Afghanistan hammered a hapless South Africa in the first ODI, which saw them pick up their first-ever ODI win against the Proteas.
Now the Asian team are on the cusp of history as they eye a series win against South Africa.
Ahead of the second ODI, here are our match preview and predictions.
Also read: Cricket South Africa Sponsors 2024 | Afghanistan Cricket Board Sponsors 2024
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Allah Ghazanfar put South Africa in a real spot of bother early on in the last game 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-run mark.
The inexperience of the Proteas was 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. 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 Fortuin got two early wickets to put Afghanistan 15/2. Then, a sensible knock from Azmatullah Omarzai, along with Gulbadin Naib’s powerful hitting, saw Afghanistan ease to a six-wicket win as the Proteas hit a new low in what is a transition period for them.
Moving into the second game, expect more of the same, with the Afghanistan team much better suited for the conditions, leaving the young and inexperienced South African squad to take home only a handful of learnings. Playing at Sharjah once again, we shouldn’t expect a whole lot of runs, with the Afghan 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, Allah Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Venue: Sharjah, UAE
Winners Prediction: Afghanistan
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