Afghanistan vs South Africa ODI
3rd ODI: AFG vs SA

Preview

Afghanistan has created history for the first time in ODI history they won the 3-match ODI series against South Africa by 2-0 with one match still to play. On Friday, in the second ODI match of the series the Asian side hammered the Proteas again, defeated them by 177 runs and sealed the series. The third and final ODI match of this series is scheduled to take place at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on Sunday, 22nd September 2024. Plus, it will be the same venue used in the first and second ODI matches between the two sides.

Afghanistan's skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and decided to bat first in the second ODI. The Afghans posted a massive total of 311 runs against South Africa. The right-handed opening batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a magnificent hundred for his side, scoring 105 off 110 balls which included 10 fours and 3 sixes. Apart from this, Rehmat Shah also scored a fifty in 66 balls, Azmatullah Omarzai also played an unbeaten innings of 86 runs, batting at a stormy strike rate of 172 which included 5 fours and 6 sixes. For the Proteas, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, Nqaba Peter and Aiden Markram took 1-1 wickets.

It was a special moment for Rashid Khan who could not have asked for from his side on his birthday, he bowled brilliantly and opened his claws in the second ODI against South Africa, he gave only 19 runs in his 9-over spell and took a fifer which included the wickets of Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder. He was well supported by Nangeyalia Kharote also took 4 wickets. At the same time, Azmatullah Omarzai also got a wicket. Chasing the big target of 312 runs, South Africa was all out for just 134 runs in 34.2 overs and lost the match by 177 runs only skipper Temba Bavuma scored the highest 38 runs.

On Sunday, Afghanistan will be eyeing a clean sweep against the Proteas, on the other hand, SA must try to work on their batting and aim to make it 1-2.

AFG and SA have faced each other 04 times in the ODI format. Of these 04 matches, SA won two matches and Afghanistan was victorious in two matches as well.

Match Details

Match: AFG vs SA, 3rd ODI, Afghanistan vs South Africa ODI

Date: Sunday, September 22, 2024

Time: 05:30 PM

Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Pitch and Weather Report

Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, is known to be a good batting pitch. The new white ball will move around a bit, particularly under lights, but once the pitch settles down, batters can milk the runs comfortably. This venue has hosted 251 matches so far, out of which 133 were won by the batting first side and 116 by the chasing side. The average score batting first in ODIs here is 241 runs.

With that record, both side's skippers will be keen to the crucial toss, and bowl first and put pressure on the opposition by taking advantage of the deck. Batters, though, can expect a nice time here and would try to restrict the batting side on or before the score of 245-255 runs.

During the match, the temperature in Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates is predicted to be around 29-38 degrees Celsius, with the humidity level crossing over 40%. There is going to be light wind on the ground at the speed of 19 km/h. There is no rain expected for the match day and it is going to be a sunny day in UAE.

AFG vs SA Squads

AFG: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah (vice-captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper), Ikram Alikhil (wicket-keeper), Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharote, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran, Farid Ahmad Malik

SA: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqaba Peter, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs (wicket-keeper), Kyle Verreynne (wicket-keeper), Lizaad Williams

AFG vs SA Probable Playing XIs

AFG: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ikram Alikhil (wk), AM Ghazanfar, Nangeyalia Kharote, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Match Prediction

No doubt at all, we will back Afghanistan to win this final match of this 3-match ODI series and whitewash South Africa by 3-0.

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