Aiden Markram kept his composure under pressure to guide the Proteas to victory. Photo: AFP
The Proteas salvaged some pride with an improved all-round performance to claim a consolation seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the third ODI in Sharjah on Sunday.
Aiden Markram took on the responsibility with a composed 69 not out and he was partnered by young Tristan Stubbs (26 not out) to take the South Africans home with 170/3.
Afghanistan had steamrolled the Proteas in their first two encounters, but with the historic series victory already claimed in the previous match, the hosts rested a couple of their stalwarts.
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rashid Khan, who claimed 11 wickets between them in the first two matches, along with Riaz Hassan, were left out of the Afghan starting XI.
But it was Afghanistan’s batters that let themselves down after the Proteas bowlers finally found their lengths after suffering heavily in the first two matches, to dismiss their opponents for just 169 in 34 overs.
Lungi Ngidi provided the control that has been lacking up front despite the uber-confident Rahmanullah Gurbaz once again striking the ball well from the outset.
Fresh off a series-winning century two days ago, the attacking right-hander played a lone hand with 89 off 94 balls before No.9 Allah Mohammed Ghazanfar struck a breezy 31 not out off 15 balls to lift Afghanistan to 169 all out.
But as well the Proteas bowled, particularly Ngidi (2/22) and young leg-spinner Nqaba Peter (2/22), the Afghans were guilty of their own demise on the day.
The hosts suffered three run-outs, and while the first was a freak occurrence – with a straight drive from Gurbaz deflecting off Ngidi’s hand onto Rahmat’s shoulder before hitting the stumps at the non-striker’s end – the other two were unnecessary.
Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was the biggest culprit as he ambled through for a second run and could not get back quick enough to beat a bullet-like throw from Stubbs at deep extra cover.
Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma, meanwhile, accounted for the third run-out when he broke the stumps to send Ikram Alikhil back to the pavilion.
Bavuma took the momentum into the Proteas’ run chase as he and Tony de Zorzi shared another solid 40-run partnership for the first wicket.
The skipper, however, was never at ease against Ghazanfar, with the off-spinner fizzing the ball past Bavuma’s outside edge on numerous occasions.
Ghazanfar was eventually successful when Bavuma (22 off 28 balls) played down the wrong line to leave the smallest of openings for the teenager to knock out the off-stump.
De Zorzi, meanwhile, would be disappointed that he wasted yet another positive start without converting it into a substantial innings as he was trapped lbw shortly afterwards by Mohammad Nabi for 26.
And when Reeza Hendricks (18) failed yet again by top-edging a pull shot off Fareed Ahmad to leave the Proteas on 80/3, there would have been a few nerves floating about in the visitors’ dressing room after their previous collapses.
But without Rashid in their line-up, Afghanistan did not have the firepower to cause any major problems.
With Markram finding some much-needed form, and guiding Stubbs, the pair shared an unbroken 90-run partnership for the fourth wicket to steer the Proteas home.
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