SOUTH AFRICA WINS FINAL GAME OF ODI SERIES AGAINST AFGHANISTAN

South Africa bounced back from two heavy defeats to beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the final match of their One Day International (ODI) series in Sharjah on Sunday, preventing what could have been a series sweep and ending the week on a positive note.

Aiden Markram was the standout performer, scoring an unbeaten 69, while Tristan Stubbs added a crucial 26 not out. Together, they guided South Africa to 170 for three wickets in 33 overs, surpassing Afghanistan’s modest total of 169, which struggled to find consistency in their batting lineup.

Afghanistan had dominated the first two games of the series. On Wednesday, they bowled South Africa out cheaply and followed up with a convincing 177-run victory on Friday. However, despite winning the toss once again and electing to bat in the third ODI, the Afghan side could not replicate their earlier success.

South Africa’s bowling attack was significantly more effective this time, with Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi leading the charge, each taking two wickets and keeping Afghanistan’s batsmen under constant pressure. The Afghan team, which had shown strength earlier in the series, collapsed to a total well below expectations.

This victory comes as a relief for South Africa, seeking to build momentum ahead of tougher challenges in the international calendar. Team captain Temba Bavuma praised his squad’s resilience and highlighted the importance of quickly adjusting their strategy after the previous losses.