Champions Trophy: Afghanistan vs South Africa Live updates and Commentary

That’s it! Rabada completes the job by getting Rahmat’s wicket. No century for him today, but a real valiant effort by him today. A faint edge that carries the ball to Rickelton and that’s the final nail in the coffin.

So, a dominating win for the South Africa in their opening match. They bullied Afghanistan in every department today. There was no chance for the Afghanis today. Afghanistan did have a little to cheer about courtesy of great Rahmat knock. The real star of the match was the Proteas batting and Ryan Rickelton especially. A hundred for the leftie could spell a great tournament for him. South Africa bag the two points and top the group as of now. Australia and England face each other tomorrow in a fascinating encounter. Till then, goodbye!

Mulder cleans up Noor! A good length delivery and Noor stays rooted to his spot as the ball takes the off stump away. 9 down for Afghanistan now.

208/9 Afghanistan.

Maybe I should have waited a bit before I typed the previous update! Rashid steps out to Maharaj but cannot get the cleanest connection. The ball sails to Markram standing at short deep midwicket. That’s probably game set and match.

Afghanistan are 169/8.

The Afghan skipper has strode and decided that he is not going to play the waiting game and instead take the game to the Proteas. He has raced to 18 off 12.

Ngidi gets Gulbadin! A miskew and top edge off Gulbadin’s bat finds Bavuma at mid on. That his second catch of the match and Ngidi’s second wicket of the match as well.

Afghanistan are 148/7.

A silver lining for Afghanistan to take from this performace would be this innings from Rahmat. With wickets falling at the other end, he stood his ground and has grinded a 50 here. Well played indeed.

Afghanistan are 141/6.

Nabi gets hurried by a short ball by Jansen and he can only swat it to Rabada at square leg. He did not contribute much as he returns to the pavilion having scored 8 off 17.

Afghanistan are 121/6.

The pressure has delivered for the Proteas! Rabada strikes with Azmatullah’s wicket! A faint nick to carry the ball to Rickelton behind the stumps. Smart bowling from South Africa’s no.1 pacer. Afghanistan have lost half their side for 89 runs.

The game has slowed down a bit, with South Africa constricting the batters for runs. Afghanistan will need to get out of this rut quickly as the time is running out with the run rate rising.

Afghanistan are 88/4.

Two wickets in quick succession! Hashmat steps down the pitch and absolutely leathers the ball straight to Bavuma who does really well to hold on. Mulder with the wicket, his first of the night. South Africa are running away with the game now.

Afghanistan are 50/4.

With pressure rising and another maiden at risk, Sediq tried to scuttle for a quick single but Jansen’s direct hit ran him out. Majestic piece of fielding from Jansen, especially for a man of his size. Afghanistan are in deep, deep trouble now.

Afghanistan are on 50/3.

Things have not gone exactly to plan here for Afghanistan and they are caught in a pickle now as Zadran is castled by Rabada! The perfect response by the bowler after he was smashed down the ground for maximum. This powerplay has been won by South Africa clearly. The Afghani batters have failed to fire properly.

Afghanistan are 38/2.

Gurbaz tries to hurry things after hitting a boundary but instead finds the top edge. The ball loops to short fine leg and Keshav Maharaj completes the catch. First one down for Afghanistan.

Afghanistan are 16/1.

We are back for this chase! Marco Jansen will open the bowling and Gurbaz and Zadran will come out to open the Afghan innings. If the openers score big, this game could become very interesting.

14 runs off the last over by Farooqi. That will hurt Afghanistan a bit as South Africa finish at a daunting 315 runs in their 50 overs. Ryan Rickelton was the star of the innings as he scored his first ICC ton. Elsewhere there were 50s for Bavuma, van der Dussen and Markram. Handy contributions from each batter today made this total achievable for the Proteas today.

For Afghanistan, their plans were faltered because of some brilliant middle overs batting by Rickelton and Bavuma. They will feel that they did not extract from the surface as much as they could have. Still, there were a flurry of wickets at the end as presents for all the effort put in today. To chase this down Rashid’s men will have to be on top of their game and bat intelligently to whittle this total down.

A great cameo from the veteran! Some flashy shots in this innings, but much needed for the Proteas at this stage. Picked the gaps perfectly and was rewarded handsomely for it.

One brings two! Jansen goes to slog Azmatullah but finds his leg stump going for a walk. A great nipping delivery from Azmat and some wickets here for the Afghani bowlers.

South Africa are 302/6

Amongst all the carnage taking place around him, Miller decides that he cannot be left behind. Unfortunately for him, his luck was not like that of Markram’s and Rahmat Shah takes an absolute blinder to dismiss him.

South Africa are 298 for 5.

Van der Dussen departs! Goes to smash Noor in a bid to accelerate further but instead finds the edge. The ball flies to Hashmatullah and he completes the catch safely. Finally, some rewards for the bowlers. They have really toiled today.

South Africa are 249/4.

Another 50 in the Proteas ranks! It has come rather quickly as well for van der Dussen. Instant acceleration from him after Rickelton left the pen and surely South Africa have to reach 300 from here.

South Africa are 245/3.

Just the wicket Afghanistan wanted and needed. Rickelton departs after a handsome ton. Great innings by the wicket keeper batsman. Gave South Africa the platform to score big.

Bavuma does not get a third life! Having survived an LBW shout, the batter goes for a hoik against Nabi in the same over and finds Sediqtullah in the deep.

Bavuma goes for a well made 58.

South Africa are 157/2.

50 for Bavuma! His sparkling form and resurgence continues! Great knock by him, a real captain’s innings. This partnership he has formed with Rickleton seems to be hurting Afghanistan now. Bavuma had just survived a review for caught behind just a ball before, maybe it is just his day.

At the halfway point, South Africa are 136/1. Rickleton is currently on 75.

What a shot by Bavuma! Again, gets low and swats Rashid for a four over cow corner. He has speedily brought himself into the 40s with that shot.

South Africa are 119/1

At the end of 20 overs, the score stands at 104/1. A pretty comfortable South Africa here. Bavuma and Rickleton have hardly had anything to worry about. Afghanistan will need to revisit their plans and tweak them. As it stands, this partnership could potentially take the game away from them.