Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
26 | 13 Runs | AFG: 107/4 | RR: 4.11

  • Gulbadin Naib34 (27b)
  • Azmatullah Omarzai25 (36b)
  • Andile Phehlukwayo2-0-20-0
  • Bjorn Fortuin9-0-22-2

Right then. A lot to work for for South Africa to come back in this series. And the turnaround time is not too long. The games come thick and fast, with the second ODI slated for day after tomorrow. Hope to have your company for that. On behalf of Ranjith, Sudeep and Aaditya, this is Sudarshanan bidding you goodbye. Ciao, aficionados!

9:09pm A maiden win for Afghanistan over South Africa and this is their third-biggest win in terms of balls to spare against a Test-playing nation. The Jonathan Trott-coached outfit continues to take giant strides in white-ball cricket, and this is a win that was purely set up by their bowlers. With regular opener Ibrahim Zadran missing due to injury and Gurbaz out early, Afghanistan faced a few early jitters, with the top order taking a lot of time to just get in. But once Shahidi and Omarzai walked in, Afghanistan started to breathe easier. Omarzai stayed unbeaten and in company of Naib, Afghanistan's everywhere-man, they created history. South Africa fought hard but a few missed chances did not help, and then their opponents never let them in.

Often with the lesser-ranked sides, their batting caves in under pressure. But their bowling performance ensured that there was very little scope for the Afghan batters to have an off day. Afghanistan had never lost chasing a total under 129; South Africa had never won defending a similar score - Omarzai and Naib ensured that stat remained unchanged. They completed the job that Farooqi and Ghazanfar started in the first hour of the teams' first bilateral series.

25.6
1
Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin Naib, 1 run, Slower one outside off, Naib clubs it to mid-on, who dives and half-stops it. Omarzai and Naib take the quick run that is on offer to seal a historic win. The pair share a hug to celebrate the moment
25.5
0
Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin Naib, no run, Full and wide outside off, Naib throws his hands at that and toe-ends it to mid-off

Just one needed

25.4
4
Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR, Afghanistan almost there. Another short-of-a-length ball outside off, Naib hangs back, swivels and pulls it over wide mid-on
25.3
2
Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin Naib, 2 runs, Back of a length just outside off, he fetches the pull and deep midwicket gets around, dives and keeps it to two
25.2
4
Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR, Powered straight back and Afghanistan only a hit away from history. Length ball just outside off, Naib stands tall and clubs it past the bowler
25.1
2
Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin Naib, 2 runs, Naib goes over the ring on the off side. But the ball does not have enough legs. Sees the length ball and thwacks it over extra cover for a couple

END OF OVER:
25 | 2 Runs | AFG: 94/4 (13 runs required from 25 overs, RR: 3.76, RRR: 0.52)

  • Azmatullah Omarzai25 (36b)
  • Gulbadin Naib21 (21b)
  • Bjorn Fortuin9-0-22-2
  • Andile Phehlukwayo1-0-7-0
24.6
0
Fortuin to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Fuller on middle, he lunges and blocks
24.5
0
Fortuin to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Goes back to the length ball, punched to cover
24.4
0
Fortuin to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Lands it on a fullish length on off, spins away, Omarzai plays inside the line

Afghanistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st0Rahmanullah GurbazRiaz Hassan
2nd15Rahmat ShahRiaz Hassan
3rd23Hashmatullah ShahidiRiaz Hassan
4th22Hashmatullah ShahidiAzmatullah Omarzai
5th47Gulbadin NaibAzmatullah Omarzai