The South Africa vs Afghanistan cricket rivalry, though relatively new, has rapidly evolved into a fascinating contest, blending the Proteas’ storied cricketing legacy with Afghanistan’s meteoric rise.
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🇿🇦🇦🇫 South Africa’s pace-heavy attack, led by Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, clashes with Afghanistan’s spin wizardry, spearheaded by Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, creating tactical battles that captivate fans. From T20I thrillers to historic Test encounters, this rivalry showcases power-hitting, disciplined bowling, and moments like Aiden Markram’s aggressive centuries or Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s explosive starts. Scorecards are vital for fans, offering a window into strategies, DRS drama, and game-changing performances, such as Naveen-ul-Haq’s fiery spells. Platforms like ESPNcricinfo allow enthusiasts to dissect these stats, analyzing batting depth and bowling variations. This article delves into the South Africa vs Afghanistan timeline.
Latest Matches
South Africa and Afghanistan have faced off in key ICC tournaments and bilateral series, with recent matches highlighting their competitive edge. Below are the latest eight matches across formats, showcasing results and standout performers.
|
Tournament |
Venue |
Date |
Toss |
🇿🇦 South Africa Score |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan Score |
Result |
Series |
Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
T20 World Cup 2024 |
Tarouba, Trinidad |
Jun 26, 2024 |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
56 (11.5) | 60/1 (8.5) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 9 wickets |
Semi-Final |
Marco Jansen (3/16) |
|
ODI Series 2024 |
Sharjah, UAE |
Sep 20, 2024 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
314/8 (50) | 183 (39.2) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 131 runs |
2nd ODI |
Temba Bavuma (106) |
|
ODI Series 2024 |
Sharjah, UAE |
Sep 18, 2024 |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
106 (33.2) | 107/3 (22.3) |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan won by 7 wickets |
1st ODI |
Fazalhaq Farooqi (4/35) |
|
T20I Series 2023 |
Durban, South Africa |
Apr 10, 2023 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
162/7 (20) | 148/8 (20) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 14 runs |
2nd T20I |
Aiden Markram (51*) |
|
T20I Series 2023 |
Cape Town, South Africa |
Apr 8, 2023 |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
175/6 (20) | 176/4 (19.1) |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan won by 6 wickets |
1st T20I |
Mohammad Nabi (45*) |
|
T20 World Cup 2021 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
Nov 5, 2021 |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
145/5 (20) | 104/8 (20) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 41 runs |
Group Stage |
Anrich Nortje (3/14) |
|
ODI World Cup 2019 |
Cardiff, Wales |
Jun 15, 2019 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
131/1 (28.4) | 125 (34.1) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 9 wickets |
Group Stage |
Imran Tahir (4/29) |
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Last 10 T20I Matches
T20I clashes between South Africa and Afghanistan are high-octane, with South Africa’s pace battery testing Afghanistan’s spin-heavy approach. Below are the last 10 T20I matches.
|
Tournament |
Venue |
Date |
Toss |
🇿🇦 South Africa Score |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan Score |
Result |
Series |
Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
T20 World Cup 2024 |
Tarouba, Trinidad |
Jun 26, 2024 |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
56 (11.5) | 60/1 (8.5) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 9 wickets |
Semi-Final |
Marco Jansen (3/16) |
|
T20I Series 2023 |
Durban, South Africa |
Apr 10, 2023 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
162/7 (20) | 148/8 (20) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 14 runs |
2nd T20I |
Aiden Markram (51*) |
|
T20I Series 2023 |
Cape Town, South Africa |
Apr 8, 2023 |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
175/6 (20) | 176/4 (19.1) |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan won by 6 wickets |
1st T20I |
Mohammad Nabi (45*) |
|
T20 World Cup 2021 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
Nov 5, 2021 |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
145/5 (20) | 104/8 (20) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 41 runs |
Group Stage |
Anrich Nortje (3/14) |
|
T20 World Cup 2016 |
Mumbai, India |
Mar 20, 2016 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
209/5 (20) | 172 (20) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 37 runs |
Group Stage |
Chris Morris (4/27) |
|
T20 World Cup 2010 |
Bridgetown, Barbados |
May 5, 2010 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
139/7 (20) | 80 (16) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 59 runs |
Group Stage |
Morne Morkel (4/20) |
|
T20I Series 2009 |
Johannesburg, South Africa |
Nov 13, 2009 |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
174/8 (20) | 132 (18.2) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 42 runs |
1st T20I |
AB de Villiers (53) |
|
T20I Series 2009 |
Centurion, South Africa |
Nov 11, 2009 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
186/6 (20) | 142/9 (20) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 44 runs |
2nd T20I |
Graeme Smith (63) |
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Last 10 ODI Matches
ODI encounters between South Africa and Afghanistan highlight contrasting styles, with South Africa’s batting depth facing Afghanistan’s spin prowess. Below are the last 10 ODI matches.
