South Africa Defeats Afghanistan by 107 Runs in Champions Trophy Opener

In the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener, South Africa defeated Afghanistan by 107 runs in Karachi, showcasing a dominant performance. South Africa set a formidable target of 316 runs, led by Ryan Rickelton's century of 103 runs, supported by notable contributions from Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen. Afghanistan's batting faltered under pressure, losing wickets consistently, with Rahmat Shah's commendable effort of 90 runs being in vain as the team finished at 208. Kagiso Rabada was instrumental with the ball, taking three wickets and contributing to Afghanistan's collapse at 50/4. Despite a fighting spirit from Rahmat, Afghanistan struggled to build partnerships, ultimately succumbing to a comprehensive defeat. The match marked Afghanistan's debut in the Champions Trophy, facing a South African side looking to bounce back from a prior losing streak.