Afghanistan vs South Africa 1st ODI live blog: Real-time score, commentary and highlights

Afghanistan vs South Africa LIVE: In the match being played at Sharjah Cricket Ground, South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first. Regular captain Temba Bavuma is out of the field due to illness. Aiden Markram is leading the team. Fazalhaq Farooqi wreaked havoc by dismissing both the openers (Reeza Hendricks and Tony de Zorzi) as well as captain Markram in the first five overs. 18-year-old spinner Allah Ghazanfar also forced the team to lose 7 wickets in the powerplay, while he scored only 36 runs.

A 39-run partnership between Wiaan Muldur and Bjorn Fortuin helped the Proteas avoid their lowest ODI score (69). Muldur scored a fighting half-century but South Africa were bowled out for just 106. Farooqi took four wickets and was the pick of the bowlers.

Afghanistan had a very bad start while chasing the target and Rahmanullah Gurbaz got out on zero. Shortly after this, Rahmat Shah was also out while Riaz Hasan also could not take advantage of the good start.

Afghanistan will be hoping to win their first international match against South Africa. Prior to this, the two teams have played two ODIs and three T20Is against each other, with the Proteas winning all five of the matches.

Recently, both the teams clashed with each other in the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final, where the Aiden Markram-led side defeated the Asian country by nine wickets.

South Africa are on a long tour of the United Arab Emirates, where they will play an ODI series with Afghanistan before playing a T20 and ODI series against Ireland.

Toss: South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first

Pitch Report: The Sharjah Cricket Ground wicket was expected to produce big scores but it proved to be difficult to bat on.

Weather Report: There is no threat of rain, but it will be extremely hot during the day with maximum temperature reaching 36°C and minimum temperature reaching 29°C.

Afghanistan’s playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Riaz Hasan, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wicketkeeper), Azmatullah Umarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Allah Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi

South Africa’s playing XI: Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verrin (w), Jason Smith, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger

Squads

Afghanistan Squad:Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Ali Khil (wk), Abdul Malik, Riaz Hasan, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Umarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmed Malik

South Africa Team: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottniel Bartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nkaba Peter, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne and Lizad Williams