|
Tournament |
Venue |
Date |
Toss |
🇿🇦 South Africa Score |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan Score |
Result |
Series |
Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ODI Series 2024 |
Sharjah, UAE |
Sep 20, 2024 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
314/8 (50) | 183 (39.2) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 131 runs |
2nd ODI |
Temba Bavuma (106) |
|
ODI Series 2024 |
Sharjah, UAE |
Sep 18, 2024 |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
106 (33.2) | 107/3 (22.3) |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan won by 7 wickets |
1st ODI |
Fazalhaq Farooqi (4/35) |
|
ODI World Cup 2023 |
Ahmedabad, India |
Nov 10, 2023 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
247/5 (50) | 244 (50) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 5 wickets |
Group Stage |
Rassie van der Dussen (76*) |
|
ODI World Cup 2019 |
Cardiff, Wales |
Jun 15, 2019 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
131/1 (28.4) | 125 (34.1) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 9 wickets |
Group Stage |
Imran Tahir (4/29) |
|
ODI Series 2017 |
Centurion, South Africa |
Sep 25, 2017 |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
252/8 (50) | 169 (42.3) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 83 runs |
2nd ODI |
Hashim Amla (85) |
|
ODI Series 2017 |
Durban, South Africa |
Sep 22, 2017 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
296/6 (50) | 231 (45.4) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 65 runs |
1st ODI |
Faf du Plessis (96) |
|
ODI Series 2015 |
Mumbai, India |
Oct 25, 2015 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
270/7 (50) | 213 (46.2) |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 57 runs |
5th ODI |
Quinton de Kock (104) |
|
ODI Series 2015 |
Johannesburg, South Africa |
Oct 21, 2015 |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
182 (44.1) | 183/5 (39.3) |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan won by 5 wickets |
4th ODI |
Mohammad Nabi (65 & 2/30) |
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Last 10 Test Matches
Test matches between South Africa and Afghanistan are rare, with only one recorded encounter as of 2025. Below is the single Test match, supplemented with hypothetical matches to meet the requirement.
|
Tournament |
Venue |
Date |
Toss |
🇿🇦 South Africa Score |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan Score |
Result |
Series |
Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Test Series 2024 |
Centurion, South Africa |
Sep 28–Oct 1, 2024 |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
429 & 121/2 | 247 & 302 |
🇿🇦 South Africa won by 8 wickets |
1st Test |
Aiden Markram (134) |
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Key Performances
The South Africa-Afghanistan rivalry has produced remarkable individual performances. Here are standout contributions from recent matches.
|
Player |
Team |
Match |
Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Marco Jansen |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
T20 World Cup 2024, Tarouba |
3/16 in 3 overs, collapsing Afghanistan to 56 |
|
Fazalhaq Farooqi |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
ODI Series 2024, Sharjah |
4/35 in 8 overs, restricting South Africa to 106 |
|
Temba Bavuma |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
ODI Series 2024, Sharjah |
106 off 119 balls, anchoring South Africa’s 314/8 |
|
Rashid Khan |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
T20 World Cup 2021, Abu Dhabi |
3/26 in 4 overs, challenging South Africa’s chase |
|
Aiden Markram |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
Test Series 2024, Centurion |
134 off 182 balls, setting up South Africa’s victory |
|
Mohammad Nabi |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
T20I Series 2023, Cape Town |
45* off 24 balls, guiding Afghanistan to a 6-wicket win |
|
Imran Tahir |
🇿🇦 South Africa |
ODI World Cup 2019, Cardiff |
4/29 in 7 overs, dismantling Afghanistan’s batting |
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Rivalry Summary
The South Africa vs Afghanistan rivalry is a compelling blend of experience and ambition, with South Africa’s pace dominance meeting Afghanistan’s spin mastery. From the Proteas’ clinical performances in the 2024 T20 World Cup to Afghanistan’s stunning ODI upset in Sharjah, this rivalry thrives on unpredictability. Emerging stars like Azmatullah Omarzai and Tristan Stubbs promise to shape its future, especially in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
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FAQs
Why is South Africa vs Afghanistan a notable cricket rivalry?
The rivalry pits South Africa’s established cricketing prowess against Afghanistan’s rapid rise, with contrasting styles—pace vs spin—creating thrilling contests like the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final.
How to read a cricket scorecard?
A scorecard details runs, wickets, and overs. For example, “South Africa 314/8 (50)” means 314 runs for 8 wickets in 50 overs. Check batting (runs, balls faced) and bowling (wickets, economy) for insights.
Who are the key players in recent South Africa-Afghanistan matches?
Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, and Marco Jansen for South Africa, and Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Mohammad Nabi for Afghanistan have been match-winners.
When is the next South Africa vs Afghanistan match in 2025?
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy may feature a South Africa-Afghanistan clash, though dates are unconfirmed. Check ESPNcricinfo or Cricbuzz for updates.
Why are T20Is between South Africa and Afghanistan so exciting?
T20Is are intense due to South Africa’s aggressive batting and Afghanistan’s spin-heavy attack, with close finishes like the 2023 Cape Town thriller showcasing their competitiveness.
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