By Neil Manthorp.
A meticulously composed maiden ODI century from Ryan Rickelton laid the platform for a solid South African total of 315-6 in their 50 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat first in their opening Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday.
Contrasting half centuries from captain Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen also contributed to the impressive total although a pitch offering precious little assistance to seamers and spinners will test South Africa’s bowling attack during the run-chase.
Aiden Markram added a third, unbeaten half century in the closing overs to push the total beyond 300 to leave Afghanistan with what would be their highest successful ODI run-chase should they win.
Left-hander Rickelton cut, drove and pulled boundaries when the opportunities presented themselves but mostly it was a brilliant display of maneuvering the ball into gaps and running well to reach his hundred from 101 balls with just seven fours and one six.
Fellow opener Tony de Zorzi (11) chipped a tame catch to mid on against veteran offspinner Mohammad Nabi in the sixth over but a second wicket partnership of 129 between Rickelton and Bavuma laid an ideal platform for the middle order.
Bavuma’s primary objective was to keep wickets in hand during the middle overs and he did so perfectly while playing some smart sweeps and scoop-sweeps against the spinners on his way to 58 from 76 balls before toe-ending a pull shot against Nabi to deep midwicket.
Van der Dussen was consequently able to play with rare freedom driving and late-cutting three fours and slog-sweeping a pair of sixes before miscuing a drive against left arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad to captain Hashmatullah Shahidi at cover to depart for a fine 52 from 46 balls.
Markram also benefitted from the sizeable platform and struck some glorious, classic drives through the off side to finish unbeaten on 52 from just 36 balls with six fours and a six while Wiaan Mulder finished the innings with a flourish striking the final ball for a six to finish on 12* from six balls.
David Miller (14) was undone by a brilliant catch on the deep cover boundary by Rahmat Shah who held a sliced drive against left arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi and Marco Jansen was bowled first ball by Azmatullah Omarzai.
As well as South Africa batted Afghanistan did themselves no favours in the field conceding at least a dozen ‘extra’ runs while 40-year-old Nabi was the pick of the attack with 2-51 from his 10 overs.
Heinrich Klaasen was omitted from the Proteas XI “as a precaution” because of an injury to his left elbow while Keshav Maharaj was selected as the sole spinner in an otherwise all pace attack.
South Africa beat Afghanistan by nine-wickets at the 2019 World Cup and again by five-wickets at the 2023 World Cup but their most recent meetings – in an inaugural bilateral series in Sharjah last September – went the way of Afghanistan who famously prevailed 2-1 with comfortable victories by six-wickets and 177-runs in the opening two matches.
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad.