AFG VS RSA - 3rd ODI, Afghanistan v South Africa in UAE, 2024

The rise of Afghanistan cricket has been exemplary over the years. In this series, they displayed good character and temperament over long phases of a game and that is what is required to succeed at the highest level. They have unearthed another bright talent in Allah Ghanzafar who kept the batters on their toes with his mystery spin bowling. Gurbaz showed that he can not only blaze away but can also bat patiently. They have a great prospect in Omarzai with both bat and ball. Kharote is another spinner who bowls in probing channels and can bamboozle batters. South Africa, on the other hand, struggled against quality spin in the first two games to fall away. They bounced back in style today. The fact that Rashid Khan and Farooqi didn't play today did help their cause but we can take nothing away from this victory. They were clinical throughout the game today. The slow and low conditions at Sharjah and the quality in the opposition rank will help some of their batters to develop a stronger technique against spin. SA's UAE trip continues as they will face Ireland next for a 2-match T20I and 3-match ODI series. We hope you enjoyed our coverage. This is Abhinav Guha signing off on behalf of Kumar and Venky. Until next time, goodbye and cheers!

Here comes the glory moment! Shahidi is presented the trophy and he is all smiles. Now, he poses for photographs with his teammates. Beaming smiles among the Afghanistan players

Hashmatullah Shahidi: Feeling very happy about the performance in this series, overall a great series and there were some good learnings in this series as well. I would have been more happy if we had won this game but at the sime time we wanted to field some youngsters and give them an opportunity. The run-outs today cost us. I think we have a lot of youngsters who are capable to be here with us. We are trying to give them a chance, I won't mention names but there are a lot.

Temba Bavuma: Quite happy with the performance in this game. We did well with the ball to take 10 wickets and we were clinical with the bat. In terms of how the series went, we need to do a lot of improvement. Myself and Tony had to take care of the powerplay. Unfortunately, we lost two wickets in 12 overs. There was a little help with the dew. Looked liked the ball skidded on later in the night and Markram batted really well.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Player of the Match and Series: I feel really proud to peform against quality teams. I want to say congratulations to my team for this big achievement. (On his century in the second game of the series) That was really special. It's really special to play against quality bowlers and quality teams and score against them. Looking to continue with the same confidence going ahead.

21:40 Local Time, 17:40 GMT, 23:10 IST: SA have saved themselves from some ignominy. Afghanistan lose a game finally. SA bowlers finally came to the party despite the heroics from Gurbaz. Afghanistan were shunted down for 169 and SA batters didn't lose too much sweat in chasing it down. Tony and Bavuma started on a sedate note and then both fell. Hendricks also fell after a start. But Markram stayed solid and finished it off alongside Stubbs. SA would be elated with this performance. They have made it 1-2. They tried hard in the first two games but faltered. They were huge losses for the African unit. Afghan who have made rapid strides in white ball cricket just added another feat to their cricketing history which is getting richer every passing day. So much so that they sealed the series with a game to go and made three changes to accommodate new names. This, however didn't help as SA bounced back. Stick around for the presentations...

Gurbaz to Tristan Stubbs, wide, short and wide from Gurbaz, Tristan Stubbs looks to cut but misses. Wided by the umpire and that's the game. Gurbaz signals that he wants to review the wide. He is just having some fun. A clinical victory for South Africa to close the series. They were found wanting in the first two games against spin but they have adjusted nicely today and are the deserved winners. Afghanistan were brilliant in the first two games and they have scripted history to take the ODI series 2-1. Afghanistan are on the ascendancy and are a delight to watch! Customary handshakes all around

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, right-arm medium, comes into the attack

Naveed Zadran to Markram, no run, pitched up outside off, Markram drives it crisply but finds covers

Naveed Zadran to Tristan Stubbs, 1 run, very full on off, Tristan Stubbs jams it out towards mid-on for a brisk single. The scores are level now...

Naveed Zadran to Tristan Stubbs, no run, pitched up on off, Tristan Stubbs flicks it to short mid-wicket

Naveed Zadran to Tristan Stubbs, SIX, hit with authority! Dug in short but it sits up nicely for Tristan Stubbs. He stands tall and pulls it with aplomb over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. South Africa are just two runs away from a clinical victory...

Naveed Zadran to Markram, 1 run, fuller length ball angling in on middle and leg, flicked through wide mid-on

Naveed Zadran to Markram, FOUR, shot! Fuller length ball outside off, Markram leans ahead and creams the drive. Gets it past extra cover to get the desired result. Got on top of the bounce and struck it beautifully

Fareed Ahmad to Tristan Stubbs, no run, fuller length ball shaping in on off, bunted back to Fareed Ahmad

Fareed Ahmad to Tristan Stubbs, no run, skiddy length ball shaping in, Tristan Stubbs bunts it back to Fareed Ahmad

Fareed Ahmad to Markram, 1 run, good length ball angling in, worked towards wide mid-on for a single

Fareed Ahmad to Markram, no run, fuller length ball outside off, driven on the rise to covers

Fareed Ahmad to Markram, no run, good length ball slanting in from outside off, Markram mistimes his punch towards mid-off

Fareed Ahmad to Tristan Stubbs, 1 run, skiddy back of a length ball outside off, Tristan Stubbs cuts it to the right of sweeper cover for a single