Afghanistan vs South Africa 2nd ODI: Full Match Summary
The second One Day International (ODI) between Afghanistan and South Africa was a thrilling encounter at the Zahur Ahmad Shabash Cricket Stadium in Kabul on July 18, 2023. The match saw a dramatic turnaround from Afghanistan, who had suffered a heavy defeat in the first ODI, to secure a thrilling victory against a strong South African side.
South Africa’s Solid Start
South Africa got off to a strong start after winning the toss and choosing to bat first. Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock opened the innings with a solid partnership of 112 runs. Hendricks scored a fluent 78 runs off 82 balls, while de Kock played a more aggressive innings, smashing 56 runs off just 40 balls.
Afghanistan’s Fightback
Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled initially, but Fazalhaq Farooqi made the breakthrough, dismissing de Kock in the 18th over. Rashid Khan also played a crucial role, picking up the wickets of Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen, as South Africa lost their way in the middle overs.
South Africa, however, recovered through a crucial partnership between David Miller and Dwaine Pretorius. Miller played an aggressive innings, scoring 72 runs off just 46 balls, while Pretorius provided solid support, finishing with 43 runs off 53 balls. South Africa eventually posted a respectable total of 292/6 in their allotted 50 overs.
Afghanistan’s Aggressive Chase
The chase began on a positive note for Afghanistan. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran set a blistering pace, adding 111 runs for the first wicket. Gurbaz displayed his aggressive style, scoring 87 runs off just 51 balls, while Zadran played a more measured innings, scoring a valuable 51 runs off 60 balls.
A Dramatic Finish
However, the game took a dramatic turn when Afghanistan lost four quick wickets, including Zadran, who was dismissed for 51. The pressure mounted on Afghanistan as they were struggling to keep up with the required run rate.
Afghanistan's hopes rested on the shoulders of Najibullah Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai. The duo showed remarkable resilience and composure, steering Afghanistan towards victory. Omarzai played a crucial role in the final stages, smashing 49 runs off just 28 balls, including a massive six off the last ball of the match to seal a remarkable four-wicket win for Afghanistan.
Key Moments
- Reeza Hendricks' fluent 78 runs set the foundation for South Africa's innings.
- Rashid Khan's wicket-taking spells (2/45) turned the tide in Afghanistan's favor.
- David Miller's aggressive 72 runs helped South Africa recover from a mid-innings slump.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz's explosive 87 runs gave Afghanistan a strong start in the chase.
- Najibullah Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai's late heroics secured a thrilling victory for Afghanistan.
Player of the Match
Azmatullah Omarzai was awarded the Player of the Match award for his match-winning 49 runs off just 28 balls.
This victory will provide a huge boost to Afghanistan's confidence as they look to build momentum in the series. The final ODI will be a crucial encounter for both teams as they aim to secure the series win.
