South Africa has faced two major setbacks this year after shocking defeat against Afghanistan and Ireland. The South Africa team has massively failed to leave an impact and faced defeats even from countries that once could never even come close. Teams like Afghanistan and Ireland have shown cricketing excellence and significantly improved themselves.
Recently Afghanistan won three-match ODI series against South Africa by a lead of 2-1. This was the first time Afghanistan achieved this historic feat.
Afghanistan Vs South Africa
Afghanistan made history by winning their first-ever series against the top-five ICC-ranked ODI team, defeating South Africa by an astonishing 177 runs in the second match.
The match also turned out to be Afghanistan's largest margin of victory in an ODI played in their history, which was witnessed when they thrashed Zimbabwe by 154 runs in 2018 on the same ground. Afghanistan gave the South Africans a run for their money in the second ODI with some stupendous batting under the blaring sun, whereas that batting lineup of South Africa could not be durable enough to last the entire 50 as they got bowled for 134 in 35 overs.
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It was a performance to be remembered from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who played a brilliant hundred. He is the first Afghan man to score seven hundreds in ODIs. Rashid Khan wishes himself well on his birthday by taking 5 wickets for just 19 runs as a leg-spinner, and there was left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote who chipped in with 4 wickets for 26 runs.
Ireland Vs South Africa
Ross Adair’s crushing first T20I century was enough for Ireland to pull off a 10-run victory by way of a fine bowling effort of 4 for 31 by Mark. His explosive innings of 100 runs in mere 58 balls included nine sixes along with five fours—making Adair only third Irishman to score a T20I century, and the company includes names of Kevin O’Brian and Stirling himself .
South Africa started well in their chase with a 50-run partnership for the opening wicket but then lost their main players in the form of Reeza Hendricks and captain Aiden Markram, letting the required run rate go out of control.
Matthew Breetzke played really well to score more than 50, but it was not enough for South Africa as Adair’s key wickets in the last overs coupled with some solid play by Hume helped Ireland in securing a big win.
Will South Africa Be Able To Stage A Comeback?
Even though the defeats come as a shocker for South Africa but it carries great lesson to not understimate any team as the game of cricket is quite unpredictable. South Africa currently sits at the third position in ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings. In order to keep their position intact South Africa needs to buckle up and find the loopholes within the team and work on them.
ICC MEN'S ODI CRICKET TEAM RANKINGS
| POS | TEAM | MATCHES | POINTS | RATINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 45 | 5298 | 118 |
| 2 | Australia | 37 | 4269 | 115 |
| 3 | South Africa | 33 | 3554 | 108 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 26 | 2762 | 106 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 33 | 3349 | 101 |
ICC MEN'S T20 CRICKET TEAM RANKINGS
| POS | TEAM | MATCHES | POINTS | RATINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 63 | 16835 | 267 |
| 2 | Australia | 45 | 11545 | 257 |
| 3 | West Indies | 49 | 12502 | 255 |
| 4 | England | 41 | 10391 | 253 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 49 | 12113 | 247 |
| 6 | South Africa | 38 | 9386 | 247 |
ICC MEN'S TEST CRICKET TEAM RANKINGS
| POS | TEAM | MATCHES | POINTS | RATINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 30 | 3715 | 124 |
| 2 | India | 26 | 3108 | 120 |
| 3 | England | 38 | 4111 | 108 |
| 4 | South Africa | 21 | 2179 | 104 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 22 | 2121 | 96 |
Except for the T20 format, South Africa has managed to stay in the top five in both ICC ODI and Test Rankings. Even in the T20 Ranings South Africa stands at the 6th position.
In order to maintain their position and move up a really good team effort is required by the Proteas.
South Africa has some of the strongest players that can be a nightmare for any team worldwide. The ODI Captain Temba Bavuma will be looking forward to a positive start for the team as the Proteas wll now be playing 3-match ODI series against Ireland.
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South Africa ODI squad against Ireland: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, and Lizaad Williams.
Taking a look at South Africa's ODI squad, the key players would be:
Temba Bavuma: The captain is expected to play a very crucial role and help keep the team environment lifted in order to move on from the two massive setbacks and bounce back stronger. In ODIs Bavuma has scored 1572 runs in 40 matches with an average of 44.91. This includes five centuries and four half-centuries.
Lungi Ngidi: All eyes will be on the right-arm fast bowler, as his tight spells and the ability to bag wickets with pace would surely be crucial in giving a breakthrough to his team. He currently has bagged 92 wickets in 59 matches with a great economy of 5.66.
Other players like Nandre Burger, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen will also be in spotlight.