Gurbaz terrific at the top, Proteas show up in third ODI
A much improved bowling and fielding performance, including three run outs, saw Afghanistan dismissed for just 169 after choosing to bat first in the third and final one-day international against South Africa in the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz followed his century in Friday’s 177-run victory which clinched the series 2-0 with a remarkable 89 with next highest score 31 from No 9, Allah Ghazanfar, and 10 from captain Hashmatullah Shahidi.
The Afghan opener looked like he was playing on a different surface to his teammates – and facing different bowlers – requiring just 94 deliveries to score his 89 which included seven fours and four slog-swept sixes before he sliced Andile Phehlukwayo (4-0-17-2) to Reeza Hendricks on the cover boundary as he feared running out of partners.
Another fine Fifty for Rahmanullah gurbaz 🚨
— Afghan Atalan 🇦🇫 (@AfghanAtalan1) September 22, 2024
And he keeps going #AFGvSA pic.twitter.com/iRgqwoVBXH
Fellow opener and debutant, Abdul Malik, was trapped lbw by one of many Lungi Ngidi (6-1-22-2) slower balls but No 3, Rahmat Shah (1), was desperately unlucky when a Gurbaz drive deflected of Ngidi’s outstretched hand, onto the non-striker’s chest and then the stumps to run him out.
No luck was required in Shahidi’s run out with Tristan Stubbs firing a powerful throw to Kyle Verreynne right next to the stumps to catch him centimetres short attempting a second run.
Legspinner Nqaba Peter (5-0-22-2) ripped a delivery past Azmatullah Omarzai (2) to bowl him and wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil (4) when Temba Bavuma scored a direct hit at the non-striker’s end when backing up a throw at the striker’s end.
Veteran Mohammad Nabi was given a life on five when Bavuma refused to call for an lbw review despite Verreynne’s concerted attempts to persuade him – TV replays confirmed he would have been plumb lbw to Bjorn Fortuin – but it didn’t matter as Fortuin had him caught behind a few balls later.
Phelukwayo followed the wicket of Gurbaz by clean bowling Nangeyalia Kharote three balls later to leave the innings in tatters at 133-8.
But 19-year-old Ghazanfar hammered an unbeaten 31 from just 15 balls with two fours and three sixes to give Afghanistan and outside chance of a clean-sweep.
South Africa made one change to the team which was thrashed by 177-runs in the second match on Friday with allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo replacing fast bowler Nandre Burger while the ‘home’ side made three changes having already clinched the inaugural series between the teams 2-0 with today’s game to come.
Bowlers Fareed Malik and Naveed Zadran replaced Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi while Abdul Malik opened the batting in place of Riaz Hassan.
South Africa lost the first game on Wednesday by six-wickets after choosing to bat first and being bowled out for just 106.
AFGHANISTAN: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wkt), Mohammad Nabi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Allah Ghazanfar, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Naveed Zadran
SOUTH AFRICA: Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Nqaba Peter, Lungi Ngidi
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