In the third ODI, South Africa defeated Afghanistan, but lost the series.
The 3rd and final ODI in cricket saw South Africa defeat Afghanistan by seven wickets, preventing them from sweeping the series. Afghanistan fell for the first time in the series, bowled out for 169 in 34 overs, before Aiden Markram’s unbeaten 69 helped South Africa to 170-3 with 17 overs remaining in the one-day international.
The series was won 2-1 by Afghanistan. In the opening two matches, a young South Africa side was bowled out for 106 and 134, but Markram led the chase with a tenacious 67-ball century at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on yet another slow surface.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the captain of Afghanistan, expressed his happiness with the series victory. “If we had won this match, I would be happier.” He referred to his team’s three runouts as “a big reason why we didn’t finish on top.” Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s best leg-spinner, was sidelined due to a hamstring issue.
Afghanistan elected to bat first, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored a century in the last match, kept the innings together with 89 runs in 94 balls. However, with three of them being run out, none of the other eight best Afghan batters were able to score more than ten.No. 9 batter AM Ghazanfar scored a whirlwind 31 not out off 15, but South Africa maintained control thanks to the disciplined bowling of Lungi Ngidi, Nqabayomzi Peter, and Andile Phehlukwayo, all of whom took two wickets.
South Africa finally adjusted to the conditions in the UAE, thanks to some excellent fielding from their pace bowlers Ngidi and Phehlukwayo. Ngidi tormented the hitters early with his cutters and slow deliveries, pinning debutant opener Abdul Malik leg before wicket during the power play.When Gurbaz’s drive caught Rahmat Shah’s fingertips during the follow through and struck the stumps at the non-striker’s end, Ngidi subsequently forced Shah to run out. In the 22nd over, Afghanistan fell to 113-5 when Shahidi was run out while trying for a second run and Ikram Alikhil was similarly dismissed by Gurbaz after he went too far down the wicket.
Mohammad Nabi should have been out of the game for South Africa on five, but the captain, Temba Bavuma, chose not to make the television referral against Bjorn Fortuin’s arm ball, and the spinner got Nabi behind in his subsequent over.Before giving way to Reeza Hendricks at extra cover, Gurbaz attempted to quicken his pace in an attempt to reach his second consecutive century, but Ghazanfar’s late burst made sure Afghanistan reached the 160-run threshold.
Tony de Zorzi (26) and Bavuma (22) gave South Africa a strong start of 40 runs and managed the power play until Bavuma was clean bowled by off-spinner Ghazanfar.
Before Nabi trapped De Zorzi leg before wicket, he was dropped twice off consecutive deliveries by Nabi. Hendricks’ bad run of form continued when he misplayed a pull shot and was caught after scoring eighteen.With Markram leading by ninety runs and Tristan Stubbs at 26 not out, the pair dominated the chase. Bavuma stated, “We used the bat pretty clinically.” The men will get a lot of experience and knowledge from it, but the series isn’t what we had anticipated.
