The Afghanistan national cricket team faced the South Africa national cricket team on February 21, 2025, at National Stadium, Karachi in the Champions Trophy 2025.
This match had everything – a century from Ryan Rickelton, brilliant bowling from Kagiso Rabada, and a brave fight from Rahmat Shah that fell short.
South Africa scored a big total of 315/6 in 50 overs and then bowled out Afghanistan for just 208 runs in 43.3 overs, winning by 107 runs.
This victory was important for South Africa in Group B, giving them 2 points and keeping their tournament hopes strong.
This complete Afghanistan vs South Africa timeline shows exactly what happened in every phase of the match – how South Africa built their huge total, how Afghanistan tried to chase it, and which moments decided this one-sided contest.
Match Overview: The Big Stage
This wasn’t just another ODI match. This was Champions Trophy 2025 – one of cricket’s biggest tournaments. Both teams knew that winning this Group B match was crucial for reaching the semi-finals.
South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first on a good batting pitch at Karachi’s National Stadium. Their plan was simple – put up a big total and then use their strong bowling attack to defend it.
Afghanistan came into this match with confidence. They have beaten big teams before and have world-class players like Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Mohammad Nabi. But they also knew that chasing against South Africa’s quality bowling would be very tough.
The match started at 2:00 PM local time with thousands of fans filling the stadium. Many Afghan fans had traveled to Karachi to support their team, creating a wonderful atmosphere.
South Africa Innings: Building to 315/6
South Africa batted with intelligence and power, scoring 315 runs while losing just 6 wickets in their 50 overs.
Early Trouble (Overs 1-10): 28/1
The start wasn’t smooth for South Africa. Their opening pair couldn’t give them the flying start they wanted.
Over 1-5: Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton opened the batting carefully. The pitch had some early movement, and Afghanistan’s bowlers, especially Fazalhaq Farooqi, bowled tight lines.
Over 5.1: Mohammad Nabi struck with his very first ball! De Zorzi tried to pull a delivery that looked easy to hit, but he mistimed it completely. The ball went high in the air and landed safely in the hands of the mid-on fielder. South Africa lost their first wicket at just 28 runs.
This wicket brought captain Temba Bavuma to the crease with his team in a difficult position.
Building the Foundation (Overs 11-28): 129 runs
Bavuma and Rickelton now had to rebuild the innings carefully. They didn’t take too many risks but kept scoring singles and twos regularly.
Over 11-20: Both batsmen rotated the strike well. Rickelton looked particularly confident, playing some beautiful cover drives. Bavuma supported him well from the other end, playing the anchor role perfectly.
Over 21-28: The partnership grew stronger. Rickelton reached his fifty in 58 balls, showing great patience and technique. Bavuma also looked comfortable, finding the boundary regularly.
By the Strategic Timeout at 28 overs, South Africa had recovered nicely, reaching 157/1. The second-wicket partnership between Bavuma and Rickelton had added 129 runs and put South Africa in control.
Acceleration Phase (Overs 29-42): 91 runs, 3 wickets
Now was the time to attack. South Africa needed to push the scoring rate and post a total above 300.
Over 28.5: Just when the partnership looked dangerous, Nabi struck again! Bavuma tried to pull a short ball but hit it straight to the fielder at deep midwicket. He walked back after scoring 58 runs from 76 balls. The partnership was finally broken, but they had added valuable runs.
Over 29-35: Rassie van der Dussen joined Rickelton. Both batsmen kept attacking, especially targeting the spinners. Rickelton was playing brilliantly – his timing was perfect, and he was finding gaps easily.
Over 35.3: Rickelton reached his century – 100 runs from 100 balls! The entire South African team stood up and applauded. He had batted beautifully for 154 minutes, hitting 7 fours and 1 six. But soon after his century, disaster struck. He was run out by Rashid Khan’s direct hit for 103. Still, his innings had given South Africa a strong platform.
Over 36-42: Van der Dussen continued the attack with support from Tristan Stubbs. They added quick runs, pushing South Africa past 240.
Over 42.4: Noor Ahmad got van der Dussen out for 52 (46 balls). Van der Dussen tried to hit over square leg but gave an easy catch instead.
Final Assault (Overs 43-50): 67 runs, 2 wickets
The last 8 overs saw South Africa go into full attack mode. David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen, two of the most dangerous hitters in world cricket, were now at the crease.
Over 43-47: Boundaries started flowing. Miller hit some massive sixes while Klaasen played smart cricket, finding gaps and running hard between wickets.
Over 47.6: Miller fell for 14, caught at the boundary while trying to clear it again. But his quick innings had done the job.
Over 48.2: Marco Jansen got out for a golden duck (0 runs from 1 ball) as Azmatullah Omarzai’s ball hit his leg stump directly.
