Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Ibrahim Zadran - Afghanistan's two best white-ball batters, failed to get the team off to a good start in their opening fixture against South Africa in the ongoing Champions Trophy fixture. Chasing a massive target of 316, Gurbaz (10) and Zadran (17) got out inside the power play. With both the openers back in the hut, Afghanistan is surely in the backseat.
South Africa's two new ball bowlers - Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen, started well the ball. While the former was a bit erratic with his line and lengths, Jansen hit the hard lengths and made the Afghan batters struggle for runs. It was the pressure created by Jansen that eventually led to the wicket of both openers.
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Often for Afghans, it's Gurbaz and Zadran who set the tempo in a steep run chase. However, this time neither, one of them could bat with assertiveness. South African pacers Rabada, and Jansen in particular, managed to generate steep bounce, which made run-scoring all the more difficult.
South Africa start well with the ball in hand, on course of a huge win
The Proteas, who had come into the Champions Trophy with seven losses on the bounce, have managed to start well in their first game of CT against Afghanistan. There were question marks over the form of some of the players, like Markram, Miller, and Rassie van der Dussen. However, all three of the players made the bat do the talking, while the bowlers have so far looked good.
