Champions Trophy: Bavuma Applauds SA's 'Clinical Display' in Dominant Win Over Afghanistan
Click to start listening
Synopsis
In a striking start to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, South Africa triumphed over Afghanistan by 107 runs, thanks to Temba Bavuma's leadership and Ryan Rickelton's century. The Proteas set a target of 316, with a formidable bowling performance securing their victory.
Key Takeaways
- South Africa demonstrated a clinical performance.
- Ryan Rickelton scored a maiden ODI century.
- The bowling unit effectively dismantled Afghanistan's batting lineup.
- Bavuma emphasized the need for consistency in upcoming matches.
- South Africa's total of 315/6 established a challenging target.
Karachi, Feb 21 (NationPress) South Africa captain Temba Bavuma praised his team's “clinical performance” as they kicked off their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 journey with a decisive 107-run victory against Afghanistan here on Friday. Choosing to bat first on a challenging pitch, South Africa managed to score a commanding 315/6, bolstered by a maiden ODI century from Ryan Rickelton. The bowlers then put in a ruthless effort, dismissing Afghanistan for 208 in just 43.3 overs.
“Clinical performance. We made the bold choice to bat first without certainty about the wicket. We also executed our bowling plans efficiently, showcasing one of our best performances. The pitch behaved quite differently from what we are accustomed to in Pakistan,” Bavuma remarked after the match.
By batting first, South Africa scored a competitive 315/6, driven by Ryan Rickelton’s excellent 103. The left-handed batsman, in fantastic form following his impressive SA20 and New Year’s Test performances, steadied the innings with a well-paced knock. Contributions from Bavuma (58), Rassie van der Dussen (50), and Aiden Markram (52*) ensured the Proteas set a challenging target.
Faced with the daunting target of 316, Afghanistan struggled to find their rhythm as South Africa’s pace attack asserted control from the start. Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi laid the groundwork with disciplined bowling and sharp bounce, putting Afghanistan under immediate pressure.
A brief resistance was shown by Azmatullah Omarzai and Rahmat Shah, but Rabada’s comeback in the 22nd over resulted in Omarzai gloving a short ball to the wicketkeeper. Rahmat fought on, scoring a determined half-century off 62 balls, but as wickets fell around him, Afghanistan’s chances diminished.
The crowd erupted when Rashid Khan entered the fray, entertaining with two sixes and back-to-back fours during a brief 18-run appearance. However, his counterattack was halted by Keshav Maharaj. Rahmat continued to battle until the end, striking four consecutive boundaries, but he was the last man out for a commendable 90.
“Our batters rose to the occasion, allowing us to set a solid score. There were numerous cracks, and we anticipated some inconsistent bounce; it was somewhat tricky at times. The guys towards the end take pride in finishing strong. For the bowlers, it was crucial to maintain that length. We need to replicate this against Australia now,” Bavuma added.
South Africa’s bowling unit executed their strategy flawlessly, led by Rabada with three wickets, while Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder contributed with two each.
