Afghanistan vs South Africa Live Score, Champions Trophy: AFG stare down the barrel at 51-4, SA in control

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Everything going Afghanistan’s way now. Jansen takes strike for his first ball, and goes for the big drive but gets nowhere close. You miss, I hit, says Azmatullah Omarzai, knocking the leg-stump back.

10 balls left in the innings, 299/6.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Afghanistan’s fielding has been somewhat subpar today, but that’s incredible work on the cover boundary by Rahmat. Makes up a lot of ground to his right against a flat hit, and times the dive to perfection. Hangs on to the ball and stays away from the boundary rope, and the dangerous Miller undone by an incredibly well-taken catch.

298/5, two overs left.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Fantastic acceleration from Markram in these last couple of overs, hitting the first 3 balls of Farooqi’s over to the fence. The third is the finest, a low full-toss which Markram plays with a straight bat over the head of mid-off. Pure timing.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: There’s the big hitting South Africa want. A boundary over the off-side from Markram, followed by a powerful shot for six as he clears his front leg and deposits it.

300 within sight, but South Africa will want more.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Afghanistan doing well at the moment to not let the batters totally explode. Both Miller and Markram going at run-a-ball, with Noor being used in an interesting death overs role.

272/4, 4 overs left in the innings.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: And just like that, van der Dussen is out attempting to keep the hitting going. Good knock by the South African, and David Miller coming in at a great time for the Proteas, capable of causing some big damage at the death.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Rassie van der Dussen making a good tempo since his arrival, and a big shot off Rashid brings up his 50 in just 41 deliveries. Not the best of Rashid today, 0-59 at the end of his spell.

245/3 after 42.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: 40 overs bowled and the Proteas on 230/3. How many runs are they targeting in the final 10 with David Miller still to come? Surely at least 90-100 on this pitch? Spinners largely bowled out too.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: All that work to be run out in this fashion! Rickelton steps out and taps it back to Rashid, who fires it straight back at the wicket-keeper. Rickelton tries to evade the throw back at him while trying to regain his ground, but his bat is wedged into the air even as it crosses the line as Gurbaz whips the bails off.

Wicket out of nothing, and the centurion departs. 201/3, this could be a massive wicket.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Rickelton’s rise in international cricket continues. Not been his most powerful century, but he’s been in total control, and batted fantastically against the spinners of Afghanistan.

199/2 after 35 overs.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: 184/2 as drinks are called after 32 overs. Rassi van der Dussen at the crease now, but not timing it as well as Bavuma and Rickelton, especially against the spin. Chance for the Afghan team to put some pressure on to the Proteas now.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: It’s all happening in Karachi, but Afghanistan finally break the partnership, and it’s the golden arm of Nabi again! Bavuma looks to clear the leg-side field, but it’s not close to enough contact, simple catch for deep mid-wicket.

Bavuma had survived the previous delivery after being judged LBW, with the DRS hawkeye showing it was just missing the stumps. Made nothing of his reprieve.

157/2 now after 28.5.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Everything a little too easy for the Proteas now as the batters get a read of the pitch, which isn’t doing too much anyway. Lovely pickup shot over the on-side from Rickelton brings up the 150, and South Africa set for a big one here. Desperate times for Afghanistan now.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Bavuma’s strong vein of form in recent months continues, a well-made half-century and looking set for a big one.

Noor Ahmad introduced only in the 25th over, but Afghanistan still trying to work towards a breakthrough. 136/1 after 25 overs.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Century partnership comes up, as Bavuma begins to hit out a touch. A slog sweep in the previous over for four against Rashid, and now a chip-shot straight drive past mid-on for four more.

Afghanistan in for the long haul in Karachi. 131/1 after 24.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Only a brief moment of concern as Rashid returns to bowl immediately. But his unhappiness is clear as the short fine leg fielder lets the ball trickle through him and straight to the boundary, the first in 6 overs.

Afghanistan looking a bit rusty in the field. 110/1 in 21 overs.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Rashid Khan in some pain here. A pretty innocuous tap back to the bowler from Rickelton, but it goes on the strike Rashid on his left wrist.

Rashid getting attended to in the middle at the moment.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Runs drying up in the last few overs, no boundaries for more than 5 overs. Afghanistan doing well to put this changed-up South African lineup under some sort of pressure, but this partnership needs to be broken soon.

104/1 in the first 20 overs.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Couple of boundaries in that over, and Rickelton brings up his half-century in 48 deliveries.

83/1 after 15.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Key period of the game for Afghanistan now. Azmatullah Omarzai operating from one end, and Rashid Khan in from the other. How the Proteas handle Rashid could make or break the innings for them.

70/1 after 13.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Nothing expansive and risky from the Proteas. Keep the strike rotating, playing themselves in.

51/1 after 11 overs.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Rickelton has been un terrific form in the SA20, and it doesn’t take him too long to start counter-attacking after De Zorzi’s wicket.

A fantastically-timed chip over mid-on for the first maximum from the powerful batter.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: First ball and Nabi strikes! WHAT AN ENTRY! LEGEND!

He sends it back of a length, outside off. It is turning away and De Zorzi goes for a big one, which he shouldn’t have. He didn’t read it well, skies it to mid-on, the ball flies like a feather, and Omarzi takes the easy catch! FIRST WICKET!

