AFG VS RSA - 1st ODI, Afghanistan v South Africa in UAE, 2024

If you want to understand today you have to search yesterday. Similarly, you have to track Afghanistan's progress to understand the results of the day. The hard yards put in by them has yielded once again a result which the cricketing fraternity will be happy with. As a neutral, you can just relish their performance. I hope you peeps relished our ball by ball coverage. Many more pieces will be written down on this win in times to come. But for now, I have decided to rest my fingers. This has been our been time, see ya soon!

Hashmatullah Shahidi: We are committed to this series. We are prepared. (Translated from Pashto)

Aiden Markram | South Africa captain: We couldn't put them under pressure. Honest learnings. We will look to bounce back. Gameplans and approaches would be different for each player but as long as it toes the team's line we will be fine.

21:12 Local Time, 17:12 GMT, 22:42 IST: What a win! Do I have enough words for this? The lexicographer in me is pleasantly shocked and is at a loss for words. Farooqi and Ghazanfar rocked the SA unit and stirred the hornet's nest. And the rest was SA trying to chase some respectability. Mulder stood up and got them beyond 100. But 106 as a target was never going to be enough. Afghanistan started slowly in the chase and were jolted early. But Shahidi and Omarzai stopped the rot. And then Gulbadin and Omarzai finished it up. SA would be disappointed but they were undone by the conditions despite winning the toss and the X factor in the form of Ghazanfar. They would hope to shrug this off as an aberration in the rest of the games. But Afghanistan will have a shot in their arm with this win and it sets up a fantastic series with two more ODIs left. With this win - Afghanistan have now beaten every full-member team in international cricket except India.

Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin, 1 run, fuller length delivery, dragged down to mid-on for a single. History made. Stop the Press. Afghanistan win by 6 wickets. Their camp is ecstatic. Phehlukwayo has a word to say to Naib. Reminding him about the run-out I guess. This is a massive win. Their progress is slowly carving a niche of its own. AP in cricket now stands for Afghanistan Progression...

Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin, no run, wide outside off, slaps the ball down to mid-off. The scores are still level...

Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin, FOUR, slams the pull and four more. That was short, outside off, Gulbadin gets hold of the delivery and powers it wide of mid-on for a four

Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin, 2 runs, short ball, outside off, Gulbadin slaps the pull down to deep mid for a couple of runs

Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin, FOUR, straight down the ground for a four. Length delivery, outside off, Gulbadin stabs the drive down back past the bowler for a four

Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin, 2 runs, good length outside off, Gulbadin goes up and over mid-off, Markram gives chase and pulls it back

Fortuin to Azmatullah, no run, fullish on middle, Azmatullah gets forward to defend to cover

Fortuin to Azmatullah, no run, fired flat into leg-stump, Azmatullah punches to cover

Fortuin to Azmatullah, no run, this turns square, Azmatullah should have been forward to this, drifts into middle, then turns and Azmatullah is beaten on the back foot

Fortuin to Gulbadin, 1 run, full outside off, driven to long-off

Fortuin to Azmatullah, 1 run, slower and shorter outside off, cut to sweeper cover

Fortuin to Azmatullah, no run, slower and good length on the stumps, punched to short mid-wicket

Phehlukwayo to Azmatullah, 1 run, full on leg-stump, flicked to fine-leg

Phehlukwayo to Azmatullah, no run, short of length outside off, Azmatullah cuts and misses

Phehlukwayo to Azmatullah, no run, full on off, Azmatullah gets forward to push with an open face to backward point

Phehlukwayo to Gulbadin, 1 run, good length outside off, cut wide of backward point