Cricket
Afghanistan claim historic ODI win against South Africa─── MORGAN PIEK 09:37 Thu, 19 Sep 2024
“I think in particular we bowled really well. So, I don’t think we need to delve too much into that. But I think the important thing is we believe we could defend that.”
Afghanistan has beaten South Africa for the first time in the 50-over format following a six-wicket win in the first One-Day International in Sharjah on Wednesday.
The Proteas had a bat first and were in heaps of trouble at 36/7 after 13 overs, but managed to grind to 106 runs all out thanks to a defiant 52 career-best by Wiaan Mulder. While he was well-supported by the spinner Bjorn Fortuin with 16 off 34 balls, the seamer Nandré Burger occupied the crease with 1 run off 18 balls.
Fazalhaq Farooqi was the pick of the Afghan bowlers with 4/35 in his 7 overs, and AM Ghazanfar was also brilliant with his 3/20 in 10 overs.
Fazalhaq Farooqi. Photo: Cricinfo
In reply, Afghanistan wasted no time in chasing down the target in 26 overs, with Gulbadin Naib scoring 34 not out. Azmatullah Omarzai in turn scored 25 not out, while Riaz Hassan and the captain Hashmatullah Shahidi each scored 16.
Bjorn Fortuin was South Africa’s best bowler with 2/22 in 9 overs, and Lungi did a solid job as well with 1/6 in 4 overs.
Mulder told OFM Sport, despite the low score, that they backed themselves to defend, but on the day it just didn’t go their way. “Of course, we believe we could defend that,” said Mulder.
‘It’s one of those games with such a low score’
“I think the important thing that we took into the fielding was that if they can get those wickets on that pitch and if our batters were struggling, there’s an opportunity for us to do the same to their attack.
“We know how important the first three batters are, so if we could get those wickets early, it gives us an opportunity to try and restrict them to a really low score. It’s one of those games with such a low score. It’s one or two boundaries that swing things very quickly.
“I think in particular we bowled really well. So, I don't think we need to delve too much into that. But I think the important thing is that we believe that we could defend that.
“I think if we take one more wicket there somewhere, it could be a bang-bang, and all of a sudden, they’re 65 of 6 or 7, or something. That looks a lot different than 100-runs. But, I think if we got 140, 150-runs on the board, you never know what could have happened.”
The second ODI in Sharjah will be played on Friday and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 14:00.
