Rickelton Century supports SA Route AFG

Karachi:

Opener Ryan Rickelton hit the maiden’s one-day international 100 as South Africa routed Afghanistan for 107 runs at the Champions Trophy in Karachi on Friday.

Rickelton split 106 balls 103 in a group B match at National Stadium with an impressive total of 315-6 with seven boundaries and six South Africa.

Pace attacks from South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (3-36), Wian Mulder (2-36) and Lungi Ngidi (2-56) dismissed the highly savvy Afghanistan with just 208 in 43.3 overs.

South Africa has been wicketless with the threat of Afghan slow bowlers, star-leg spinner Rashid Khan with 59 runs in 10 overs.

Ramat Shah scored the top score for Afghanistan, gaining nine boundaries with 92 balls and 90, with six being the final men.

Following a terrifying target, Afghanistan desperately wanted a start, but lost Ibrahim Zadran with a glamorous opener of 10 and 17.

Sedikula Atal fell at 16, but skipper Hashmathura Shahidi didn’t score and Afghanistan was left wobbling 50-4.

Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai (18) scored a score of 89 before Rabada and Marco Jansen, who eliminated Mohammad Navi, tried to effectively end Afghanistan’s hopes.

Rashid Khan temporarily entertained the crowd with a quick fire 13 ball 18, which includes the boundary of six and three.

Previously, Rickelton helped lead South Africa to solid totals after scoring tosses to skippers Temba Bavuma (58), Rassie van der Dussen (52) and Aiden Markram (52).

After finishing 2-51, Nabi provided an early breakthrough on the first ball by denying opener Tony De Zorzi, and was caught on Mid-On at 11.

Rickelton and Babma added 129 to the second wicket as Afghanistan struggled on the field.

Babuma hit five boundaries with a 76-ball knock, and was eventually driven out to a short navigation delivery, giving pleasure to hundreds of Afghan fans in an otherwise sparse crowd.

Although his name had two centuries of tests, ODIS’s previous best vest completed his first White Ball Century in a single.

But after two runs he was gone.

Down the pitch to drive Rashid, Rickelton quickly turned and was forced to return to his fold as the bowler collected and fired the ball at wicketkeeper Ramamarla Gerbaz.

Rickelton appeared to be making his own ground, but replays showed that his bat hadn’t been raised slightly when Garbuzz hit bail.

Van der Dussen hit two sixes and three boundaries with a 46-ball knock, falling to Spinna Noa Ahmad in 43rd.

Marclam was left to pass South Africa the 300 mark and club six boundaries with 36 balls 52 that helped Protea add 50 runs in the final five overs .