Champions Trophy, all-round South Africa demolish Afghanistan: Key stats
What's the story
South Africa demolished Afghanistan in the first Group B match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, .
Chasing 316 in Karachi, Afghanistan fell well short as the Proteas bowlers struck at regular intervals.
Earlier in the match, South Africa posted a daunting total of 315/6 thanks to a ton from Ryan Rickelton.
Captain Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram recorded 50-plus scores.
Here are the key stats.
Team effort
Rahmat Shah's efforts go in vain
Kagiso Rabada's brilliant show with the ball, which saw him take three wickets, was supported by fellow pacers Lungi Ngidi (2/56) and Wiaan Mulder (2/36).
Their combined efforts reduced the Afghan team to 50/4. However, Rahmat Shah continued to fight with a brilliant 90-run knock.
His display, however, went in vain as the Afghan team was folded for 208.
1st innings
Rickelton's century boosts South Africa's score
Rickelton (103) was instrumental in bolstering South Africa's position in the match.
After losing fellow opener Tony de Zorzi (11) early on, he stitched a solid 129-run partnership with skipper Bavuma (58) for the second wicket.
He continued to bat well even after Bavuma's departure and brought up his maiden hundred in the format. .
Vital knocks
Crucial fifties from Markram, Rassie
After Rickelton's dismissal, South Africa were at 201/3 with 15 overs to go.
Despite Heinrich Klaasen's absence due to a left elbow injury, Rassie (52) and Markram prevented a middle-order collapse.
The latter was destructive in particular as he went berserk in the last 10 overs. Markram returned unbeaten as his side posted a daunting total.
Rickelton
Maiden hundred for Rickelton
Rickelton eventually departed for 103 off 106 balls as he smoked seven fours and a maximum.
This was his maiden ODI ton as he has raced to 291 runs across seven games at 41.57 (50: 1).
Rickelton became just the fifth SA batter to score a ton in CT history, joining the likes of Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, and Hashim Amla.
Markram
Markram scripts this record
As per Cricbuzz, Markram hit the fastest fifty by a SA batter in the Champions Trophy, off 33 balls.
His 52* off 36 balls saw him smoke six fours and a maximum. This was his 12th fifty in the format as he also boasts three tons.
In 75 ODIs, Markram has raced to 2,340 runs at 37.14, as per ESPNcricinfo.
This was his second ODI fifty against Afghanistan as he has now raced to 169 runs against them at 56.33.
Bavuma
11th fifty-plus score for Bavuma in ODIs
As mentioned, Bavuma also contributed significantly to their strong start, scoring a resilient 58 off 76 balls.
He smoked five boundaries during his stay. In 47 ODIs, he has raced to 1,791 runs at 43.68.
This was his 11th fifty-plus score in ODIs (100s: 5, 50s: 6).
As per ESPNcricinfo, he owns 141 runs across four matches against the Afghan team at 35.25 (50: 1).
Rassie
2,500 ODI runs for Rassie
Rassie made 52 off 46 balls as he smoked three fours and two sixes.
Playing his 69th ODI, he has surpassed 2,500 runs (now 2,516) at 48.38, as per ESPNcricinfo.
He owns 21 fifty-plus scores (100s: 6, 50s: 15).
1,348 runs of Rassie's runs have come at home. He has bagged 382 runs away. Rassie boasts 786 runs at neutral venues at 49.12.
Miller
Miller surpasses 4,500 ODI runs
David Miller, who scored 14 runs, went past 4,500 runs in ODIs.
He crossed the 4,500-run mark (now 4,504) in his 152nd innings, becoming the 13th South African batter to do so.
Over his career, Miller has averaged 41.32 as his strike rate reads 102.87. His tally includes 24 fifties besides six tons.
Miller is now among just the two batters with a 40-plus average and 100-plus strike rate in ODI cricket (minimum 4,500 runs).
Rahmat
2,500 ODI runs in Asia for Rahmat Shah
Rahmat's 92-ball 90 saw him smoke nine fours and a maximum. During the course of his knock, Rahmat also went past 2,500 (now 2,563) ODI runs in Asia.
With his latest knock, Rahmat has raced to 3,959 runs across 121 ODIs as he averages 35.66 in the format.
The batter's tally includes five tons and 31 half-centuries with 114 being his best score.
He scored his second ODI fifty vs SA.
Rabada
Three-fer for Rabada
Rabada finished his stellar spell with 3/36 across 8.3 overs.
The pacer has now raced to 165 ODI scalps across 104 matches for South Africa at 27.27.
47 of his scalps have come in Asia at 24.17. He managed just one scalp in his previous two outings against Afghanistan.
He now owns four wickets across as many Champions Trophy games.