACHI: Afghanistan will take on South Africa in the third match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, beginning at 2PM today. It will be the first match of Group B. All of the latest updates will be available right here as they happen on the field.
Match Information:
This will be the second match taking place at National Stadium Karachi. Afghanistan had two warm-up matches prior to the tournament, including a game against the Pakistan Shaheens, and a game against New Zealand. Neither match went Afghanistan’s way. In their first warm-up, Afghanistan’s batting lineup was dismantled for only 170 runs after the Shaheens scored 314. In their second, despite scoring 305 runs in the first innings, New Zealand was able to win by two wickets. Their last ODI series came against Zimbabwe this past December. After the first match was declared a no contest, Afghanistan would go on to win the next two.
South Africa had one warm-up against a Shaheens squad led by Muhammad Hurraira. Pakistan scored 322 runs, propelled by two great knocks from Hurraira and Imam-ul-Haq, who scored 110 and 98 runs respectively. However, South Africa would win by three wickets as four Proteas’ players made half centuries. South Africa’s last ODI series came earlier this month in the tri-nation tournament in Pakistan. The Proteas lost both their matches to New Zealand and to Pakistan, with the latter being the men in green’s highest run chase ever.
Afghanistan’s squad is as follows: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Sediqullah Atal.
South Africa’s squad is as follows: Temba Bavuma (C), Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.
Also read: India vs Bangladesh live updates: Champions Trophy 2025
South Africa crash Afghanistan by 107 runs
South Africa opener Ryan Rickelton scored a maiden One-Day International century with a fluent 103 as his side eased to a 107-run win over Afghanistan.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat, amassing 315 for six in their 50 overs on a wicket with pace and bounce that was more akin to their home conditions on the Highveld than a sub-continent style pitch.
Afghanistan’s Rahmat Shah scored a fighting 90 but South Africa’s seamers stifled the run-rate and picked up regular wickets as their opponents battled to stay in the contest and fell well short as they were bowled out for 208 in 43.3 overs.
Australia and England clash in the second Group B fixture in Lahore on Saturday.
Posted on: February 21, 2025Afghanistan eight down
Afghanistan have lost eight wickets for 169 runs in 37 overs.
Fall of Wickets:
16/1 (Rehmanullah Gurbaz 10/14, 3.2 overs)
38/2 (Ibrahim Zadran, 17/29, 9.4 overs )
50/3 (Sadiqullah Atal, 16/32, 14.0 overs)
50/4 (Hashmatullah Shahidi, 0/4, 14.4 overs)
89/5 (Azmatullah Omarzai, 18/27, 23.0 overs)
120/6 (Mohammad Nabi, 8/17, 29.0 overs)
142/7 (Gulbadin Naib, 13/19, 34.2 ονers)
169/8 (Rashid Khan 18/13, 37.3 overs)
Posted on: February 21, 2025Afghanistan’s top order falls early in tall chase
Afghanistan struggled early in their chase for 316-run target.
They lost four wickets before reaching 50 runs.
Ibrahim Zadran (17), Sediqullah Atal (16), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (10), and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (0) all fell cheaply.
Currently, Afghanistan stand at 89 for four after 22.3 overs.
Posted on: February 21, 2025South Africa set 316-run target
South Africa posted a commanding total of 315 runs in their opening Group B match of the ICC Champions Trophy, thanks to a brilliant century by Ryan Rickelton and half-centuries from Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram.
South Africa opt to bat first after winning the toss.
The decision initially seemed questionable as they lost their first wicket at 28 runs when Tony de Zorzi (11) was caught by Hashmatullah Shahidi off Mohammad Nabi’s bowling.
However, a crucial 129-run partnership between Rickelton and captain Bavuma steadied the innings. Bavuma scored 58 before falling to Nabi.
Rickelton anchored the innings with a fine 103 before getting run out, while Van der Dussen added 52. David Miller (14) was dismissed courtesy of a sharp catch by Rahmat Shah off Fazalhaq Farooqi’s bowling.
