AFG vs SA: Farooqi, Ghazanfar hand hosts historic ODI win against Proteas

Hashmatullah Shahidi-led Afghanistan created history on Wednesday, September 18 by clinching the team’s first-ever ODI win against South Africa.

Playing at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Afghanistan hammered South Africa by 6 wickets, chasing the target of 107 runs in 26 overs. 17-year-old spinner Allah Ghazanfar and left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farroqi led the charge for the Afghan Atalans, helping the hosts restrict Proteas to just 106 runs – their joint 5th-lowest total in the history of ODI cricket.

It was a perfect revenge for the Afghan side, who were bowled out for just 56 runs in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024 by the Aiden Markrad-led South African side. Afghanistan were put in trouble themselves, losing 2 wickets for just 15 runs in the second half of the game. As the SA pacers breathed fire, the hosts found stability in Azmatullah Omarzai (25* off 36) and Gulbadin Naib (34* off 27), who added an unbeaten 47 runs between themselves to secure a famous win.

Naib will remember this match for a long time, having been put under the cosh by Nandre Burger, who had been bowling rockets at him. Naib found the Afghan spirit inside of him in the 22nd over of the game and slammed Burger for two back to back sixes, breaking the Protean spirit.

There weren’t enough runs anyway on the board, but after those two big shots, the Afghans got in a hurry to chase down the target.

Stand-in captain Aiden Markram had a day to forget against the Afghans after his batting unit failed to show up at all. South Africa were left stunned and bowled out for the lowest total a top ten-ranked team has scored against Afghanistan. Afghanistan, who were coming off a frustrating wash-out against New Zealand in their one-off Test, gave the South African batters a run for their money.

Afghanistan’s star pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi started the proceedings on the day and dismissed opener Reeza Hendricks in the 3rd over and followed it up with the scalp of captain Aiden Markram in his following over. His rampage didn’t just stop there as opener Tony de Zorzi was next in line in the 7th over.

As if Farooqi wasn’t enough, youngster Allah Ghazanfar joined the party with the dismissal of dangerous Tristan Stubbs for a duck. Within the same over, South Africa’s debutant Jason Smith was also sent back for a five-ball duck. In no time, South Africa were 29/5 with a fear of getting bowled out for their lowest-ever ODI total – 69 – against Australia in Sydney back in 1993.

The Afghan duo continued to wreak havoc as, by the end of the power-play, South Africa found themselves reeling at 36/7. What added to their woes was the bizarre dismissal of Andile Phehlukwayo, who found himself outside the crease after facing the ball. He was soon run out by wicketkeeper Gulbadin Naib.

Wiaan Mulder and Bjorn Fortuin joined hands to get the team out of trouble, but the latter was soon dismissed by Rashid Khan in a wicket-maiden over.

Nonetheless, Mulder led the fightback and Nandre Burger held the fort from the other end. Mulder saved his side from major embarrassment as he looked comfortable at the crease and notched up his maiden ODI fifty in 80 deliveries.

However, his fine knock was brought to an end by Farooqi, who bowled him. Rashid Khan picked up Lungi Ngidi’s wicket to end South Africa’s innings at 106. Farooqi, who picked four wickets in the match, also achieved the 100 international wickets milestone in his 75th innings for Afghanistan.