Afghanistan Versus South Africa: ODI Match Underway in UAE

The cricket teams of Afghanistan and South Africa are currently clashing in the first One Day International (ODI) match of their tour in the United Arab Emirates. The match is being held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and began at 5:30 PM IST on September 18, 2024.

At the moment, South Africa faces a challenging situation, having scored 33 runs for the loss of 5 wickets after 8.1 overs. Fazalhaq Farooqi and AM Ghazanfar from the Afghanistan team have been particularly effective with the ball, disrupting the South African batting lineup. Notable performances include Farooqi, who impressively holds figures of three wickets for 20 runs in four overs, and Ghazanfar, who has taken two key wickets.

Kyle Verreynne, currently at the crease for South Africa, showed some resistance with a well-timed four off a delivery by Fazalhaq Farooqi. However, Afghanistan’s bowlers have maintained pressure, making it difficult for South Africa to build a significant partnership.

The tour is part of a three-match ODI series planned between September 18 to 22. South Africa has opted to test their bench strength during this series by resting several first-choice players such as David Miller and Anrich Nortje, in preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Despite this absence, the team includes promising players like Jason Smith and Tristan Stubbs who aim to contribute significantly.

Previously, Afghanistan gained recognition by reaching the semi-finals in the T20 World Cup for the first time. They were also scheduled to play a Test match against New Zealand, which was postponed due to adverse weather conditions in Greater Noida.

Cricket enthusiasts in India can catch the live broadcast of the series on the Eurosport channel, with streaming available on the Fancode app and website. The remaining matches in the series are scheduled for September 20 and 22.