Afghanistan faces South Africa in 1st ODI at Sharjah. Can Rashid Khan stop South Africa’s strong lineup? Get match details, pitch report, and key players.
Cricket fans are in for an exciting encounter as Afghanistan takes on South Africa in the first ODI of their series today, September 18, 2024, at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium. With both teams eager to start the series on a high, this match promises plenty of action, especially with the Sharjah pitch known for producing some thrilling high-scoring contests.
Match Details
Date & Time: September 18, 2024, 05:30 PM IST
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE
Pitch Report: Batters' Paradise with a Twist
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium is renowned for its slow pitch and short boundaries, which typically favor the batters once they settle in. The slow nature of the wicket provides some assistance to spinners, but overall, it is a high-scoring venue, with teams often aiming for totals around 285+.
Average 1st Innings Score: 285 runs
Highest ODI Total: 364/7 by Pakistan vs. New Zealand (2014)
Highest Successful Run Chase: 285/2 by Australia vs. Pakistan (2019)
Given the pitch conditions and its history, the team winning the toss may prefer to bowl first, with chasing teams often having an advantage at Sharjah.
Head-to-Head: South Africa vs Afghanistan
Although Afghanistan has made significant strides in international cricket, their record against South Africa in ODIs leaves much to be desired. The two sides have met only twice, both encounters taking place in the ICC ODI World Cup, and South Africa emerged victorious in both.
Matches Played: 2
Won by South Africa: 2
Won by Afghanistan: 0
Previous Encounters:
June 15, 2019: South Africa won by 9 wickets
November 10, 2023: South Africa won by 5 wickets
Predicted Lineups
With both teams coming into this series looking to make an impact, here's a look at their likely playing XIs:
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
Abdul Malik / Darwish Rasooli
Rahmat Shah
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
Azmatullah Omarzai
Mohammad Nabi
Ikram Alikhil (wk)
Rashid Khan
Nangeyalia Kharote
Naveen Zadran / Fareed Ahmed
Fazalhaq Farooqi
South Africa
Temba Bavuma (c)
Reeza Hendricks
Aiden Markram
Tony de Zorzi
Tristan Stubbs
Kyle Verreynne (wk)
Andile Phehlukwayo
Lungi Ngidi
Ottneil Baartman
Nandre Burger
Lizaad Williams
Key Players to Watch
Afghanistan
Rashid Khan: The Afghan talisman and world-class spinner will be key on Sharjah’s slow pitch. His ability to take wickets in the middle overs could be a game-changer.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz: The explosive opener has the ability to give Afghanistan a flying start. His aggression at the top will be crucial against South Africa’s strong bowling attack.
Mohammad Nabi: A veteran all-rounder, Nabi brings balance to the Afghan side with his dependable batting and off-spin.
South Africa
Aiden Markram: A player in form, Markram will look to anchor the South African innings while scoring at a brisk pace. He’s also handy with the ball.
Reeza Hendricks: An aggressive top-order batsman, Hendricks’ ability to take on the Afghan bowlers could set the tone for South Africa’s innings.
Lungi Ngidi: The Proteas pacer will look to exploit any early movement and provide breakthroughs. His death-bowling skills could be critical on Sharjah’s smaller ground.
What to Expect
With both teams looking to make a strong start, fans can expect an intense battle. Afghanistan will rely on their spin attack led by Rashid Khan to trouble the South African middle order, while South Africa will look to capitalize on their experience and batting depth. The pitch at Sharjah favors batters, but the bowlers who adapt quickly could tilt the game in their team’s favor.
