Sports

Cricket: Afghanistan wallop South Africa in opening ODI meet

Published

2 months ago

September 20, 2024

South Africa men’s Cricket national team, The Proteas, were made to eat the humble pie as Afghanistan battled their way to a six-wicket win over in the opening One-Day International (ODI) held in Sharjah on Wednesday after skittling the Proteas for just 106.

Though the African team managed to avoid their lowest ever score in an ODI, but some fine bowling from Afghan opening bowlers, Fazalhaq Farooqi, who took 4-35, and AM Ghazanfar, 3-20, ensured that the Asian team’s batters would have a comfortable chase.

A report on the match states that in the event, the host lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz to the third ball of the innings, caught at third man off Lungi Ngidi, and when Rahmat Shah was leg before to Bjorn Fortuin the Afghans were wobbling at 15-2.

“Fortuin also removed Riaz Hassan for 16 while Aiden Markram, standing in as captain for the sick Temba Bavuma, dismissed Hashmatullah Shahidi.

“However, Azmatullah Omarzai (25 not out) and Gulbadin Naib, 34 off 27 balls, saw them home in 26 overs. After Markram elected to bat first after winning the toss, Reeza Hendricks and Tony de Zorzi added 17 for the first wicket before left-arm quick Farooqi bowled Hendricks for 9 to spark a dramatic collapse which saw South Africa slump to 36-7.

‘Farooqi added the wickets of Markram (2) and de Zorzi (11) to his tally while Ghazanfar accounted for Tristan Stubbs and Jason Smith, making his ODI debut, for ducks and Kyle Verreynne for 10.

“As if South Africa did not already have enough problems, Andile Phehlukwayo went walkabout as Ghazanfar was appealing for leg before, leaving Nabi to run him out.

“With only 10 of the 50 overs bowled, it looked as though South Africa’s record lowest ODI score of 69, made against Australia in Sydney in 1993, would be in danger.

‘An eighth-wicket partnership of 39 between Wiaan Mulder and Fortuin, however, saw them past the danger and threatened to rebuild the innings.’

Related Topics:Afghanistan Cricket Featured ODI Proteas South Africa

Click to comment

Sports

Ghana Black Stars in disarray as 8 players withdraw from 2025 Afcon qualifiers

Published

15 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The chances of the Black Stars of Ghana qualifying for the 2025 AFCON seems slimmer by the day with the withdrawal of eight first team players from the squad as the team prepares for crucial qualifiers against against Angola on November 15 in Luanda and against Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 18.

The latest to pull out of the double headed qualifiers are Inaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo due to injuries, with the withdrawals forcing head coach Otto Addo, to scramble for last minute replacements to reshape his squad with little time to spare.

Other top stars who have withdrawn from the team are Thomas Partey, Tariq Lamptey and Jerome Opoku

Others are Jonas Adjetey, Alexander Djiku and Joseph Paintsil, all of whom have been sidelined due to injuries or personal reasons.

Ghana currently sits in third place in Group F with two points, trailing Angola, who leads with 12 points, and Sudan with seven points.

To stand any chance of qualifying, the Black Stars must win all their remaining matches and hope Sudan stumble in their final games.

Sports

CAF celebrates Ademola Lookman’s AFCON goals ahead of AFY award

Published

3 days ago

November 10, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ahead of the 2024 African Footballer of the Year (AFY) award scheduled to hold in Morocco next month, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rolled out the drums to celebrate the goals scored by Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, Ademola Lookman, at the last AFCON.

After finishing in 14th position at the Ballon d’Or, many have tipped the Atalanta star as the clear favourite to win CAF’s African Footballer of the Year award for 2024 and the continent’s football governing body seems to align with the verdict by celebrating his goals at the AFCON and his iconic celebrations depicting those of late Green Eagles player, Samuel Okwaraji.

Lookman was a key member of the Nigerian Super Eagles at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, in addition to his hat trick in the Europa League final, where Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen to win the trophy.

This season, the striker has continued where he stopped, notching up two Champions League goals and six goals and four assists in eight league games is one of the best in the world right now.

The CAF awards will take place in Rabat on December 16 at the famous Mohammed VI Grand Theatre and if Lookman picks up the gong, will be taking over from Nigerian team mate, Victor Osimhen who won the 2023 edition.