AfghanAtalan Secure Maiden International Win over South Africa

Kabul – September 20, 2024: AfghanAtalan have created history in Sharjah as they went past the Proteas for the first time in International cricket and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. 

Earlier in the day, South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first. The decision did not turn out to be too handy as they faced an incredible new-ball bowling from Fazal Haq Farooqi and Allah Mohammad Ghazangar who both put on a fantastic bowling display to reduce South Africa to 36/7 inside 10 overs. 

Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar finished with excellent figures of 3/20 off his 10 overs. Fazal Haq Farooqi was the pick of the Afghan bowlers with 4/36 runs to his name. Rashid Khan also stepped up and picked up two wickets to his name to help Afghanistan bundle South Africa out for 106 runs in the first inning. 

In reply, Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over with naught on the board, and with only 15 runs on the board in 8 overs, Rahmat Shah missed a sweep to get trapped in front for 8. Riaz Hassan (16) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (16) couldn’t resist either as they both fell to spinners to leave Afghanistan at 60/4 in 17.6 overs. 

Then arrived the all-round duo of Gulbadin Naib (34*) and Azmatullah Omarzai (25*), who played some terrific knocks to help Afghanistan chase down the target in 26 overs and get over the line by 6 wickets.  

Fazal Haq Farooqi (3/35), who ripped through the South African middle-order, was awarded as the Player of the Match. 

The 2nd of the three-match ODI series between the two teams is scheduled to be played on Friday at the same venue.