Markram remained unbeaten on 52 off 36 balls, while Wiaan Mulder contributed 12 runs, guiding South Africa to 315/6 in their allotted 50 overs.
For Afghanistan, Nabi claimed two wickets, while Noor Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Farooqi got one wicket each.
Posted on: February 21, 2025Rickelton dismissed after making maiden ton
Ryan Rickelton made the first ever century of his ODI career on the first ball of the 35th over, with a gentle stroke that sent the ball to long off for a single.
However in the very next over, he was run out on a delivery from Rashid Khan. Rickelton his the ball right back to Rashid, who then threw it towards the batters end. Rickelton dived back into the crease, but his bat was in the air as the wicket-keeper whipped off the bails.
Aiden Markram has now replaced him on the field.
South Africa stand at 201 for three after 35.3 overs.
Posted on: February 21, 2025Bavuma saved by review, only to be caught out right after
Temba Bavuma was almost sent off in the 29th over by Mohammad Nabi via lbw. However, South Africa used a review and while Ultra Edge showed no bat or glove touching, ball tracking showed that the delivery was missing leg stump.
South Africa were spared, but only for a moment, as on the very next delivery, Bavuma was caught out by Sediqullah Atal at deep mid-wicket.
Bavuma scored 58 runs before he was dismissed on the 76th ball he faced.
South Africa stand at 157 for two after 29 overs.
Posted on: February 21, 2025Bavuma and Rickelton 100 run partnership
Temba Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton’s partnership reached and subsequently passed 100 runs in the 24th over.
Rickelton is closing in on a century. He has scored 72 runs off 74 deliveries. Bavuma is just two runs off a half century, currently at 48 off 60.
South Africa stand at 131 for one after 23 overs.
Posted on: February 21, 2025Rickelton hits 100th tournament four!
Ryan Rickelton hit the 100th tournament four in the 21st over. He worked the delivery off the pads, sending the ball towards Noor Ahmad, who misfielded it, allowing it to reach the boundary.
Rickelton has now made 67 runs off 70 deliveries. Temba Bavuma is nearing a half century of his own, currently at 35 runs off 50 deliveries.
South Africa stand at 113 for one after 22 overs
Posted on: February 21, 2025Rickelton makes second ever ODI 50
Ryan Rickelton completed his second ever ODI 50 on the last ball of the 15th over. He hit two fours in the over and a single on the last ball to bring up the milestone. His partnership with South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma is now at 55 runs.
Rickelton currently has 50 runs made off 48 deliveries. Bavuma has made 22 runs off 31 deliveries.
South Africa stand at 83 for one after 15 overs.
Posted on: February 21, 2025Tony de Zorzi dismissed in sixth!
South Africa suffered their first dismissal at the hands of Mohammad Nabi in the sixth over. Tony de Zorzi attempted to launch a pull shot over midwicket, but instead sent Nabi’s delivery straight to mid-on where Azmatullah Omarzai took the catch.
South Africa stand at 37 runs for one after eight overs.
Posted on: February 21, 2025The toss, opening comments, and playing XIs
South Africa won the toss and chose to bat. The Proteas’s skipper Temba Bavuma said that the wicket seemed different from usual and that he was unsure how it would react. He added that they hope to get a good score on the board, and that they have confidence in their bowling.
South Africa’s playing XI is as follows: 1 Ryan Rickelton, 2 Tony de Zorzi, 3 Temba Bavuma (C), 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 Aiden Markram, 6 David Miller, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi Ngidi.
Heinrich Klaasen was ruled out due to left elbow soft tissue injury.
Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said that they too would have chosen to bat first. He added that the team will look to get wickets early and restrict South Africa. Shahidi also said that Afghanistan have played quality cricket against South Africa before in Sharjah.
Shahidi was referring to the three match ODI series the two teams played in back in September of 2024. Afghanistan won that series 2-1.
Afghanistan’s playing XI is as follows: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 Ibrahim Zardan, 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Rahmat Shah, 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Gulbadin Naib, 8 Mohammad Nabi, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi.
