Explained: How did South Africa get all out for 106 vs Afghanistan in 1st 2024 ODI?
Afghanistan and South Africa are facing off in a three-match ODI series in Sharjah. Hashmatullah Shahidi and his men began the series on a brilliant note with a terrific six-wicket victory in the first ODI on Wednesday (September 18) to take a 1-0 lead.
In a stunning display of spin bowling, South Africa were bowled out for just 106 runs in the first ODI against Afghanistan at Sharjah, handing the Afghans an easy target to chase. Afghanistan’s bowling attack, led by Fazalhaq Farooqi and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, wreaked havoc on the South African batting lineup, leaving them in tatters.
They struggled to get any momentum going from the very start. After being sent in to bat, they lost Reeza Hendricks early, bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi for 9, with just 17 runs on the board in the third over.
Captain Aiden Markram followed soon after, bowled by Farooqi for 2, as the Proteas slumped to 24/2 in the fifth over. Tony de Zorzi, trying to steady the innings, managed to hang around briefly but was the next to fall, edging one to Hashmatullah Shahidi off Farooqi’s bowling for 11. At 25/3 in the seventh over, South Africa were in deep trouble.
The introduction of young spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar proved disastrous for the Proteas. Their middle-order failed to read the variations from Ghazanfar, unable to pick him either off the hand or off the pitch. Tristan Stubbs, looking uncomfortable from the start, was caught by Mohammad Nabi off Ghazanfar without scoring, as South Africa crumbled to 29/4.
Kyle Verreynne, hoping to stabilize the innings, was next to depart, trapped leg-before by Ghazanfar for 10. Jason Smith followed soon after, bowled by Ghazanfar for a duck, leaving the visitors reeling at 36/5 in the 10th over.
To make matters worse, Andile Phehlukwayo was run out without scoring, adding to the Proteas' misery as they found themselves completely down and out at 36/7 after 10 overs.
Only Wiaan Mulder offered any real resistance for South Africa, scoring a patient 52 off 84 balls with five boundaries and a six. Mulder held firm at one end while wickets kept falling at the other. Bjorn Fortuin contributed 16 runs before he was bowled by Rashid Khan with the score at 75. Rashid then trapped Lungi Ngidi leg before for a duck, wrapping up the South African innings at 106 in the 34th over.
Fazalhaq Farooqi finished with impressive figures of 4/35, while Ghazanfar claimed 3/20 in his 10 overs. Rashid Khan chipped in with two wickets, ensuring there was no lower-order revival.
Afghanistan completed a comfortable chase to go 1-0 up against South Africa
After a tremendous job from their bowlers, it was only a mere formality for Afghanistan to knock off a small 107-run target, which they did with quite ease as well.
Although Aiden Markram and Co. made a few early breakthroughs and put Afghanistan under pressure, they simply did not have enough runs on the board to play with. Afghanistan were reduced to 60/4 by the 18th over.
However, the duo of Azmatullah Omarzai (25*) and Gulbadin Naib (34*) helped them get past the finish line in 26 overs.
The Afghan spinners proved too difficult for the Proteas to handle, and they will need to find answers quickly if they hope to bounce back in the next game.