AFG vs SA Head to Head Records – 3rd ODI, Afghanistan vs South Africa 2024 in UAE
Afghanistan leads the series 2-0, dominating South Africa in the UAE as the teams prepare for the 3rd and final ODI on September 22.
AFG vs SA Head-to-Head: A Review of the 3rd ODI in UAE 2024
Afghanistan and South Africa are set to clash in the 3rd and final ODI of their ongoing series, scheduled for Sunday, September 22, at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE. With Afghanistan already securing the series by winning the first two games, the 3rd ODI has become a dead rubber, but Afghanistan will be eager to make it a clean sweep. South Africa, on the other hand, will look to salvage some pride in the final match.
Team Leadership and Venue
Temba Bavuma leads the South African side, while Hashmatullah Shahidi captains Afghanistan. The Sharjah Cricket Stadium, known for its subcontinental pitch conditions, has been a favorable venue for Afghanistan in this series, allowing them to utilize their spin bowling and batting depth effectively.
AFG vs SA Head-to-Head Records in ODIs
In terms of head-to-head records, Afghanistan and South Africa have faced each other 4 times in ODIs. Both teams have won 2 games each, but Afghanistan has dominated this ongoing series, winning both of the matches played in the UAE. These victories have not only given Afghanistan an edge but also highlighted their growing prowess in limited-overs cricket.
| Stat | Matches | AFG Won | SA Won | NR | Tie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| At Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| In the last 5 matches | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| In ongoing series | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| In UAE | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| In 2024 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Afghanistan’s recent performances have shown significant improvement, especially in their home-like conditions in the UAE. The Afghan side has outclassed South Africa in both batting and bowling, raising questions about the Proteas’ ability to adapt to the challenging conditions.
Stand-Out Performances in the Series
In the 1st ODI, Afghanistan saw fantastic contributions from Azamatullah Omarzai (25*) and Gulbadin Naib (34*), while Fazalhaq Farooqi’s 4-wicket haul and Allah Ghazanfar’s 3 wickets helped seal the victory. The 2nd ODI witnessed a magnificent century from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (105), with notable support from Rahmat Shah (50) and Omarzai (86*). In the bowling department, Rashid Khan’s 5-wicket haul and Nangeyalia Kharote’s 4-wicket performance further cemented Afghanistan’s dominance.
For South Africa, however, the performances have been sparse. Wiaan Mulder’s 52 in the 1st ODI and some contributions from Bjorn Fortuin with the ball (2 wickets) offered glimmers of hope. In the 2nd ODI, Temba Bavuma (38) and Tony de Zorzi (31) showed resistance, but it wasn’t enough to challenge Afghanistan.
Key Trends and Patterns
The series so far has revealed that Afghanistan is adept at utilizing the UAE conditions, especially their spin-friendly pitches. The Proteas, despite being a more experienced international team, have struggled to cope with Afghanistan’s bowlers and the overall game plan tailored to exploit the home-like conditions.
Afghanistan’s ability to outplay South Africa in both games reflects their growing status as a formidable team in white-ball cricket. South Africa’s inability to adapt to spin and perform with the bat under pressure has been a major theme in this series.
While South Africa remains the more experienced and historically successful side in international cricket, Afghanistan has used the UAE conditions to their advantage, achieving one-sided victories in the first two ODIs. The final game will either see Afghanistan completing a clean sweep or South Africa managing to regain some lost ground. Regardless, this series has underscored Afghanistan’s potential as a rising force in the world of cricket.
