208/10 (43.3)
CR : 4.78
315/6 (50.0)
CR : 6.30
South Africa won by 107 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Ryan Rickelton
103(106)
Biggest Winning Margin for South Africa in Champions Trophy (By Runs):
176 vs Kenya, Colombo, 2002
124 vs Pakistan, Mohali, 2006
107 vs Afghanistan, Karachi, 2025, Tonight*
96 vs Sri Lanka, The Oval, 2017
176 vs Kenya, Colombo, 2002
124 vs Pakistan, Mohali, 2006
107 vs Afghanistan, Karachi, 2025, Tonight*
96 vs Sri Lanka, The Oval, 2017
Player of the Match: Ryan Rickelton
Ryan Rickelton (POTM): "Bit of a different one. I was quite nervous coming in today. My first full ICC tournament. I was a bit edgy but happy to contribute to the team in a winning performance. To contribute to the team and set us up for a win is something I take pleasure in.
We thought it would be tacky up front, but it played out all right. The bounce was a bit inconsistent, but you adjusted accordingly. I thought we could have pushed a bit harder, but Aiden played a great knock at the back there to get a competitive total.
I was disappointed to get out, especially in that manner. I thought Rashid Khan threw it at my head. But the guys who came in after me pulled the trigger.
Opening the batting and wicketkeeping was something I've done since I was young, something I take pride in. It was not the best night with the gloves, but I learned from my mistakes."
We thought it would be tacky up front, but it played out all right. The bounce was a bit inconsistent, but you adjusted accordingly. I thought we could have pushed a bit harder, but Aiden played a great knock at the back there to get a competitive total.
I was disappointed to get out, especially in that manner. I thought Rashid Khan threw it at my head. But the guys who came in after me pulled the trigger.
Opening the batting and wicketkeeping was something I've done since I was young, something I take pride in. It was not the best night with the gloves, but I learned from my mistakes."
Highest Individual Score by an Afghanistan Batter vs South Africa in ODIs
105 (110) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz at Sharjah, 2024
97* (107) - Azmatullah Omarzai at Ahmedabad, 2023
90 (92) - Rahmat Shah at Karachi, 2025 (TODAY)
105 (110) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz at Sharjah, 2024
97* (107) - Azmatullah Omarzai at Ahmedabad, 2023
90 (92) - Rahmat Shah at Karachi, 2025 (TODAY)
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Afghanistan Captain): "I think we didn't bat good enough tonight. The pitch was helping them in the second innings. We did well in the bowling, but we were not so good in the first 20 overs with the bat.
The toss was important. There were cracks on the pitch. It was not a typical Karachi pitch. Their bowlers bowled well, too. They bowled in the right areas and lengths.
My expectation was to play well, and we achieved a lot coming to this tournament. We have the ability to fight but we didn't play the way we wanted. We have two games, so we will forget what happened and look forward.
Rahmat played really well in tough times; we will take that as a positive. We will move forward and play quality cricket in the next two games."
The toss was important. There were cracks on the pitch. It was not a typical Karachi pitch. Their bowlers bowled well, too. They bowled in the right areas and lengths.
My expectation was to play well, and we achieved a lot coming to this tournament. We have the ability to fight but we didn't play the way we wanted. We have two games, so we will forget what happened and look forward.
Rahmat played really well in tough times; we will take that as a positive. We will move forward and play quality cricket in the next two games."
Temba Bavuma (South Africa Captain): "I think it was a clinical performance from us. We got the rub of the green with the toss. Took a brave call as we did not know how the wicket will play. Probably a perfect outing for us.
The wicket looked different than what we have witnessed in Pakistan. It was more like what we get back at home. I think as batters, you have to assess the conditions and do what needs to be done to put ourselves in a better position.
The guys at the backend, we pride ourselves in having a strong finish. We found it difficult when it was in a good area. Our tall guys hit the length hard and got the reward.
We take the learnings from this game and look to gear up for what we need to do against Australia."
The wicket looked different than what we have witnessed in Pakistan. It was more like what we get back at home. I think as batters, you have to assess the conditions and do what needs to be done to put ourselves in a better position.
The guys at the backend, we pride ourselves in having a strong finish. We found it difficult when it was in a good area. Our tall guys hit the length hard and got the reward.
We take the learnings from this game and look to gear up for what we need to do against Australia."
Biggest Margins of Defeats for Afghanistan in ICC Tournaments (ODIs):
275 runs vs Australia, Perth (WACA), CWC 2015
150 runs vs England, Manchester, CWC 2019
149 runs vs New Zealand, Chennai, CWC 2023
107 runs vs South Africa, Karachi, Champions Trophy, 2025 (TONIGHT)*
105 runs vs Bangladesh, Canberra, CWC 2015
275 runs vs Australia, Perth (WACA), CWC 2015
150 runs vs England, Manchester, CWC 2019
149 runs vs New Zealand, Chennai, CWC 2023
107 runs vs South Africa, Karachi, Champions Trophy, 2025 (TONIGHT)*
105 runs vs Bangladesh, Canberra, CWC 2015
Afghanistan Batters Dismissed in the 90s in ODIs
98 – Ibrahim Zadran vs Sri Lanka, Hambantota, 2023
96 – Samiullah Shinwari vs Scotland, Dunedin, CWC 2015
94 – Shabir Noori vs Canada, King City, 2011
94 – Rahmat Shah vs Zimbabwe, Harare, 2022
92 – Mohammad Nabi vs Scotland, Bulawayo, 2018
90 – Rahmat Shah vs South Africa, Karachi, 2025 (TONIGHT)
98 – Ibrahim Zadran vs Sri Lanka, Hambantota, 2023
96 – Samiullah Shinwari vs Scotland, Dunedin, CWC 2015
94 – Shabir Noori vs Canada, King City, 2011
94 – Rahmat Shah vs Zimbabwe, Harare, 2022
92 – Mohammad Nabi vs Scotland, Bulawayo, 2018
90 – Rahmat Shah vs South Africa, Karachi, 2025 (TONIGHT)
South Africa begin the CT 2025 with a big win against Afghanistan. Tomorrow, it is the battle of arch-rivals. Australia take on England in Lahore as the two oldest rivals take the field for the first time in this tournament.
For now, it is me AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentators, Ajay Pal Singh and Arjun Bhalla, who, along with our scorer/analyst Raju Khariya, brought you all the live-action of this game. We will meet again. Until then, its cheers!
For now, it is me AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentators, Ajay Pal Singh and Arjun Bhalla, who, along with our scorer/analyst Raju Khariya, brought you all the live-action of this game. We will meet again. Until then, its cheers!