All-round SA begin campaign with big win

That's that. South Africa have dominated their opening game of the Champions Trophy to secure a 107-run win. Only Rahmat Shah showed fight in the 316-chase and was the last man to fall for 90. But with a second-highest score of only 18, Afghanistan were always going to fall short. Eventually, they were bowled out for 208 in 43.3 overs with Rabada picking three wickets and Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder picking two each.

Batting first on a Karachi surface that had a nice layer of grass, South Africa rode on Rickelton’s 103 followed by steady fifties from Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram to rack up 315 for 6. That meant for Afghanistan to win their Champions Trophy debut match, they had to record their highest-ever successful chase. They never really got close.

With this big win, South Africa's NRR has zoomed to +2.140. Afghanistan will have plenty to ponder after this defeat.

Rahmat continues to get the runs ticking along as he enters the 90s, but he is hardly finding any support. He smashes four fours on the bounce, first to Mulder that he nails through midwicket before smashing Keshav Maharaj for three successive fours. Noor Ahmad, in at No. 10 does his best to defend the ball and give Rahmat the strike, but departs for 9.

Afghanistan are 208 for 9 after 43 overs.

He is a crowd favourite absolutely anywhere he goes, and the decibel level has gone up a few nothces now that Rashid Khan is in the middle. Gulbadin Naib departed as he mistimed a Lungi Ngidi short of a length delivery straight up to mid-off. With the required rate nearing 11, Rashid walks in and there is absolute bedlam in Karachi.

The first ball he faces is slapped over deep point for six. The fourth ball he faces is sent over mid-on. In between, he tells Ngidi that he is going to deposit him over long-on. Then comes Keshav Maharaj and Rashid slams him for back-to-back fours. There was a missed stumping before Maharaj finally had his man mistiming a hoick to midwicket.

Rashid's innings lasted only 13 balls, his control% was only 38, but boy did the crowd have a gala time when he was out in the middle. So much so that as soon as he was dismissed, a section of the crowd started to leave. The aura!

It has been a solid fifty from Rahmat even if it took 62 balls. He has been in control 80% of his deliveries and made sure to hold one end up. Four fours in his knock and he gets to his half-century with a nice flick between mid-on and midwicket. Just the 13 false shots in his innings so far, and that has been a hallmark. Even though he hasn’t scored as many boundaries, he’s made sure to keep the runs ticking along.

Rahmat has shown good fight but is not getting much support from the other end. Kagiso Rabada struck for the second time when he had Omarzai stranded down leg. It was a rising short of a length delivery that Omarzai failed to keep down and gloved to Rickelton who took a neat catch to his left.

Rahmat got a couple of critical boundaries away when spin was first introduced after the 20th over mark but run-scoring remained a task for the Afghanistan batters. They could never get beyond the five runs an over mark as the required rate continued to climb. There is nothing major happening off the surface. Maharaj has got the odd ball to turn sharply, but that's about it.

Jansen returns in the 29th over and removes Mohammad Nabi, who is very late on the pull and offers a simple catch to short midwicket.

Afghanistan are 120 for 6 after 29 overs and further need 196 runs from 21 overs

Afghanistan have managed to hit four fours in between the overs 16 to 20 and all of these have come against Ngidi. It's the change of length that seems to be working for Omarzai and Rahmat. Omarzai begins by cutting Ngidi. Then comes an edge through slips by Rahmat before Omarzai nails a pull through midwicket. Ngidi is smashed down the track but comes back with a number of slower deliveries which deceives the two batters.

Ngidi seems to have lost his length a touch in this second spell. He was so tight in the first few overs, but has been all over the place in these last few overs. Having said that, Afghanistan are still well behind but these two could signal the start of something.

Marco Jansen shows his incredible athleticism and ends Sediqullah Atal's difficult innings. He looked completely out of place against the pace of the South African bowlers, who have largely bowled the hard lengths. Out of the 32 balls he faced, Atal was beaten ten times and played 14 false shots. His innings ends courtesy of a run out. He pushes a Rabada good length ball to mid-on and sets off. But, Jansen quick to sprint to the ball and hits the non-striker's stumps direct. Sensational work!

More misery for Afghanistan as four balls later they lose their captain Hashmatullah Shahidi who nails back of a length delivery from Wiaan Mulder but straight to Temba Bavuma who takes a stunning catch at mid-on.

Afghanistan have stumbled to 51 for 4 after 15 overs and this chase is looking trickier by the minute

This is bowling of the highest class by the South African trio of Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. They are not giving the batters an inch to work with. Mostly back-of-a-length stuff on or outside off stump and nothing that the Afghanistan batters can do. Jansen bowls a maiden in the sixth over where he beat Sediqullah Atal's bat three out of six times. Then Kagiso Rabada followed up with a two-run over.

Ibrahim Zadran finally managed to break the shackles as he went down the track and hammered Rabada over wide long-on. But that does not please the fast bowler one bit. He returns with a 148.3kph thunderbolt and sends the middle stump splat. Zadran, who was legside of that delivery, got nowhere near it. Rabada obviously did not take kindly to that six that Zadran hit and chirped a 'thanks, champ' just as Zadran was walking off. The on-air commentators inform that the Rabada pearler to remove Zadran was the second-fastest ball delivered in the history of the Champions Trophy.

Afghanistan have managed just 15 runs between overs six to 10 and that includes a six and four.

And it is the big wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz that South Africa have nipped out quite early. What a strike! Both Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen have bowled tight lines and it is Ngidi who takes out the big scalp. Gets a short of a length ball to rise up sharply on leg stump. He tries to evade it, but can't get out of the way. Maharaj takes a good catch diving forward at short fine leg.

It is the combination that makes this bowling pair so dangerous. Jansen is a hit-the-deck bowler, who gets the ball rise awkwardly off a length. Ngidi relies more on his swing, but also has a sharp bumper as Gurbaz realised. Afghanistan are 23 for 1 after five overs as Sediqullah Atal comes in at No. 3.

A top start for South Africa. Here are the first five overs in the chase:

A rather painful start for Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the chase as he gets hit on the box by a rising Marco Jansen delivery. He looks in a lot of strife. The physio comes out. Ouch! He is down on his haunches. A long, long pause and Gurbaz finally looks fine to resume. Jansen lets out a wry smile. Who knows, this could help Gurbaz wire in even better.

Righto, South Africa have amassed 315 for 6, riding largely on Ryan Rickelton's maiden ODI century. Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram also smashed solid half-centuries and Afghanistan will need a record chase here. They bowled well in patches, but were at times shoddy on the field, while Noor Ahmad was completely off colour. Azmatullah Omarzai bowled a nerveless 49th over, but Wiaan Mulder ended with 4 and 6 off the final over to get South Africa past the 310-mark. Can Afghanistan chase this down? Remember that Afghanistan's highest successful chase in ODIs is 283 against Pakistan, so this will be a record if they get there.

316/5 v Kenya, Colombo 2002
315/6 v Afghanistan, Karachi today
305 v India, Cardiff 2013
301/9 v England, Centurion 2009

Some brutal hitting from Aiden Markram has given South Africa a solid end. Markram, who couldn't find the middle of the bat for the first 20 overs or so, flicked a switch and helped South Africa get close to 300. What was important was that he cut loose at the right time.

He first went inside out against Farooqi in the 46th over and that was the opening he needed. He went four and six against Noor Ahmad and then smoked Farooqi for three back-to-back sixes in the 48th over. While David Miller fell thanks to a resounding catch by Rahmat Shah at deep midwicket, South Africa had already racked up a solid score.

A timely return to form for Rassie van der Dussen, who is coming into the Champions Trophy short of runs. Since the start of January 2024, van der Dussen scored just 104 runs from six innings at an average of 17.33 without a fifty. With Heinrich Klaasen not around, he gets another chance and he's grabbed it with both hands.

He started slowly here, but once he found his groove quietly went on the assertive. And, what's important is that he's taken down the best bowler of the Afghanistan attack - Rashid Khan. He first smashes him for a fierce cut past point and then slogs him over deep midwicket before repeating the shot in the next over.

Noor gets him for 52 off 46 balls, but van der Dussen's innings has given Afghanistan the impetus.

