South Africa defeated Afghanistan by 107 runs as the team opened the Champions Trophy account in Karachi, Pakistan.
Opener Ryan Rickelton attacked the maiden’s one-day international 100 as South Africa routed Afghanistan with 107 runs in the team’s Champions Trophy opening game in Karachi.
Rickelton split 106 balls 103 in a group B match at National Stadium on Friday with an impressive 315-6 total with seven boundaries and six South Africa.
Pace attacks from South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (3-36), Wian Mulder (2-36) and Lungi Ngidi (2-56) dismissed the highly fancied Afghanistan with just 208 in 43.3 overs.
South Africa has been wicketless with the threat of Afghan slow bowlers, star-leg spinner Rashid Khan with 59 runs in 10 overs.
Ramat Shah scored the top score for Afghanistan, gaining nine boundaries with 92 balls and 90, with six being the final men.

Chasing a fearsome target, Afghanistan desperately needed a quick start, but the gorgeous opener was a flashy opener at 10, and Ibrahim Zadran lost only on 10 days at 17.
Sedikula Atal fell at 16, but skipper Hashmathura Shahidi didn’t score and Afghanistan was left wobbling 50-4.
Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai (18) scored a score of 89 before Rabada and Marco Jansen, who eliminated Mohammad Navi, tried to effectively end Afghanistan’s hopes.
Rashid Khan temporarily entertained the crowd with a quick fire 13 ball 18, which includes the boundary of six and three.
“It’s clinical performance,” said South African Captain Temba Babuma. “We got green friction in the toss, but it was a brave decision to hit first without knowing how it would play.
“We looked after it, got a competitive score and then became clinical with the ball.”
Afghan captain Shahidi played a flaw in batting on his team.
“I don’t think the batting was enough today,” Shahidi said.
“The pitch was helping their bowlers. They’ll move forward in the next two games and play high quality cricket.”

Previously, Rickelton led South Africa to solid totals after winning a toss and being hit, with the support of Babuma (58), Lassi van der Dussen (52) and Aiden Marclam (52). Ta.
After finishing 2-51, Nabi provided an early breakthrough on the first ball by denying opener Tony De Zorzi, and was caught on Mid-On at 11.
Rickelton and Babma added 129 to the second wicket as Afghanistan struggled on the field.
Babuma hit five boundaries with a 76-ball knock, and was eventually driven out to a short navigation delivery, giving pleasure to hundreds of Afghan fans in an otherwise sparse crowd.
Although his name had two centuries of tests, ODIS’s previous best vest completed his first White Ball Century in a single.
But after two runs he was gone.
Down the pitch to drive Rashid, Rickelton quickly turned and was forced to return to his fold as the bowler collected and fired the ball at wicketkeeper Ramamarla Gerbaz.
Rickelton seemed to be building his own ground, but the replay showed his bat had been raised slightly.
Van der Dussen hit two sixes and three boundaries with a 46-ball knock, falling to Spinna Noa Ahmad in 43rd.
Marcolumn grabbed South Africa over the 300 mark and clubbed six boundaries and six boundaries with 36 balls 52 that helped Protea add 50 runs in the final five overs.
Australia will meet the UK at another Group B clash held in Lahore on Saturday.
Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh are participating in the scary group A, with the former facing each other next in the group on Sunday. The top two teams in each group are eligible for semi-finals.
Source link