Proteas suffer first series loss to Afghanistan

The Proteas came into their first bilateral series against Afghanistan having won both of their previous ODI encounters. Their back-to-back defeats mean that the home side have now registered their biggest scalp as they take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match series.

South Africa failed to deal with the spin threat of Rashid Khan and the experienced spinner picked up (5/19) as he ripped through the Proteas middle and lower order, and led his side to a historic win on his birthday.

Set a target of 312 to win, The Proteas opening stand of 73 by the returning skipper Temba Bavuma (38 off 47) and Tony de Zorzi (31 off 44) laid the perfect platform for the visitors but the loss of Bavuma at the bowling of Azmatullah Ormazai (1-17) put a halt in to any momentum they tried to build.

South Africa struggled to build partnerships and could not keep up with the required run rate thereafter, and they could only manage to score 61 runs for a price of nine wickets. Nangeyalia Kharote (4-26) cleaned out the tail and completed a spin dominated victory as nine of the ten wickets were picked up by both spinners.

Earlier, Rahmanullah Gurbaz set up Afghanistan innings after they won the toss. His fluent knock of 105 off 110 balls (10x4, 3x6) saw him to his seventh career century before he was bowled by Nandre Burger (10-68-1).

Gurbaz's opening stand of 88 with Riaz Hassan had South Africa on the ropes early on as the Proteas had to toil hard under the heat of Sharjah.

Bavuma and his Proteas side would have been relieved to see the back of the 22-year-old dismissed for 29 by Aiden Markram (4-20-1), but more was to come as the combination of Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah (50 off 66 balls) led to a stand of 101 off 102 balls as the struggle for wickets intensified.

Confident after crossing the half century mark, Shah left his crease in an attempt to hit hard down the ground but Peter saw his advances and dragged his length back straight into the gloves of Kyle Verreynne for his first ODI wicket.

Omarzai though, scored a blistering 86 off 50 balls (5x4,6x6) ensured he carried on and anchored the home side’s innings. The right handed all-rounder cut loose after reaching his sixth half ton and he ended the innings with a strike rate of 172 putting his side in pole position at the halfway point.

Peters' final over went for 14 runs and put a dent in what would have been a decent turn out in his first outing.

The 22 year old ended with figures of 1/68 and helped South Africa restrict the home side to an imposing 311/4 after their allotted 50 overs.

Bjorn Fortuin (10-39-1) was the pick of the bowlers while there were was also a decent contribution from Lungi Ngidi (10-50-1)