South Africa between overs 40 to 42.

Afghanistan have strung a few tight overs. There were no boundaries hit between overs 32 to 39, with the spin trio of Noor Ahmad, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad making sure South Africa don't rush away. With Rickelton gone, Afghanistan will try and eat into this South African middle-order that has been short of runs.

Having said that while Rashid and Nabi have been tight, Noor has been off-colour. He has been either too short or too full and even gave away a few extra runs down leg. Rashid Khan had a word with Noor, and he has since delivered a couple of good overs. But, I just feel, Noor is bowling too quick and that is causing the radar to go awry.

What Afghanistan will want from him (and the other spinners) is to keep the pressure on. It isn't a belter of a Karachi surface and anything in the vicinity of 300 will be a tough chase. Overs 32 to 39:

Rickelton, who looked absolutely flawless has been dismissed in a bizarre manner. Rashid bowls a length ball on middle and leg, which is bunted back to the bowler. He fires a flat throw and Rickelton who is out of the crease scampers back. I think he was caught off-guard just a touch and as he puts in the dive, his bat bounces just short of the crease. That means, even though his bat is over the line, it is in the air. Gurbaz whips off the bails in a flash and Rickelton has to depart. End of a top knock, but this could be the opening Afghanistan were looking for.

A maiden ODI century for Rickelton and he gets there with a single to long-off. It has been such a mature innings from the opener. Found the boundaries at every given chance, got the singles going and now becomes the first South African batter to score a century on Champions Trophy debut.

He loves batting against Pakistan, he loves batting in Pakistan. Already the fifth century in the Champions Trophy and this is just the fourth day of the tournament.

Gary Kirsten - 188* v UAE, ODI WC 1996 Ryan Rickelton - 100* v AFG, CT 2025

Who else but Nabi to provide the timely breakthrough South Africa have been motoring along, rather coasting nicely and Nabi comes back to break the 129-run stand. Two balls with a lot of drama. Nabi first has Bavuma rapped on the pad as he misses the sweep. The umpire has no hesitation in giving him out. But ball-tracker has that missing leg stump much to Nabi's surprise.

But, the very next ball he gets Bavuma who mistimes a short of a length delivery straight down deep midwicket's throat. A sedate 76-ball 58 from the South Africa captain comes to an end. Rickelton, meanwhile has entered the 90s and looks set for his maiden ODI century.

How South Africa have gone between overs 25 to 29.

He is also coming into the Champions Trophy in great form. He scored a solid 82 in the tri-series against Pakistan. Before that, Bavuma had a 106 in the Test against Pakistan and three fifties and a century in the Test series against Sri Lanka at home. But, it is important Bavuma scores well in the Champions Trophy.

One big reason is that while Bavuma has a terrific record at home, but has struggled away. He has five centuries and six half-centuries, but this is only his second fifty away from home. His first came against Pakistan in the tri-series earlier this month. It is also a good chance for him to improve on the average, which coming into CT'25 was 53.12 at home and 27.00 away. He has looked solid so far, today. Watched the ball closely and taken his chances whenever possible. Now to convert this into a three-figure score.

Both Rickelton and Temba Bavuma have looked solid so far. In the overs between 11 and 20, South Africa scored 58 runs without losing a wicket, and what's important is that they have so far negated the Rashid threat. Bavuma, who started slowly, has picked up pace while Rickelton is going on unperturbed.

Oh, dear, and he looks in a lot of pain. Seemed to be not much initially, but he is writhing in pain, holding his left hand. Was a gentle length ball on off that Rickelton bunted back to the bowler. Think the ball hit that bony part of the left wrist where it really pinches. The physio takes a look and Rashid looks fine to continue.

Rickelton is making full use of his excellent recent form as he brings up a solid half-century off 48 balls. His second fifty in ODI cricket and that is a great way to start off his Champions Trophy campaign. A lot of his mannerisms are similar to Quinton de Kock... the load-up, the way he pulls, the punch down the ground. He has huge shoes to fill and has started on the right note. Firdose Moonda had recently spoken to Rickelton where he says: 'T20 cricket is flipping hard. It's different, but it is harder than Tests'. It is a lovely interview. Have a read, here.

