You ever watch a match where one team just looks more polished, more structured, and more in control—while the other is scrappy, fighting, but never quite in the contest? Yeah, that was South Africa vs. Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy 2025.
And look, we all knew South Africa were favorites, but Afghanistan? They don’t back down. They’re not here to make up the numbers—they’re here to fight. And fight they did… for a while.
But at the end of the day, experience beats spirit, and South Africa showed why they’re still a serious contender in world cricket.
South Africa’s Batting: A Masterclass in Structure
Temba Bavuma won the toss, had a little think, and decided, “Let’s put up a big total and see what these guys can do under pressure.”
And well, South Africa batted like a well-oiled machine.
✅ Ryan Rickelton led from the front with 103 off 106 – smooth, effortless, and exactly the kind of innings that sets up a big total.
✅ Bavuma (58 off 76) and van der Dussen (52 off 46) played their roles perfectly, rotating strike, keeping the scoreboard moving.
✅ Markram’s late fireworks (52 off 36) ensured they didn’t slow down at the death.
Final total? 315/6 in 50 overs.
Not an impossible chase, but on a Karachi pitch that slows down under lights, it was always going to be a challenge for Afghanistan.
Now, let’s talk about Afghanistan’s bowling for a second. Because here’s the thing—they’re improving, but they’re not quite there yet.
- Rashid Khan? Wicketless. He bowled well, but South Africa didn’t take risks against him. Smart cricket.
- Nabi & Noor Ahmad got one each, but lacked penetration.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi (1/59) and Omarzai (1/39) looked solid in patches, but couldn’t sustain pressure.
The real problem? Too many boundary balls. South Africa found the gaps, rotated strike, and never let them settle.
Afghanistan’s Chase: The Lone Warrior Story
If there’s one thing you can say about Afghanistan, it’s that they play with heart.
But cricket? Cricket doesn’t care about heart—it rewards structure, depth, and execution.
And from the very first over, you could see the difference.
- Gurbaz gone for 10.
- Zadran gone for 17.
- Sediqullah Atal gone for 16.
By the 14th over, they were 50/4, and any hopes of an upset were already on life support.
Then came Rahmat Shah. And if you’re an Afghanistan fan, you probably sighed in relief thinking, “Okay, at least someone’s here to fight.”
And fight he did.
✅ Rahmat Shah played one of the most underrated knocks of the tournament—90 off 92 balls.
✅ He rotated strike, picked the right balls to attack, and single-handedly kept a sinking ship from going under too quickly.
✅ He had no support. None.
- Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi? Golden duck.
- Azmatullah Omarzai? 18 off 27 before falling.
- Mohammad Nabi? 8 off 17.
- Gulbadin Naib? 13 off 19.
By the time Rahmat Shah finally fell in the 44th over, Afghanistan were all out for 208—a full 107 runs short.
Bowling Breakdown: South Africa Had a Plan
What’s the difference between raw pace and intelligent pace? Watch Rabada bowl.
- 8.3 overs, 3 wickets, 36 runs.
- Pace, bounce, control.
Ngidi was a little expensive (2/56), but he got the early breakthroughs that mattered.
Jansen and Mulder were tight, disciplined, and just too good on the night.
And Keshav Maharaj? Classic spin control. No fireworks, no drama—just pressure.
The Difference Between These Two Teams? It’s Not Just Skill.
Afghanistan are a talented, hardworking side. No doubt about it. But if you really look at this match, the difference was structure, planning, and execution.
South Africa played like a team that knows its roles:
✔️ A proper opener to anchor the innings.
✔️ A middle-order that builds and accelerates.
✔️ A bowling attack that knows how to control the game.
Afghanistan, on the other hand? They’re still looking for that balance.
- They rely too much on individual brilliance.
- They don’t have a proper batting order that can absorb pressure.
- And their bowling, while talented, lacks the consistency needed to compete with the big teams.
They’re getting there. Slowly. But today? Today was a lesson.
Final Thought: The Future is Bright for Afghanistan, But South Africa Are Ready Now.
South Africa looked like a team that could go deep in this tournament.
Afghanistan? They looked like a team that will be dangerous in the next 3-5 years—but right now, they’re just a few pieces away from really competing at this level.
They need depth. They need consistency. They need more than just “playing with heart.”
Because in tournaments like this? Heart can only take you so far.