South Africa overpower Afghanistan in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 group-stage encounter

South Africa produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Afghanistan by 107 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the National Stadium in Karachi. Ryan Rickelton's maiden ODI century anchored the innings as the Proteas posted 315 for 6, before their pace attack dismissed Afghanistan for 208 in 43.3 overs. Winning the toss, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma opted to bat first and his side capitalised on favourable conditions. After Tony de Zorzi fell early to Mohammad Nabi for 11, Rickelton and Bavuma steadied the innings with a crucial second-wicket partnership of 129 runs. Rickelton marked his Champions Trophy debut with a composed 103 off 106 balls, becoming the first South African to score a century on his Champions Trophy debut. His knock featured seven boundaries and a six before a dramatic run-out ended his innings, when Rashid Khan collected a driven ball and threw to wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz with Rickelton's bat momentarily raised off the ground. Bavuma contributed 58 off 76 balls before falling to Nabi, while Rassie van der Dussen added a brisk 52 off 46 deliveries. Aiden Markram provided late impetus with a quickfire fifty as South Africa plundered 51 runs from the final five overs. Afghanistan's chase faltered early as Lungi Ngidi removed Gurbaz for 10 with a short-of-length delivery. Kagiso Rabada then flattened Ibrahim Zadran's middle stump with a 148kph thunderbolt, leaving Afghanistan reeling at 38 for 2. Further wickets tumbled as Sediqullah Atal was run out and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi fell without scoring, caught brilliantly by Bavuma at mid-on off Wiaan Mulder. At 51 for 4 after 15 overs, Afghanistan's hopes had all but evaporated. Rahmat Shah mounted a lone resistance with a fighting 90 off 92 balls, striking nine boundaries and a six. However, he found little support as wickets continued to fall. Rabada finished with 3 for 36, while Ngidi and Mulder claimed two wickets each. The 107-run victory provided South Africa with a significant boost to their net run rate as they opened their Champions Trophy campaign. For Afghanistan, playing their first-ever Champions Trophy fixture, the defeat exposed batting vulnerabilities against quality pace bowling that would need addressing in subsequent group matches.