In the Group B game at the National Stadium on Friday, Rickelton led South Africa’s impressive total of 315-6 with a 106-ball 103-run 103-run six.
South Africa’s pace attack of Kagiso Rabada (3-36), Wiaan Mulder (2-36) and Lungi Ngidi (2-56) then dismissed highly fancied Afghanistan for just 208 in 43.3 overs.
South Africa blunted the threat of Afghanistan’s slow bowlers with star leg-spinner Rashid Khan going wicketless for 59 runs in his 10 overs.
Before he was the last man out, Rahmat Shah had the best of the pack with a 90-ball 90 with nine boundaries and a six.
Afghanistan desperately needed a quick start as it battled a formidable opponent, but the 10-over duo lost flamboyant openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
As Afghanistan remained teetering at 50-4, Sediqullah Atal fell for 16 while Hashmatullah Shahidi, the skipper, went without scoring.
Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai (18) took the score to 89 before Rabada and Marco Jansen, who got rid of Mohammad Nabi, struck to effectively end Afghanistan’s hopes.
Rashid Khan’s quickfire 13-ball 18, which included a six and three boundaries, briefly entertained the crowd.
“It’s a clinical performance”, said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma. With the toss, “we got the rub of the green,” but choosing to bat first and not know how it would play was a brave decision.
We handled that, won a match, and then played clinical with the ball.
Afghanistan captain Shahidi rued his team’s batting flaws.
” I think the batting was not good enough today, “said Shahidi.
” The pitch was helping their bowlers. In the following two games, we will move forward and play high-quality cricket.
After winning the toss and batting, South Africa was ably led by Bavuma (58), Rassie van der Dussen (52 not out), and Aiden Markram (52 not out).
Tony de Zorzi, who was caught midway through the first ball, was Nabi’s first ball, which gave him an early lead.
As Afghanistan struggled on the field, Rickelton and Bavuma added 129 for the second wicket.
In a crowd that was otherwise sparse, Bavuma hit five 76-ball goals before being beaten to a quick Nabi delivery to give some joy to hundreds of Afghan fans.
Rickelton finished his first white ball century with a single, surpassing his previous best of only 91 in ODIs, which included two Test centuries.
Two runs later, however, he was gone, victim of an unlucky run out.
As the bowler collected and fired the ball to wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz as he drove Rashid down the pitch, Rickelton was forced to turn quickly and return to his crease.
Rickelton appeared to be making his ground, but replays revealed that Gurbaz had just slightly raised his bat and not in the crease when he whipped off the bails.
Van der Dussen’s 46-ball knock ended with Noor Ahmad as the 43rd over, who had already smacked in two sixes and three boundaries.
In a 36-ball 52 not out, which helped the Proteas add 50 runs in the final five overs, it was Markram’s job to take South Africa past the 300-run mark.
On Saturday, Australia and England will play in another Group B match in Lahore.
Source: Aljazeera
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