Can Afghanistan wrap up the series?
Afghanistan hammered a hapless South Africa in the first ODI which saw Afghanistan pick up their first-ever ODI win against the Proteas and now the Asian team is on the cusp of history as they can pick up a historic series win against the Proteas, heading into the second game.
Ahead of the second ODI, here’s our match preview and predictions.
Afghanistan vs South Africa 2nd ODI | South Africa tour of Afghanistan 2024 | 17:30 IST, 20 September 2024
Fazalhaq Farooqi and AM Ghazanfar put South Africa in a real spot of bother early on as the visitors were 36-7 before a lower order resistance from Wiaan Mulder with some support from Bjorn Fortuin got them over the 100 mark. The inexperience of the Proteas were put on display as they were undone on a dry and slow wicket which saw the odd ball keep low while also assisting the spinners. Barring Mulder’s aggressive approach, none of the South African batters looked comfortable on the crease and Farooqi and Ghazanfar shared seven-wickets between them before Rashid Khan came and wrapped up the tail.
It was a sorry showing from the Proteas with the bat but there was some hope when Lungi Ngidi and Bjorn Fortuin got two early wickets to put Afghanistan at 15-2. A sensible knock from Azmatullah Omarzai with Gulbadin Naib’s powerful hitting saw Afghanistan eventually ease to a six-wicket win as the Proteas hit a new low in a transition period for the visitors.
Moving into the second game, expect more of the same with the Afghanistan team much better suited for the conditions and the young and inexperienced South African squad to take home more learnings. Playing at Sharjah once again, we shouldn’t expect a whole lot of runs with the Afghanis bowlers set to cause all sorts of trouble for the Proteas. Expect Afghanistan to wrap up the series and secure a historic ODI series win.
Fantasy XI: Rahmat Shah, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Mohammad Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Rashid Khan, Bjorn Fortuin, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Venue: Sharjah, UAE
Winners Prediction: Afghanistan
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