AFG vs SA: Afghanistan completes series win with excellent bowling performance

Afghanistan and South Africa continued their ongoing ODI series by facing off in the second ODI. Both sides locked horns at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday, September 20. It is worth noting that Afghanistan managed to defeat the Proteas in the first ODI and hoped to pull off another win in the second.

The clash began with the hosts coming in to bat first after winning the toss. The side saw opener Riaz Hassan get dismissed for a score of 29 runs, with Rahmat Shah adding 50 runs onto the scoreboard. However, it was the knock of Rahmanullah Gurbaz that stood out for Afghanistan.

The star opener amassed 105 runs in 110 deliveries, being the star of the show in the first innings of the game. Furthermore, Azmatullah Omarzai played a brilliant knock as well and stayed unbeaten for 86 runs in 50 deliveries. By the end of the first innings, Afghanistan posted a total of 311 runs with the loss of four wickets.

As for South Africa, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, Nqabayomzi Peter, and Aiden Markram were the wicket-takers in the first innings, with one wicket each to their names.

Coming out to chase the target of 312 runs, South Africa were stable until Temba Bavuma was dismissed for 38 runs, and Tony de Zorzi was sent packing for a score of 31 runs. Furthermore, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram scored 17 and 21 runs, respectively.

It is worth noting that after Markram, none of the other South Africa batters managed to cross the score of 10 runs. Tristan Stubbs was dismissed for five; Kyle Verreynne added two runs on the board, with Bjorn Fortuin scoring a duck.

Afghanistan’s excellent bowling attack managed to limit South Africa to a total of 134 runs in the second innings. Rashid Khan was the highest wicket-taker for Afghanistan in the second innings, with five wickets to his name. Nangeyalia Kharote took four wickets, with Azmatullah Omarzai taking one, as Afghanistan won the game by 177 runs and clinched the series.