Afghanistan and South Africa faced off in the third and final ODI in Sharjah, with Afghanistan aiming for a historic 3-0 clean sweep. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first.
The Afghan openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hashmatullah Shahidi, got off to a solid start, putting on 40 runs for the first wicket. Gurbaz was particularly aggressive, hitting a six and a four off Wiaan Mulder.
However, South Africa struck back with the wicket of Rahmat Shah, who was run out for 14. Shahidi and Gurbaz continued to bat steadily, but the South African bowlers kept the pressure on.
In the 13th over, Aiden Markram dismissed Gurbaz for 26, and in the 18th over, Lungi Ngidi removed Shahidi for 32. Afghanistan were now 72/3, and South Africa were firmly in control of the match.
Azmatullah Omarzai and Ikram Alikhil put on a brief partnership of 30 runs, but both batsmen were dismissed in quick succession. Afghanistan were now 102/5, and their hopes of a big total were fading.
Mohammad Nabi and Nangeyalia Kharote added 40 runs for the sixth wicket, but both batsmen were dismissed in the space of three overs. Afghanistan were now 142/7, and South Africa were closing in on victory.
AM Ghazanfar and Fareed Ahmad added some late runs, but Afghanistan were eventually bowled out for 189 in the 49th over. Ngidi was the pick of the South African bowlers, taking 3/34, while Markram and Mulder took two wickets each.
In reply, South Africa got off to a solid start, with Tony de Zorzi and Temba Bavuma putting on 40 runs for the first wicket. However, Afghanistan struck back with the wicket of de Zorzi, who was caught behind for 20.
Bavuma and Reeza Hendricks continued to bat steadily, but the Afghan bowlers kept the pressure on. In the 13th over, Rashid Khan dismissed Bavuma for 26, and in the 18th over, Mujeeb Ur Rahman removed Hendricks for 32.
South Africa were now 72/3, and Afghanistan were firmly in control of the match. Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs put on a brief partnership of 30 runs, but both batsmen were dismissed in quick succession. South Africa were now 102/5, and their hopes of a big total were fading.
Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder added 40 runs for the sixth wicket, but both batsmen were dismissed in the space of three overs. South Africa were now 142/7, and Afghanistan were closing in on victory.
Andile Phehlukwayo and Bjorn Fortuin added some late runs, but South Africa were eventually bowled out for 189 in the 49th over. Rashid Khan was the pick of the Afghan bowlers, taking 3/34, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi took two wickets each.
Afghanistan won the match by 10 runs, and with it, they completed a historic 3-0 clean sweep of the ODI series against South Africa.
