The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 3rd match is played between South Africa and Afghanistan at the National Stadium Karachi on February 21, 2025. It was the 1st match for both the teams so they were charged up for this contest. It was a day and night game. As expected it was a cracker of a game with both teams trying to knock out each other.
In this article, we will discuss the Significance of the match, Game-changing moments, Top performances, and the final results.
Significance of the match
It was an important match for the teams in the context of this tournament. Both South Africa and Afghanistan had in mind that they were placed in a tough group where all of their matches are tight and the margin of error is quite less so, each team wanted to start the tournament with a win to take confidence into the next matches.
Team News
South Africa's key players David Miller, Ryan Rickelton, Jenson, Rabada, Markram, and Vanderdusen were back on the side for this encounter. Henrich Kalassan couldn't recover from injury so he was not selected for this encounter. Afghanistan selected Gulbadin Naib in place of ALLAH Ghazanfar.
1st Innings and Key Moments
South Africa won the toss and they elected to bat 1st on a wicket that was looking very decent for batting. Their openers started aggressively against Afghanistan bowlers and scored runs freely. Afghanistan struck early courtesy of Muhmmad Nabi as he dismissed De Zorzi at the score of 28 in the 5th over. Then captain Bavuma joined Rickelton in the middle and both the batters started building partnerships.
Rickelton was playing in his shorts where as Bavuma took some time before going hard at the bowlers. Both the batters made full use of the conditions and made Afghanistan all bowlers toil hard for wickets. They completed their fifties and took their team's total to 157 in just 28 overs. Muhammad Nabi struck back for Afghanistan to dismiss well-set Bavuma who played beautifully and scored 58 off 76 balls. Rassie Vanderdusen and Ryan kept the momentum with some free-flowing shots. Ryan Rickelton completed his top class ton and he was run out due to a misunderstanding between the batters but before he had scored well made 103 off 106 balls.
None of the Afghanistan bowlers were able to create any impact with the ball as South Africa scored 315 runs in their 50 overs for the loss of 6 wickets. Vanderdusan scored 52 off 46 whereas Markram scored a quickfire 52 off 36 balls. That was a very good score considering the recent matches played there and given conditions.
2nd Innings and Key Moments
Afghanistan lost Rehman Ullah Gurbaz earlier in the chase when the team total was 16 in the 4th over. South Africa bowled beautifully as Afghanistan kept losing wickets regularly to dent their progress. The proteas quicks Rabada, Lungi Nagidi, and Marco Jensen proved very dangerous with the ball for the Afghans as they failed to get any momentum in their innings. Rehmat Shah was the lone warrior, He played beautiful shots and scored 90 off just 92 balls. None of the other batters were able to contribute much.
But at the end 315 proved too much for the Afghan batters as they bundled out to 208 in 43.3 overs. Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers as he got 3 for 36 in his 8.3 overs. Lungi Nagidi and Mulder got 2,2 wickets and Maharaj and Jensen got 1,1 each. It was a complete all-round performance from South Africa. South Africa won the match by 107 runs.
.jpg)
Top Performers of the Match
1st Innings
- Ryan Rickelton scored 103 off 106 balls
- Markram scored 52 off 36 balls
- Vanderdusan scored 52 off 46 runs
2nd Innings
- Rehmat Shah scored 90 off 92 balls
- KG Rababda got 3 for 36 runs.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Ryan Rickelton was handed a well-deserved Man of the Match award for his match-winning ton of 103 off just 106 balls. He played a top-quality knock and set a platform for the lower order to launch at the back end of the innings.
What is the moment of the match?
Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma built a solid partnership of 129 runs in just 142 balls, that was the partnership that set the perfect platform for the Proteas to score a big total on the board. So, that was the moment when the match drifted away from Afghanistan. South Africa took that momentum into the next phases of the match and never looked back. Both the batters played some delightful shots which the crowd surely enjoyed a lot.
What's next for both Teams?
Now Afghanistan will face their England which will be must must-win game for them on February 26, 2025. South Africa will head to Rawalpindi where they will face Australia at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on February 25, 2025.
So, What are your thoughts on Who will win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025? And Who will be the top runs scorer and top wicket-taker of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
.png)
.png)
.jpg)
0 Comments