Fri Sep 20 19:14:08 UTC 2024: ## Afghanistan Thrash South Africa in Dominant ODI Victory
**Abu Dhabi, UAE:** Afghanistan secured a resounding victory over South Africa in the first One Day International (ODI) of the three-match series, defeating the Proteas by a massive 177 runs.
Afghanistan, batting first, set a formidable target of 312 runs thanks to a brilliant century from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (105 runs off 110 balls) and a quickfire 86 from Azmatullah Omarzai (50 balls).
The South African bowlers struggled to contain the Afghan onslaught, with Lungi Ngidi taking the only wicket for 50 runs off his 10 overs.
In response, South Africa’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure from the Afghan bowlers, with Rashid Khan leading the charge and claiming a remarkable 5 wickets for just 19 runs off 9 overs.
Nangeyalia Kharote also played a crucial role in the rout, picking up 4 wickets for 26 runs, leaving the Proteas reeling at 134 all out in just 34.2 overs.
Temba Bavuma (38 runs) and Tony de Zorzi (31 runs) were the only South African batsmen to offer any resistance.
The victory was a significant one for Afghanistan, showcasing their impressive skills and ability to dominate against a strong South African team. The two teams will now face off in the second ODI on Friday, with Afghanistan looking to build on their impressive start to the series.
First Piper 