Afghanistan Makes History with First ODI Victory Over South Africa

Afghanistan’s cricket team has secured their first-ever One-Day International (ODI) victory against South Africa, defeating the Proteas by six wickets in the first match of a three-game series in Sharjah, UAE, Al Jazeera reports.

The Afghan bowlers dominated the match, sending shockwaves through the South African batting lineup and bundling them out for a paltry 106 runs in just 33.3 overs. South Africa found themselves in deep trouble early on, slumping to a dismal 36-7 by the 10th over.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, the Afghan paceman, was instrumental in dismantling the South African top order, taking a remarkable 4-35 and effectively halting any hope of a competitive score. Wiaan Mulder, the 26-year-old South African batsman, fought a lone battle with a maiden ODI half-century, scoring 52 runs off 84 balls. However, his efforts were not enough to salvage the innings.

His 39-run partnership with Bjorn Fortuin for the eighth wicket offered a brief glimmer of resistance, but Afghanistan’s bowlers ultimately proved too strong.

Chasing a modest target of 107 runs, Afghanistan confidently reached their goal in just 26 overs, thanks to a composed and unbeaten 47-run partnership between Gulbadin Naib (34 not out) and Azmatullah Omarzai (25 not out).