South Africa’s Strong Start Led by Rickelton’s Masterclass
South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton played a sensational knock, scoring 103 off 106 balls, leading his team to a strong position in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group B match against Afghanistan at the National Stadium, Karachi. His composed innings included 7 fours and 1 six, with a strike rate of 97.17.
Match Overview
- Match: Afghanistan vs South Africa, 3rd Match, Group B
- Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
- Date & Time: February 21, 2025
- Toss: South Africa elected to bat first
- Score Update: 201/3 (35.3 overs)
Ryan Rickelton’s Knock in Numbers
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Rickelton | 103 | 106 | 7 | 1 | 97.17 |
Key Moments of Rickelton’s Innings
- Batted fluently alongside Temba Bavuma (58 off 76), contributing to a 157-run partnership for the 2nd wicket.
- Brought up his maiden ICC Champions Trophy century in 101 balls.
- Played aggressively against spinners while maintaining a composed approach against pace bowling.
- Reached 200 for South Africa in 35.1 overs.
Rickelton’s Unfortunate Dismissal
Rickelton was eventually run out (Rashid Khan/Rahmanullah Gurbaz) in the 35.3rd over. The dismissal came from a quick throw by Rashid Khan in his follow-through, catching Rickelton off guard as he attempted to return to the crease. The South African opener dived but failed to get home as his bat was in the air when the bails were removed.
Bowling Performance Against Rickelton
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashid Khan | 6.3 | 31 | 0 | 4.76 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 9.0 | 45 | 2 | 5.00 |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 5.0 | 24 | 0 | 4.80 |
South Africa’s Road Ahead
With South Africa at 201/3 in 35.3 overs, they are on track to post a big total, possibly crossing 300+ runs. Ryan Rickelton’s century has set the platform, and the Proteas will now rely on their middle order, including Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Marco Jansen, to capitalize on this momentum.
Stay tuned for more updates on ICC Champions Trophy 2025!
