Last Updated:
Ryan Rickelton’s knock came to an end in the most unfortunate manner as he was caught short of his crease by a brilliant throw from Rashid Khan.
Bizarre! Ryan Rickelton’s Century Knock Ends In Heartbreaking Fashion (Photo credit: AP)
Star South Africa opener Ryan Rickelton, who scored his maiden ODI hundred on Friday in the Champions Trophy game against Afghanistan, departed bizarrely after Rashid Khan pulled off a brilliant run out.
Rickelton’s knock came to an end in the most unfortunate way as he used his feet against Rashid and played the ball back towards the Afghan bowler.
Seeing Rickelton well out of his crease, Rashid threw the ball at the stumps at the striker’s end to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who pulled off a brilliant stumping to catch the batter marginally short. Watch the video here:
Even though Rickelton dived full length, he found his bat in the air when the bails came off, thanks to Gurbaz.
Earlier, a flawless maiden century from Rickelton and fifties from three other batters powered South Africa to a huge total of 315/6 against Afghanistan in their Champions Trophy opener in Karachi.
Rickelton reeled off 103 off just 106 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries and one six to lead an aggressive batting display from South Africa after electing to bat, having won a good toss.
Rickelton showed brilliant footwork against Rashid, Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad, not permitting them to dictate terms on him as he was very strong off his back foot with his array of shots.
Rickelton shared a strong second-wicket stand of 129 runs with skipper Temba Bavuma who batted well for his 58 off 76 deliveries.
Once Rickelton and Bavuma were separated with the latter holing out to Nabi in the deep, the former found another able partner in Rassie van der Dussen who helped himself to a 52 from 46 deliveries.
Van der Dussen ensured that South Africa did not feel the absence of Heinrich Klaasen who was out of the game with an elbow soft tissue injury and the dropped Tristan Stubbs as he batted brilliantly against both pace and spin.
Markram, South Africa’s skipper on days when Bavuma is absent, then smacked a quick-fire 52 from 36 deliveries with six boundaries and a six.
In the 48th over, Markram went hard after left-arm pacer Fazal Haq Farooqi, belting the bowler for three consecutive boundaries to take South Africa past the 300-run mark.