Over 49-50: Heinrich Klaasen finished unbeaten on 52 from just 36 balls with 6 fours and 1 six. His strike rate of 144.44 showed how aggressively he batted. Keshav Maharaj helped him add 12 more runs at the end.
- Final Score: South Africa 315/6 in 50 overs
This was a very strong total. On this pitch, chasing 316 would need something special from Afghanistan.
South Africa Full Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | How Out |
| Ryan Rickelton | 103 | 106 | 7 | 1 | 97.16 | run out |
| Tony de Zorzi | 11 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 100.00 | caught |
| Temba Bavuma | 58 | 76 | 5 | 0 | 76.31 | caught |
| Rassie van der Dussen | 52 | 46 | 3 | 2 | 113.04 | caught |
| Heinrich Klaasen | 52* | 36 | 6 | 1 | 144.44 | not out |
| David Miller | 14 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 77.77 | caught |
| Marco Jansen | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | bowled |
| Keshav Maharaj | 12* | 6 | 1 | 1 | 200.00 | not out |
| Extras | 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 315/6 | 50.0 | — | — | 6.30 | — |
Key Partnerships:
- 2nd wicket: 129 runs (Bavuma 58, Rickelton part)
- 4th wicket: Good partnership between Rickelton and van der Dussen
Afghanistan Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Best Moment |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 8 | 59 | 1 | 7.37 | Early pressure |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 6 | 39 | 1 | 6.50 | Got Jansen |
| Mohammad Nabi | 10 | 51 | 2 | 5.10 | Both openers |
| Rashid Khan | 10 | 59 | 0 | 5.90 | Economical spell |
| AM Ghazanfar | 7 | 42 | 0 | 6.00 | Control in middle |
| Noor Ahmad | 9 | 65 | 1 | 7.22 | Got van der Dussen |
Mohammad Nabi was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets for 51 runs in 10 overs. Rashid Khan bowled well but couldn’t get a wicket, though he kept the run rate under control and was involved in Rickelton’s run-out.
Afghanistan Chase: Falling Short at 208
Afghanistan needed 316 runs to win – a very big target in a pressure match like Champions Trophy. What followed was a collapse as South Africa’s bowlers dominated completely.
Powerplay Struggle (Overs 1-10): Early Wickets
Afghanistan lost wickets quickly and never recovered from that bad start.
Over 1-5: Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal opened carefully. They knew one early wicket could create panic.
Over 5-10: Trouble started. South Africa’s pace bowlers, led by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, bowled with great discipline. They got the ball to move around, making batting very difficult.
The early wickets meant Afghanistan was always behind the required run rate.
Middle Order Collapse (Overs 11-30): Wickets Falling
More wickets kept falling as South Africa’s bowlers maintained pressure.
Over 15-25: Rahmat Shah tried to hold one end while wickets fell at the other end. He played some beautiful shots and showed why he is Afghanistan’s most experienced batsman.
Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi tried to dance down the track to hit Wiaan Mulder over mid-on, but Bavuma took a stunning catch. Afghanistan kept losing wickets regularly.
Atal was run out after a mix-up. Marco Jansen fielded quickly at mid-on and hit the stumps directly. These mistakes hurt Afghanistan badly.
Fighting Back (Overs 31-40): Shah’s Lone Battle
Rahmat Shah was the only Afghan batsman showing real fight. He played beautifully, finding boundaries when needed and rotating strike intelligently.
Over 35-40: Shah reached his fifty and kept going. He hit 9 fours and 1 six in his innings, showing great class under pressure. But he was running out of partners.
Rashid Khan came and tried to hit big shots. He struck a few boundaries but couldn’t stay long. Keshav Maharaj bowled a wide delivery, and Rashid dragged it straight to mid-wicket where the fielder took a good catch.
The End (Overs 41-43.3): Last Wickets Fall
Over 43: Shah was still fighting, having scored 90 runs from 92 balls. He was batting beautifully and looked set for a century.
Over 43.3: Tragedy for Shah and Afghanistan! Kagiso Rabada bowled a good delivery, and Shah edged it behind. Rickelton, keeping wickets, took a simple catch. Shah walked back just 10 runs short of a well-deserved century.
With Shah gone, the last wickets fell quickly.
- Final Score: Afghanistan 208 all out in 43.3 overs
South Africa won by 107 runs – a comfortable victory that gave them 2 important points in Group B.
Afghanistan Full Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | How Out |
| Rahmat Shah | 90 | 92 | 9 | 1 | 97.82 | caught behind |
| Sediqullah Atal | – | – | – | – | – | run out |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | – | – | – | – | – | caught |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi | – | – | – | – | – | caught |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | – | – | – | – | – | caught |
| Mohammad Nabi | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rashid Khan | – | – | – | – | – | caught |
| Others | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | – | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 208/10 | 43.3 | — | — | — | — |
South Africa Bowling Dominance
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Best Moment |
| Kagiso Rabada | – | – | 3 | – | Got Shah for 90 |
| Marco Jansen | – | – | – | – | Early breakthroughs |
| Keshav Maharaj | – | – | – | – | Got Rashid |
| Wiaan Mulder | – | – | – | – | Controlled middle |
Kagiso Rabada was the star bowler with 3 wickets, including the crucial wicket of Rahmat Shah. His experience and skill made the difference.
