Champions Trophy: Rabada claims three-fer in SA's win over Afghanistan
What's the story
South Africa have started their 2025 Champions Trophy campaign on a high note, thrashing Afghanistan by 107 runs.
Chasing 316 in Karachi, Afghanistan fell were folded for just 206 as the Proteas bowlers struck at regular intervals.
Pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada was brilliant in particular, having claimed three vital wickets. He indeed bowled a fiery spell.
Here we look at his stats.
Chase collapse
A stunning spell from Rabada
Chasing South Africa's mammoth total, Afghanistan's innings started on a shaky note with Rahmanullah Gurbaz (10) and Ibrahim Zadran (17) falling early.
Rabada dismissed the latter in the 10th over. In Azmatullah Omarzai (18), Rabada had another prize scalp as Afghanistan were reduced to 89/5.
However, Rahmat Shah stood tall with a fighting knock of 90 runs off 92 balls. He went down as the last batter as Rabada put the final nail in the coffin.
Match clincher
All-round bowling effort seals victory for South Africa
Rabada was indeed the key to South Africa's win with his deadly bowling.
Wiaan Mulder and Lungi Ngidi also contributed with two wickets each, while Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen took one each.
With this collective effort, South Africa restricted Afghanistan to 208/10 in 43.3 overs, winning comfortably by 107 runs.
It must be noted that no other Afghanistan batter besides Rahmat could touch the 20-run mark.
Stats
Here are his ODI numbers
Rabada finished his stellar spell with 3/36 across 8.3 overs.
The pacer has now raced to 165 ODI scalps across 104 matches for South Africa at 27.27, as per ESPNcricinfo.
47 of his scalps have come in Asia at 24.17. He managed just one scalp in his previous two outings against Afghanistan.
He now owns four wickets across as many Champions Trophy games.
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.