Images from the ICC Champions Trophy match between Afghanistan and South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday.
Opening batter Ryan Rickelton struck a flawless maiden century before a clinical display by the bowlers helped South Africa kick off their Champions Trophy campaign with a comprehensive 107-run win over Afghanistan in Karachi on Friday.
Rickleton smashed 103 off 106 balls with the help of seven fours and one six while captain Temba Bavuma (58 off 76 balls), Rassie van der Dussen (52 off 46 balls) and Aiden Markram (52 not out off 36 balls) scored half-centuries to power South Africa to a huge 315/6 after opting to bat.
Rickleton's ton was the tournament's fifth in three day's time and the third at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Chasing a big target of 316, Afghanistan couldn't repeat their series-winning performance of last year against South Africa when they won the series 2-1 in Sharjah.
They were bowled out for 208 in 43.3 overs with South Africa pacers Kagiso Rabada (3/36), Lungi Ngidi (2/56), Wiaan Mulder (2/36) and Marco Jansen (1/32) sharing eight wickets among them as they never allowed Afghanistan to get going in the first 15 overs.
The Afghans had a horror start with the bat as they collapsed to 89/5 in the 23rd over and there was no way back from that stage.
Rahmat Shah played a lone hand with a 92-ball 90 while Rashid Khan (18) and Azmatullah Omarzai (18) were the second highest scorers for Afghanistan who were never in the game after conceding a big total.
Ngidi set the pace when he got rid of danger man Rehmanullah Gurbaz in the fourth over for 10 when the batsman couldn't play down a short ball which got big on him and Maharaj took a fine catch at short leg.
After five overs, Rabada, bowling with fire on a batting track, clean-bowled Ibrahim Zadran with a beauty.
To make matters worse, Afghanistan lost Sediqullah Atal (16) to a run out in the 14th over while trying a suicidal single and the next over, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (0) pulled Mulder straight to his opposite number Bavuma at wide mid-on to derail the innings.
Rabada and Jansen went through Azmatullah Omarzai (18) and Muhammad Nabi (8) to make it 120 for 6 and more or less settle the matter even though Rehmat Shah stood out with his fighting 90 from 92 balls before he was the last man out, edging Rabada to the keeper.
Earlier, Rickelton's century along with half-centuries captain Temba Bavuma (58 off 76 balls), Rassie van der Dussen (52 off 46 balls) and Aiden Markram (50 not out off 34 balls) led a dominating batting performance by the Proteas.
Rickleton was unfortunately run out in the 36th over when he flicked back to Rashid Khan whose throw was picked up by the wicketkeeper before whipping off the bails. The batter dived full length but found his bat in the air when the bails came off.
Rickelton displayed great footwork against spinners Rashid and Muhammad Nabi and chinaman Noor Ahmed, not allowing them to dictate terms on him as he was also very strong off his back foot with his cuts and pulls.
The left-hander shared a strong second wicket partnership of 129 runs with Bavuma who batted smoothly for his 58 off 76 balls.
Once the two were separated with Bavuma holing out into the deep, Rickleton found another able partner in van der Dussen who slammed a quickfire 52 from 46 balls.
Van Dussen made sure South Africa didn't feel the absence of Heinrich Klassen who was out of the match with an elbow soft tissue injury and the dropped Tristan Stubbs as he batted very well against pace and spin.
Markram carried on the momentum as he smashed 52 from 36 balls with six fours and a six.
In the 48th over, Markram went hard after left-arm pacer Fazal Haq Farooqi, belting the bowler for three successive fours to take SA past the 300-run mark.
For Afghanistan, veteran spinner Mohammed Nabi grabbed two wickets for 51 runs, while Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai and Noor Ahmad picked up one each. Rashid was wicketless for 59 runs from his 10 overs.
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