De Zorzi c Omarzai b Nabi 11 (11)

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Back-to-back fours for De Zorzi. He first smacks Azmatullah past the left of mid-on for a four, then followed it up with another past cover point. Then he takes a single, and Omarzai leaks three more in the final ball.

The fifth over begins back-to-back fours as Rickelton joins the party and pulls Farooqi over midwicket for the first. Then he cuts him with ease past cover point for another four! Farooqi responds with four dot balls.
SA: 28/0 (5)

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: That was a good over as Omarzai concedes only a single in the second over. Rickelton (4*) and De Zorzi (1*) will look to maintain their cautious approach here!

Farooqi back in the action for the next over (third over of the innings). He pitches it up, swinging in, and De Zorzi glances it to wide mid-on for a single. Then he sends a short of length delivery, moves away from Rickelton’s attempt, and the wicketkeeper grabs it. Rickelton gets a double in the next ball, directing it to deep backward point.

Good over by Farooqi as he wraps it up with a streak of three dot balls.

SA: 8/0 (3)

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Farooqi begins with an inswinger, and it ends up being a low full-toss. Rickelton toe-ends it to mid-on. Then it is another dot, followed by Farooqi sending it on length, on middle. Rickelton drives it with ease, on the up, past the left of mid-off for a four as SA open their account!

Farooqi wraps up the over with a streak of three dot balls, and an lbw appeal in the final delivery.. Good start by both sides.
SA: 4/0 (1)

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: The action begins! De Zorzi and Rickleton to open the innings for South Africa. Meanwhile, Farooqi will bowl the first over for Afghanistan! AFG will be eyeing for an early breakthrough here!

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Time for national anthems as both teams walk out from the tunnel and enter the field. The fans go into a state of frenzy, cheering for their favourite players.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Klaasen has been ruled out due to a left elbow soft tissue injury.

SA – Ryan Rickelton(w), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

AFG – Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad

After winning the toss, SA captain Temba Bavuma said, “We will have a bat first. Looks a bit different that what we have been experiencing here, not sure how will it react. Will try to post a competitive total on the board. I have a lot of confidence in our bowling attack, today we have gone for a lone spinner in Shamsi and the rest are seamers.”

Meanwhile, AFG skipper Shahidi stated, “We would have won the toss we would have batted first but the toss is not in our hands and we have to play good cricket. We played some quality cricket against them in Sharjah and we have quality spinners. Hopefully, we do well and can beat them. I will be more happy if we start well and take some wickets in the powerplay and give some momentum to our bowlers in the middle overs.”

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: It is toss time!! SA skipper Bavuma wins the toss and opts to bat!

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Toss is scheduled for 2:00 PM IST folks! The pitch in Karachi won’t be as bad as the one in Tarouba, so expect a cracker of a match here! Afghanistan will be seeking revenge from their previous ICC event meeting, and South Africa will look for a winning start.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: “Just recently we beat them in Sharjah 2-1, so we have that confidence with us and we are not under pressure. Right now we are focusing on what we can do in this tournament. I believe that our team is more ready for this tournament and we are focusing on our own team. There is no pressure on us, said Shahidi.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Speaking ahead of the match, SA skipper Temba Bavuma said, “Like all the tournaments, we will come in with the prospect of seeing ourselves in the final but eventually obviously getting over the line. The nice thing is that we have guys with that experience and there’s no there’s no real baggage that exists amongst the guys. There’s no negativity from the fact that we haven’t been able to be successful in other ICC events. There’s a lot more of a positivity and confidence in terms of our ability or how far we can go within the tournament.”

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Miller and Rabada are the only two SA players with more than 100 ODI caps in this squad. Miller will need to contribute with the bat, but also has the advantage of a strong top order. But Rabada will need to lead the bowling attack, and will hope to be supported today.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Both teams last met at an ICC event during last year’s T20 World Cup, when they faced each other in the semi-finals. South Africa reigned supreme, winning by nine wickets with 67 balls to spare. Afghanistan have won eight of their last 10 completed ODIs, including a 2-1 series win vs South Africa in September. They are in good form, and will look for a strong start!

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: South Africa – Ryan Rickelton(w), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma(c), Aiden Markram, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Rassie van der Dussen

Afghanistan – Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Ikram Alikhil, Naveed Zadran, Nangeyalia Kharote

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Rashid’s threat, however, was compounded with the operation of youngster Allah Ghazanfar from the other end. Ghazanfar looked ready to be a star, with this as his breakout tournament, but a long-term back injury means they won’t have his services in this tournament. They still have a stock of good spinners in Mujeed Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad, who will need to step up if they want to keep a clamp on the Proteas’ scoring rate at this batting haven.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Afghanistan are no longer in a position where their hopes begin and end with Rashid Khan’s wickets, but that doesn’t mean the phenomenal leg-spinner isn’t a threat to any team he faces. Even in the series against South Africa last year, he led the wicket-taking tally, including a five-fer. Add to that all the experience he has against South Africa’s batters in franchise leagues around the world, and there is no question that the wily leggie will have something up his sleeve for some of the strongest hitters in world cricket.

South Africa vs Afghanistan LIVE Score: Of all the star names, one wouldn’t have expected the ICC ODI Player of the Year of 2024 to be Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, but what else can be the case when you have a player averaging 52 with bat and 20 with ball, with a CV that involves some crucial match-winning performances on both fronts? He might be one of the less-heralded players to watch in this tournament, a true difference-maker.