Farooqi and Ghazanfar Dismantle South Africa for Only 106 Runs in Sharjah
Introduction
Afghanistan delivered a stunning blow to South Africa in Sharjah, bundling them out for a mere 106. A brilliant bowling display by Fazalhaq Farooqi and 18-year-old AM Ghazanfar saw South Africa collapse to a shocking 36 for 7 in the first ten overs. Wiaan Mulder’s valiant knock of 52 helped South Africa avoid an even more embarrassing total, but Afghanistan’s bowlers held firm to maintain their dominance.
South Africa’s Struggle: A Record-Breaking Low
In their encounter with Afghanistan, South Africa slumped to one of their lowest-ever totals in ODI cricket. Their score of 106 is the lowest ever by a top-ten-ranked team against Afghanistan, and it came on a Sharjah pitch that, while slow and turning, wasn’t unplayable. The real problem lay in South Africa’s technical errors and poor shot selection.
Afghanistan’s Early Domination
Farooqi and Ghazanfar were unstoppable from the start. Farooqi, known for his left-arm pace, and Ghazanfar, the young off-spinner playing just his third ODI, shared seven wickets between them. South Africa found themselves in deep trouble at 36 for 7 within the first 10 overs of the game.
Farooqi’s Impact in the Powerplay
Farooqi’s devastating opening spell began with a change in angle. After conceding eight runs from his first 11 deliveries, he switched to bowling around the wicket, and that made all the difference. His first breakthrough came when Reeza Hendricks played a wide delivery and dragged it onto his stumps. Aiden Markram followed in a nearly identical manner, inside-edging another wide ball onto his stumps.
Tony de Zorzi was Farooqi’s third victim, as a mistimed pull shot found Hashmatullah Shahidi at mid-wicket. South Africa’s highest hierarchy was in turmoil, and Farooqi had complete control.
Ghazanfar’s Early Success
On the other end, young Ghazanfar was weaving his magic with the new ball. He struck in his fourth over when Tristan Stubbs, in only his third ODI appearance, edged a defensive stroke to slip. Ghazanfar’s second wicket came just five balls later when Jason Smith misread the turn and was bowled. His lethal accuracy continued to baffle South Africa’s batters, with Kyle Verreynne falling next, trapped lbw after missing the turn. Although Verreynne reviewed the decision, the on-field call stood.
A Disastrous Start for South Africa
By the end of the powerplay, South Africa had already lost six wickets. Their woes were compounded when Andile Phehlukwayo, after surviving a strong lbw appeal against Ghazanfar, wandered out of his crease while the ball was still in play. He was run out by a sharp-thinking Gulbadin Naib, leaving South Africa reeling at 36 for 7.
Mulder’s Resistance: A Solo Effort
With South Africa on the brink of a historic low, Wiaan Mulder took it upon himself to steady the innings. Mulder forged a crucial 39-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Bjorn Fortuin, ensuring South Africa avoided their lowest-ever ODI total of 69.
Mulder’s Half-Century
Mulder displayed excellent technique against the Afghan spinners, cautiously rotating the strike and dispatching the bad balls to the boundary. He brought up his maiden ODI fifty, striking Afghanistan’s premier spinner Rashid Khan for a six-over long-off and a pull shot to reach South Africa’s 100.
Fortuin’s Contribution
Fortuin’s role in the recovery wasn’t without its moments of risk. In Rashid Khan’s second over, he narrowly avoided a run-out after a throw from backward point missed the stumps. However, his attempts to continue playing aggressively led to his downfall. He was bowled by Rashid Khan after being lured into a drive and missing the turn.
Afghanistan’s Dominant Bowling Display
Despite Mulder’s resistance, Afghanistan’s bowlers never let go of their advantage. Farooqi claimed his fourth wicket when he bowled Mulder, who was finally undone by a quicker delivery. Rashid Khan then wrapped up the innings in the following over, trapping Lungi Ngidi lbw with a well-disguised googly.
Rashid Khan’s Contribution
Though Rashid Khan was introduced after the powerplay, he played a vital role in keeping South Africa under pressure. His variations and clever use of pace ensured that South Africa’s lower order couldn’t build any momentum.
What Went Wrong for South Africa?
South Africa’s struggles in this match were a combination of technical shortcomings and poor shot selection. Farooqi and Ghazanfar exploited these weaknesses brilliantly, forcing the South African batters to play at deliveries they should have left alone. The Sharjah pitch, although offering some turn, was not unplayable, but Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling made it look like a minefield.
Poor Shot Selection and Decision-Making
Several of South Africa’s dismissals came from poor shot choices. Hendricks and Markram’s dismissals were almost identical, as they played at wide deliveries they could have easily left. Ghazanfar’s turn defeated Verreynne and Smith in the meantime, and Phehlukwayo’s rash error of running out only made matters worse for South Africa.
Afghanistan’s Skillful Execution
On the flip side, Afghanistan deserves full credit for executing their plans to perfection. It was a wise move for Farooqi to alter his angle, and even the most seasoned batters in South Africa were troubled by Ghazanfar’s ability to turn the ball sharply. As usual, Rashid Khan was clinical, taking two wickets to complete the victory.
Conclusion
South Africa’s collapse to 106 was a combination of Afghanistan’s exceptional bowling and their own poor shot selection. While Mulder’s knock provided some respectability to the scorecard, it was Afghanistan’s day, with Farooqi and Ghazanfar stealing the show. Afghanistan will take great confidence from this win, while South Africa will need to reflect on their batting woes before their next outing.
FAQs
What was South Africa’s final score in their match against Afghanistan?
South Africa were bowled out for 106 in 34 overs.
Who were the standout bowlers for Afghanistan?
Fazalhaq Farooqi grabbed four wickets, while AM Ghazanfar took three, playing critical roles in South Africa’s collapse.
How did Wiaan Mulder contribute to South Africa’s innings?
Wiaan Mulder hit 52 runs, offering some resistance and allowing South Africa to avoid a lower total.
Why did South Africa struggle against the Afghan bowlers?
South Africa suffered owing to a combination of technical blunders, poor shot selection, and outstanding bowling from Afghanistan’s bowlers on a slow, turning pitch.
What is South Africa’s lowest ODI total?
South Africa’s lowest ODI total is 69, and they nearly missed breaking it.
