Afghanistan record first international win over South Africa

Afghanistan took another big step in international cricket as they recorded their first-ever win against South Africa, winning the first match of the three-ODI series in Sharjah.  

South Africa, who won the toss and elected to bat, faced the heat from Afghan pace bowlers Fazal Haq Farooqi and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar who both put on a fantastic bowling display to reduce South Africa to 36/7 inside 10 overs.

Ghazanfar finished with figures of 3/20 off his 10 overs while Farooqi was the pick of the Afghan bowlers with 4/36. Rashid Khan also stepped up and took two wickets to help bundle out South Africa for 106 runs.

In reply, Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over with no run on the board, and with only 15 runs on the board in eight overs, Rahmat Shah missed a sweep to get trapped in front of the wicket for eight. Riaz Hassan (16) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (16) fell to spinners to leave Afghanistan at 60/4 by the end of 18 overs.

The all-round duo Gulbadin Naib (34 not out) and Azmatullah Omarzai (25 not) helped Afghanistan chase down the target in 26 overs and get over the line by six wickets. 

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

Afghanistan, Cricket, South Africa, Sharjah, Rashid Khan, Fazal Haq Farooqi