Champions Trophy: Rahmat Shah scores valiant 90 vs South Africa
What's the story
Afghanistan's veteran batter Rahmat Shah has scripted history in the ongoing 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
During the third match against South Africa at Karachi's National Stadium, he played a valiant 90-run knock albeit in a losing cause.
It must be noted that this was Afghanistan's first-ever game in the championship.
Rahmat put up a lone fight for his team as the Afghan side was asked to chase down 316.
He missed out on his sixth ODI hundred.
Knock
Rahmat Shah's efforts go in vain
SA bowlers were on fire as Afghanistan lost wickets at regular intervals.
Their combined efforts reduced the Afghan team to 50/4.
However, Rahmat, who arrived at number four, continued to fight with a brilliant 90-run knock.
It must be noted that no other batter from his team could touch the 20-run mark.
He went down as the last batter as the Afghan team was folded for 208.
Career highlights
2,500 ODI runs in Asia
Rahmat's 92-ball 90 saw him smoke nine fours and a maximum.
During the course of his knock, Rahmat also went past 2,500 (now 2,563) ODI runs in Asia.
He achieved this feat in his 78th game on the continent, where he averages 35.59.
His record now includes three centuries and 22 half-centuries.
Interestingly, 793 of these runs came in the UAE alone, where he averages 33.04..
Overall performance
Rahmat's overall ODI performance
With his latest knock, Rahmat has raced to 3,959 runs across 121 ODIs as he averages 35.66 in the format.
The batter's tally includes five tons and 31 half-centuries with 114 being his best score.
With 664 runs at an average of 33-plus, Rahmat is also Afghanistan's leading run-scorer in major ICC ODI events (50s: 5).
This includes the World Cup and Champions Trophy.
Rahmat scored his second ODI fifty vs SA.
1st innings
Summary of the first innings
Earlier in the match, South Africa posted a daunting total of 315/6 thanks to a ton from Ryan Rickelton.
Rickelton (103) was instrumental in bolstering South Africa's position in the match.
After losing fellow opener Tony de Zorzi (11) early on, he stitched a solid 129-run partnership with skipper Temba Bavuma (58) for the second wicket.
Rassie van der Dussen (52) and Aiden Markram (52*) also contributed to SA's score.