Mon Sep 23 06:10:45 UTC 2024: ## South Africa Avoids Series Sweep with Win Over Afghanistan
**Sharjah, UAE:** South Africa staved off a series sweep by Afghanistan, winning the third and final ODI by seven wickets on Sunday. Aiden Markram led the charge with an unbeaten 69, guiding his team to a comfortable 170-3 with 17 overs to spare.
Earlier, Afghanistan, who had dominated the first two matches, stumbled in the third. After electing to bat first, they were bowled out for 169 in 34 overs, their first collapse of the series. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored a century in the previous game, top-scored with 89 runs, but no other Afghan batsman could manage more than 10 runs.
Despite losing the first two matches, South Africa displayed resilience in the final ODI. Markram’s steady innings helped them chase down the target with ease, while the disciplined bowling of Lungi Ngidi, Nqabayomzi Peter, and Andile Phehlukwayo (each taking two wickets) kept Afghanistan in check.
First Piper 