Another important thing to note is that he has faced a lot of Rashid Khan in recent times. The two were part of the same team in the SA20 - MI Cape Town - and he would have faced him in the nets a fair bit. That could prove to be decisive. Rashid has bowled two overs so far, and hasn't got much purchase off the surface.

South Africa are 87 for 1 after 16 overs and this partnership is already past the 50-mark.

Farooqi keeps things tight but has to walk back to the changeroom after his five-over spell. He was walking a little gingerly, with a hint of anguish on his face. Fingers-crossed, for Afghanistan's sake, that he is going in just for a comfort break or a breather. Bavuma, meanwhile, has taken his time to start but Rickelton has stepped up. He pumps Farooqi for a six straight down the ground and makes sure the scoreboard keeps ticking over nicely even if the boundaries don't come in regularly.

Rickelton is coming into the Champions Trophy in excellent form. He scored 336 runs in eight outings at the SA20, averaging 48 and striking at 178.82. Then in the New Year's Test against Pakistan, he walloped a massive 259. While the formats might be different, runs under the belt are always great, and Rickelton has started his Champions Trophy in top form. Now for him to convert this into a big score.

There was a comment on ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball commentary for this game along the lines of: "Bring in Nabi from the other end see the magic..."

And, almost on cue Mohammad Nabi was brought into the attack and it took him all of one ball to indeed show his magic. It was almost a nothing delivery. Slightly short of a length on off just sitting up to be hit. De Zorzi could have whacked this anywhere, instead, he just swats this meekly to mid-on. Nabi can barely believe his luck and his pulls out a fist pump and flashes a wide smile. Just the start Afghanistan would have hoped for.

In comes captain Temba Bavuma.

Good, tight lines from both Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai. There is definitely some swing in the air and off the surface as well. Ryan Rickelton begins with a crisp four to the left of mid-off but nothing much apart from that. Omarzai got the ball to move away big time from Rickelton while Farooqi is hooping the ball sharply into both left-handers. Tony de Zorzi finally gets a couple of boundaries away against Omarzai, but run-scoring hasn't been easy in the first four overs.

Both bowlers are working up good speeds, in the mid to high 130s. Now for that first wicket.

Here's how the first four overs panned out:

Toss time. Temba Bavuma, the South Africa captain, has won the toss and South Africa will bat. The pitch has an Australian feel to it, says Rameez Raja and that's aided in Bavuma's decision. But the big thing from the South Africa XI is that there is no Heinrich Klaasen or Tristan Stubbs for the first game.

Wowza! That is a big miss. Firdose informs that Heinrich Klaasen has been ruled out of today’s match as a precautionary measure due to a left elbow soft tissue injury.

Temba Bavuma: Wickets looks different from how it generally does in Pakistan. Not really sure how it'll react. We have to assess the wicket, hope to get a good score on the board. We have a lot of confidence in our bowling, consistency has been our strength. Just one spinner today, Shamsi. Tricky to say what a good score.

Hashmatullah Shahidi: If we'd have won the toss, we'd have batted too. Our focus is on how to start well. We played some quality cricket against SA in Sharjah. We have quality spinners, they'll be important. I will be happy if we start well, and we get early wickets and restrict them going into the middle overs.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad

South Africa: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Pitch report: It's partly cloudy. The wind is picking up and dropping down. The long boundary is 79 down the ground, 62 and 67 square. Dale Steyn says the pitch is hard, has grass but has cracks. They are wide but the pitch is hard enough to ensure that it won't widen through the day. If the ball lands on the grass though, bowlers will likely get sideways movement. Still might be good to bat on. As the game gets on, there might be variable bounce.

Firdose Moonda lays down the preview of this game with optimism. Here's a snippet. Group B of the Champions Trophy gets underway with a fixture between the dream side of the last two tournaments, Afghanistan, and the one which has nightmares about the number of times it has not got its hands on the trophy, South Africa.

She also spoke to Rahmanullah Gurbaz ahead of the tournament in what is a delightful interview. The Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter talks about his rise from humble beginnings in Khost and how his brother would break his bats because he wanted him to concentrate on his studies.