Afghanistan national cricket team all-rounder Gulbadin Naib displayed brilliant mental presence in the ongoing first ODI against the South Africa national cricket team. The first of the three matches between the teams is currently underway at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
Afghanistan national cricket team has been a cut above South Africa national cricket team in the ongoing first ODI. When they were asked to bowl first, they put up a spectacular bowling performance and made a mockery of the opponent’s batting lineup.
Bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Allah Ghazanfar have wreaked havoc on South Africa’s batting line-up. The duo have taken three wickets each and left the opposition reeling at 36/6 with all the big names back in contention without even having crossed the 10-run mark.
Having lost 6 wickets in quick succession, the seventh wicket for South Africa came at a hilarious moment coupled with the great presence of mind shown by Gulbadin Naib. The Afghanistan National Cricket Team all-rounder out-scored his Proteas counterpart and sent him into the dust.
On the last ball of the tenth over, Allah Ghazanfar bowled a delivery which Andile Phehlukwayo, after playing, casually stepped out of the crease. The ball was not dead and when Gulbadin Naib saw the batsman step out of the crease, it hit the mid-wicket and left the South African player in shock.
Afghanistan’s national cricket team appealed and Andile Phehlukwayo waited there for a while, hoping not to be declared out. But he had to leave. He was seen looking at the square leg umpire and then walked out of the crease.
Gulbadin Naib is presenting himself with a brilliant mental presence in the ongoing first ODI against the South Africa National Cricket Team.
Here is the video:
Gulbadin Naib at it again 😂😂😂😭😭💀😂😂 This is how he got Andile Phehlukwayo.#AFGvSA image.twitter.com/N9IHwIV9J2
— Sports Production (@SportsProd37) September 18, 2024
Andile Phehlukwayo scored a four-ball knock and South Africa’s national cricket team was left reeling at 36/7. Now, the onus will be on Wiaan Mulder and Bjorn Fortuin to take their team to a fighting total and give their players something to fight for.
Gulbadin Naib is also expected to play a vital role for the team with both the ball and the bat. Over the past few months, this all-rounder has been improving a lot for his team and he would be eager to maintain his good form and help his team win the ongoing series against the Afghanistan National Cricket Team.
Afghanistan would want to finish the innings fairly quickly and then chase the target of going 1-0 up in the series.
Here is the starting XI for Afghanistan and South Africa for the first ODI:
Afghanistan (playing
South Africa (playing XI): Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne(w), Jason Smith, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger
