Afghanistan put in a stellar performance in the first of three ODIs against South Africa to record their first-ever win against the Proteas in any format, and take revenge for their T20 World Cup semi-final humbling at the hands of the same opponent.
In Sharjah on Wednesday (September 18), South Africa may not have expected a cakewalk, but a disaster of the proportions that they suffered would certainly not have been on the cards.
After Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bat first, Reeza Hendricks and Tony de Zorzi got off to a steady start, before Hendricks was dismissed in the third over, inside-edging Fazalhaq Farooqi onto his stumps. Markram came to the crease next, but departed in near-identical fashion for two. Farooqi then struck for the third time in the Powerplay as de Zorzi mistimed a pull shot to mid-on, leaving South Africa 25-3.
Thereafter, teenage mystery spinner Allah Ghazanfar took over, to tie South Africa in knots in a magical spell.
Playing just his third ODI, Ghazanfar took his first international wicket in the eighth over of the innings. A length ball on off-stump turned away ever so slightly from Tristan Stubbs, who nicked it. The ball deflected off keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz's pads before Mohammad Nabi grabbed hold of it at first slip.
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Ghazanfar then got rid of debutant Jason Smith, knocking back the batter's stumps with one that turned back in. In his next over, he took a third, foxing Kyle Verrynne to trap him lbw. On the final ball of that over, a lapse in concentration from Andile Phehlukwayo saw him run out to leave the Proteas 36-7 in 10 overs.
Wiaan Mulder then put up a stubborn resistance for the visitors, making his way to a stroke-filled 52 before he was bowled by a delivery from Farooqi which kept low. The innings eventually folded for 106.
In their chase, Afghanistan lost opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the very first over. Seamers Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger managed to keep things tight for South Africa, and the pressure told as Bjorn Fortuin eventually got rid of Riaz Hassan and Rahmat Shah to leave Afghanistan 38-3 in the 14th over.
The hosts were able to build a couple of partnerships from there, though, as Hashmatullah Shahidi (16), Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib all chipped in to take their side over the line in 26 overs.
Kamindu Mendis has had a stellar start to his Test career 💪
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 18, 2024
Could he become the fastest batter to the milestone of 1,000 Test runs?
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Afghanistan cross South Africa off the list; only India remain
The result is a historic one, as Afghanistan's first-ever against South Africa. It will have been a satisfying one, given the last encounter between the sides, which was a one-sided result in South Africa's favour in the T20 World Cup semi-final.
It also means that Afghanistan have now defeated every other Full Member nation in international cricket, bar one. India are the last team on the list. Afghanistan have tied two matches against them, but not yet recorded a win.
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