South Africa National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard

Cricket is more than just a game—it’s a story of passion, strategy, and moments that make your heart race. When the South Africa National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, it was a clash of cricketing cultures. South Africa brought their experience and firepower, while Afghanistan showcased their fearless spirit and rapid rise in world cricket. This article dives into the thrilling match that took place on February 21, 2025, at the National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan, breaking down the scorecard and key moments in a way that’s easy for everyone to enjoy, whether you’re a cricket newbie or a seasoned fan.

Table of Contents

The Stage is Set

The National Stadium in Karachi was buzzing with excitement. The pitch was batting-friendly, promising a high-scoring game, and the weather was clear with a hint of haze—perfect for an evening of cricket under the lights. South Africa, led by captain Temba Bavuma, won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision that would set the tone for the match. Afghanistan, under the leadership of Hashmatullah Shahidi, was ready to chase, banking on their dynamic bowling attack and spirited batting lineup.

This wasn’t just another game—it was the 3rd Match of Group B in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. South Africa, a powerhouse with a deep batting lineup and a lethal bowling unit, faced an Afghanistan side that’s been turning heads with their grit and talent. Let’s break down how this exciting match unfolded.

South Africa’s Batting: A Display of Class and Power

South Africa’s innings was a masterclass in building a big total. They finished at 315/6 in their 50 overs, a score that screamed dominance but also showed Afghanistan’s bowlers fought hard. Here’s how it all went down.

The Opening Act

Ryan Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi opened the batting for South Africa. Rickelton, stepping in for the injured Heinrich Klaasen, was the star of the show. He played with a calm confidence, mixing solid defense with aggressive strokeplay. De Zorzi, on the other hand, got off to a quick start, scoring 11 runs off 11 balls with two crisp boundaries. But his cameo ended early when Mohammad Nabi struck in the 5th over, getting de Zorzi caught at mid-on by Azmatullah Omarzai. South Africa were 28/1, and the stage was set for a big partnership.

The Rickelton-Bavuma Show

Enter Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s captain, who joined Rickelton at the crease. The duo put on a clinic, stitching together a 129-run partnership for the second wicket. Rickelton was the anchor, reaching his fifty in 48 balls with five fours and a six. Bavuma played the perfect supporting role, rotating the strike and finding boundaries with ease. He reached his sixth ODI fifty in 63 balls, keeping the scoreboard ticking.

Just when it looked like they’d bat through, Nabi struck again in the 28th over, dismissing Bavuma for 58 (caught by Sediqullah Atal). South Africa were 157/2, and the foundation was laid for a big total.

Rickelton’s Maiden Century and Middle-Order Fireworks

Rickelton kept going, reaching his maiden ODI hundred in 101 balls—a moment that had the crowd on its feet. His 103 runs (106 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) were a blend of grit and flair, but his innings ended in the 35th over when a brilliant piece of fielding by Rashid Khan and Rahmanullah Gurbaz saw him run out. South Africa were 201/3, and the middle order needed to step up.

Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram didn’t disappoint. Van der Dussen played a stylish 52 off 46 balls, including three fours and two sixes, before falling to Noor Ahmad in the 42nd over. Markram, the ever-reliable all-rounder, finished unbeaten on 52 off 36 balls, smashing six fours and a six to give South Africa a late surge. David Miller chipped in with 14, but a stunning catch by Rahmat Shah off Fazalhaq Farooqi’s bowling ended his stay. Marco Jansen fell for a duck, and Wiaan Mulder’s quickfire 12 not out off 6 balls pushed South Africa to a formidable 315/6.

Afghanistan’s Bowling Effort

Afghanistan’s bowlers had their moments but struggled to contain South Africa’s deep batting lineup. Mohammad Nabi was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2/51 in his 10 overs with his crafty off-spin. Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi picked up one wicket each, but their economy rates (7.22 and 7.37) showed how tough it was to bowl on a batting-friendly pitch. Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s trump card, went wicketless, conceding 59 runs in his 10 overs—a rare off-day for the leg-spin wizard.

Afghanistan’s Chase: A Valiant Effort Falls Short

Chasing 316 was always going to be a tall order, but Afghanistan’s batting lineup has shown they can pull off miracles. Unfortunately, this wasn’t their day. They were bowled out for 208 in 43.3 overs, losing by 107 runs. Here’s how their innings played out.

Early Wickets Hurt

Afghanistan’s chase got off to a shaky start. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, known for his explosive starts, fell for 10 in the 3rd over, caught by Keshav Maharaj off Lungi Ngidi’s bowling. Ibrahim Zadran showed promise with a six but was bowled by Kagiso Rabada for 17 in the 9th over. Sediqullah Atal (16) and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (0) followed quickly, leaving Afghanistan reeling at 50/4 after 14.4 overs. South Africa’s pacers were on fire, with Rabada and Ngidi exploiting the early movement.

Rahmat Shah’s Lone Battle

Rahmat Shah stood tall amid the collapse, playing a superb innings of 90 off 92 balls. His knock included nine fours and a six, showcasing his ability to blend caution with aggression. Shah found some support from Azmatullah Omarzai (18) and Gulbadin Naib (13), but partnerships were hard to come by. Omarzai fell to Rabada, and Naib was caught by Bavuma off Ngidi, leaving Afghanistan at 142/7 after 34.2 overs.

The Final Blows

Rashid Khan tried to spark a fightback with a quick 18 off 13 balls, including three fours and a six, but his dismissal by Keshav Maharaj in the 37th over all but ended Afghanistan’s hopes. Noor Ahmad (9) and Rahmat Shah fought on, but Wiaan Mulder and Rabada cleaned up the tail. Shah’s valiant 90 ended in the final over, caught by Rickelton off Rabada, as Afghanistan were bowled out for 208.

South Africa’s Bowling Dominance

South Africa’s bowlers were relentless. Kagiso Rabada led the way with 3/36, his pace and accuracy too much for Afghanistan’s batsmen. Wiaan Mulder and Lungi Ngidi took two wickets each, while Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj chipped in with one apiece. The Proteas’ disciplined bowling ensured Afghanistan never got a foothold in the chase.

Key Moments That Defined the Match

Rickelton’s Century: Ryan Rickelton’s 103 was the backbone of South Africa’s innings, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Rabada’s Fiery Spell: Kagiso Rabada’s 3/36, including the wickets of Zadran, Omarzai, and Shah, broke Afghanistan’s back.
Rahmat Shah’s Fight: Shah’s 90 was a reminder of Afghanistan’s growing batting depth, even if it wasn’t enough on the day.
Nabi’s Double Strike: Mohammad Nabi’s dismissals of de Zorzi and Bavuma gave Afghanistan hope, but South Africa’s depth was too much.

The South Africa National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard : A Complete Breakdown

Here’s the full South Africa National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, laid out clearly for easy reading.

South Africa Innings (50 overs max)	Total: 315/6 (RR: 6.30)
Batsman	R	B	4s	6s	SR	Dismissal
Ryan Rickelton †	103	106	7	1	97.16	run out (Rashid/Gurbaz)
Tony de Zorzi	11	11	2	0	100.00	c Omarzai b Nabi
Temba Bavuma (c)	58	76	5	0	76.31	c Atal b Nabi
Rassie van der Dussen	52	46	3	2	113.04	c Shahidi b Noor Ahmad
Aiden Markram	52*	36	6	1	144.44	not out
David Miller	14	18	1	0	77.77	c Rahmat Shah b Farooqi
Marco Jansen	0	1	0	0	0.00	b Omarzai
Wiaan Mulder	12*	6	1	1	200.00	not out
Extras	13 (w 13)
Total	315/6 (50 Ov)
Did not bat	Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Fall of Wickets	1-28 (de Zorzi, 5.1), 2-157 (Bavuma, 28.5), 3-201 (Rickelton, 35.3), 4-248 (van der Dussen, 42.4), 5-298 (Miller, 47.6), 6-299 (Jansen, 48.2)

Afghanistan Bowling	O	R	W	ECON	0s	4s	6s	WD
Fazalhaq Farooqi	8	59	1	7.37	25	8	2	1
Azmatullah Omarzai	6	39	1	6.50	16	5	0	0
Mohammad Nabi	10	51	2	5.10	23	2	0	2
Rashid Khan	10	59	0	5.90	28	3	2	1
Gulbadin Naib	7	42	0	6.00	16	4	0	0
Noor Ahmad	9	65	1	7.22	22	3	1	5

Afghanistan Innings (Target: 316)	Total: 208 all out (43.3 Ov, RR: 4.78)
Batsman	R	B	4s	6s	SR	Dismissal
Rahmanullah Gurbaz †	10	14	1	0	71.42	c Maharaj b Ngidi
Ibrahim Zadran	17	29	1	1	58.62	b Rabada
Sediqullah Atal	16	32	2	0	50.00	run out (Jansen)
Rahmat Shah	90	92	9	1	97.82	c †Rickelton b Rabada
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)	0	4	0	0	0.00	c Bavuma b Mulder
Azmatullah Omarzai	18	27	3	0	66.66	c †Rickelton b Rabada
Mohammad Nabi	8	17	0	0	47.05	c Rabada b Jansen
Gulbadin Naib	13	19	2	0	68.42	c Bavuma b Ngidi
Rashid Khan	18	13	3	1	138.46	c Markram b Maharaj
Noor Ahmad	9	15	1	0	60.00	b Mulder
Fazalhaq Farooqi	0*	0	0	0	–	not out
Extras	9 (b 2, nb 1, w 6)
Total	208 all out (43.3 Ov)
Fall of Wickets	1-16 (Gurbaz, 3.2), 2-38 (Zadran, 9.4), 3-50 (Atal, 13.6), 4-50 (Shahidi, 14.4), 5-89 (Omarzai, 22.6), 6-120 (Nabi, 28.6), 7-142 (Naib, 34.2), 8-169 (Rashid, 37.3), 9-208 (Noor Ahmad, 42.6), 10-208 (Rahmat Shah, 43.3)

South Africa Bowling	O	M	R	W	ECON	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Marco Jansen	8	1	32	1	4.00	30	3	0	2	0
Lungi Ngidi	8	0	56	2	7.00	25	8	1	0	0
Kagiso Rabada	8.3	1	36	3	4.23	36	3	1	2	1
Wiaan Mulder	9	0	36	2	4.00	32	2	1	2	0
Keshav Maharaj	10	0	46	1	4.60	33	6	0	0	0

Match Details

Venue: National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
Date: February 21, 2025 (D/N)
Toss: South Africa, elected to bat
Result: South Africa won by 107 runs
Player of the Match: Ryan Rickelton (103 & 2 catches)
Umpires: Alex Wharf (ENG), Sharfuddoula Saikat (BAN), Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SL)

Why South Africa Won

South Africa’s victory was a team effort. Their batting depth allowed them to recover from early setbacks and post a daunting total. Rickelton’s century, supported by Bavuma, van der Dussen, and Markram, ensured they had enough runs to put Afghanistan under pressure. On the bowling front, Rabada’s wickets at crucial moments broke Afghanistan’s momentum, while Ngidi and Mulder kept the runs in check. Afghanistan fought hard, but their batting lacked the partnerships needed to chase 316. Rahmat Shah’s 90 was a highlight, but with no other batter crossing 20, the task was too steep.

What This Means for Both Teams

For South Africa, this win was a statement of intent in the Champions Trophy. With players like Rickelton stepping up and Rabada leading the attack, they look like serious contenders. However, they’ll need to maintain this form against stronger sides. For Afghanistan, the loss highlighted their potential but also their need for batting depth. Shah’s innings showed they can compete, but they’ll need more consistency from their top order to challenge the big teams.

A Rivalry to Watch

The South Africa National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard rivalry is growing, fueled by mutual respect. South Africa admires Afghanistan’s fighting spirit, while Afghanistan learns from the Proteas’ professionalism. This match was a reminder that cricket is about more than just runs and wickets—it’s about stories, heart, and the thrill of competition.