Key Turning Points
1. Rickelton’s Century (103 from 106 balls)
His patient yet attacking innings gave South Africa the foundation for their big total. Without his century, they wouldn’t have reached 315.
2. Afghanistan’s Early Wickets
Losing wickets in the powerplay meant Afghanistan was always playing catch-up. You cannot chase 316 if you lose early wickets.
3. Rahmat Shah’s Lonely Fight
Shah’s 90 showed what was possible on this pitch. If other Afghan batsmen had supported him better, the result might have been different.
4. Rabada’s Final Blow
Getting Shah out for 90 ended any small hope Afghanistan had. After that wicket, the tail fell quickly.
Historical Context: Afghanistan vs South Africa
This wasn’t the first time these teams played. Let me tell you about their cricket relationship.
First Meetings
Afghanistan and South Africa first played in 2010 during the T20 World Cup. Since then, they have played several times in ODIs and T20s.
South Africa has won most matches because they have more experience and resources. But Afghanistan has grown tremendously as a cricket nation. They now have world-class players and can compete with anyone on their day.
Notable Past Matches
September 2024 – ODI Series in UAE: Just a few months before this Champions Trophy match, these teams played a 3-match ODI series in Sharjah, UAE.
- 1st ODI (Sept 18, 2024): South Africa won
- 2nd ODI (Sept 20, 2024): Afghanistan won by a huge margin – they scored 311/4 and bowled out South Africa for just 134! This was Afghanistan’s biggest victory over South Africa. Azmatullah Omarzai scored a quick fifty (50 from 32 balls), and Rashid Khan destroyed South Africa’s batting.
- 3rd ODI (Sept 22, 2024): South Africa won by 7 wickets
So South Africa won the series 2-1, but Afghanistan showed they can beat big teams when they play their best cricket.
Afghanistan’s Cricket Journey
Afghanistan’s rise in cricket has been amazing. They started from nothing – playing cricket in refugee camps in Pakistan. Now they play in ICC Champions Trophy!
Their success comes from:
- Spin bowling: Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nabi are world-class
- Fighting spirit: They never give up
- Talented players: Many Afghan players now play in T20 leagues worldwide
South Africa’s Consistency
South Africa has always been a strong cricket team. They have quality in all departments:
- Batting: Players like Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, Heinrich Klaasen
- Bowling: Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj
- Experience: They know how to win big matches
What This Result Means
For South Africa, this 107-run victory was very important. It gave them 2 points in Group B and improved their net run rate. They are now in a strong position to reach the Champions Trophy semi-finals.
For Afghanistan, this loss was disappointing but not the end. They still have more matches in the group stage. If they win their remaining games and other results go their way, they can still qualify for the semi-finals.
The match showed that Afghanistan has the talent to compete – Rahmat Shah’s 90 proved that. But they need their whole team to perform together, not just 1-2 players.
FAQs
What was the final score in the Afghanistan vs South Africa Champions Trophy 2025 match?
South Africa scored 315/6 in 50 overs and then bowled out Afghanistan for 208 in 43.3 overs, winning by 107 runs. Ryan Rickelton scored a century (103) for South Africa while Rahmat Shah fought hard with 90 for Afghanistan but fell 10 runs short of his century.
Who won the Champions Trophy 2025 match between Afghanistan and South Africa?
South Africa won by 107 runs in Karachi on February 21, 2025. They posted 315/6 batting first and then bowled out Afghanistan for just 208 runs. Kagiso Rabada took 3 wickets to seal the victory.
Who scored a century in AFG vs SA match?
Ryan Rickelton scored a brilliant century (103 runs from 106 balls with 7 fours and 1 six) for South Africa. He batted for 154 minutes and gave South Africa a strong foundation for their big total of 315.
How many runs did Rahmat Shah score?
Rahmat Shah played a fighting innings of 90 runs from 92 balls with 9 fours and 1 six. He was Afghanistan’s top scorer and fell just 10 runs short of a deserved century when Kagiso Rabada got him caught behind.
Has Afghanistan ever beaten South Africa?
Yes! Afghanistan’s biggest victory came in September 2024 in an ODI at Sharjah. They scored 311/4 and then bowled out South Africa for just 134 runs, winning by 177 runs. That match showed Afghanistan can beat big teams when playing their best cricket.
Wrapping Up
This Afghanistan vs South Africa timeline from Champions Trophy 2025 showed why South Africa is considered one of the favorites in the tournament.
But it also showed that Afghanistan has the talent to compete at the highest level – they just need consistency from all their players, not just individual brilliance.
