All-round South Africa earn consolation win in third ODI vs Afghanistan

Having conceded the series, South Africa ended it on a winning note with a seven-wicket win in the third ODI against Afghanistan. The Proteas were outplayed in the first two fixtures, losing by seven wickets (bowled out for 106) and 177 runs (bowled out for 134). In the third clash, however, chasing only 170, they got home in 33 overs, ushered by Aiden Markram’s unbeaten 69. 

Opting to bat first, Afghanistan were bowled out for 169 in only 34 overs. While the South African bowlers were tidy, Afghanistan had themselves to blame for three run outs in their top six. Rahmat Shah (1), Hashmatullah Shahidi (10) and Ikram Ali Khil (4) were all short of their crease in Afghanistan’s batting stutter.

Shah had an unfortunate run out at the non-striker’s end with the ball ricocheting off him onto the stumps after Lungi Ngidi’s attempt to parry it on. Shahidi misjudged a second run while Ali Khil was slow to return back to his crease after a denied single. 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a fluent 89 off 94 balls but kept running out of partners. He was the seventh wicket out, after losing all his other six batting partners at the other end. The next highest score in the innings was Allah Ghazanfar’s 15-ball 31* batting at number nine, which only stretched the team's total beyond the 150-run mark. 

Consequently, Afghanistan lost wickets at consistent intervals. Their top two partnerships — 36 runs for the third wicket between Gurbaz and Shahidi and 34 runs for the fifth wicket between Gurbaz and Ali Khil – both ended with run outs. 

Andile Phehlukwayo (2/17), Lungi Ngidi (2/22) and debutant Nqabayomzi Peter (2/22) picked two wickets each with Njorn Fortuin contributing with 1/44. 

Playing without Fazalhaq Farooqui and Rashid Khan, Afghanistan couldn’t bother South Africa in the run chase. The openers, Tony de Zorzi and the skipper Temba Bavuma, added 40 for the first wicket in eight overs which eased the route for the Proteas. 

After Ghazanfar, Mohammad Nabi and Fareed Ahmad took a wicket each, Markram and Tristan Stubbs (26* off 42) completed South Africa’s consolation win with a 90-run partnership.

Markram brought the 11th half-century of his ODI career, scoring four fours and three sixes in his innings. 

Gurbaz was adjudged the Player of the Match for his valiant performance. Having scored 111 in the second ODI, which clinched the series for Afghanistan, Gurbaz also won the Player of the Series award.

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