Wed Oct 02 11:57:57 UTC 2024: ## Afghanistan Makes History, Defeats South Africa in First ODI

**Sharjah, UAE:** In a historic upset, Afghanistan defeated South Africa by 6 wickets in the first ODI, marking their first ever victory against the Proteas in any format. This remarkable triumph was achieved through a combined effort of impressive bowling and solid batting.

South Africa, winning the toss and electing to bat first, crumbled under the pressure of Afghanistan’s relentless bowling attack. The entire team was bowled out for a paltry 106 runs in just 33.3 overs.

The Afghan bowlers were led by the brilliant Fazalhaq Farooqi, who claimed 4 wickets, including the crucial scalps of Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram. Eighteen-year-old Allah Ghazanfar also impressed with 3 wickets, while Rashid Khan contributed 2 wickets.

The South African batting collapse was so severe that they lost 4 wickets within 6 runs, and 7 wickets had fallen by the time they reached 36 runs. Wiaan Mulder fought valiantly with a score of 52 runs, but he received little support from the other end.

Afghanistan’s chase was not without its challenges, losing early wickets including Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Riaz Hasan. However, a composed innings of 25 runs by Azmatullah Omarzai and a crucial knock of 34 runs by Gulbadin Naib steered Afghanistan to victory in just 26 overs, losing 4 wickets in the process.

This historic victory highlights the growing strength of Afghanistan cricket and serves as a reminder that the game’s landscape is constantly evolving.

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