The sun beat down on Sharjah as a dramatic ODI encounter unfolded between South Africa and Afghanistan. The first 10 overs of the match painted a picture of utter devastation for the Proteas, as they found themselves reeling at 36/7 – a record low for the team in terms of wickets lost in the opening 10 overs of an ODI. It was a performance that no South African supporter could have ever anticipated.
The story of this match was the incredible bowling display by Afghanistan, who seemingly were on a mission to dismantle the South African batting lineup. Leading the charge was AM Ghazanfar, the Afghanistan skipper, who picked up a remarkable double-wicket maiden, leaving the South African batsmen in a state of disarray. He ended up with a stunning 3/17 in his initial spell, sending back Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, and Jason Smith, who was making his ODI debut.
Adding to South Africa’s woes was the debutant, Fazalhaq Farooqi, who also proved to be a nightmare for the Proteas. Farooqi, with his clever variations and accurate bowling, claimed a crucial scalp of Tony de Zorzi, further deepening the South African crisis.
With the wickets falling like dominoes, South Africa’s hopes of mounting a competitive total seemed to be fading with each passing over. Their batsmen struggled to cope with the spin-friendly conditions and the relentless pressure from the Afghanistan bowlers. The Proteas found themselves in unfamiliar territory, facing a mountain of a task to recover from such a devastating start.
As the first 10 overs drew to a close, the scorecard told a tale of utter dominance by Afghanistan. The team had achieved a historic feat, dismantling the Proteas’ batting lineup in a manner that will surely be etched in cricket history. It was a performance that highlighted the growing strength and depth of the Afghan team, setting the stage for what promised to be a thrilling encounter in Sharjah.
