Afghanistan dominated South Africa with a 49-run victory in Pool A of the Hong Kong International Sixes at Mong Kok on November 7, 2025. Captain Gulbadin Naib was named Player of the Match after his explosive 50 not out helped Afghanistan post a massive 148/2 in their six overs. South Africa’s chase never got going as they could only manage 99/2, falling well short of the target. The win puts Afghanistan in a strong position in Pool A as they continue their campaign in the three-day tournament at Mission Road Ground.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo, CricTracker
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Wickets | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 148 | 6.0 | 2 | Won by 49 runs |
| South Africa | 99 | 6.0 | 2 | Lost |
Target: 149 runs from 6 overs
Run Rate: Afghanistan 24.66 RPO vs South Africa 16.50 RPO
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulbadin Naib | Afghanistan | Batsman (Captain) | 50* (12 balls, 5 fours, 4 sixes, SR: 416.66) |
| Karim Janat | Afghanistan | Batsman | 46 (11 balls, 2 fours, 6 sixes, SR: 418.18) |
| Jorich Van Schalkwyk | South Africa | Batsman | 37* (9 balls, 6 sixes, SR: 411.11) |
| Abdullah Bayoumy | South Africa | Bowler | 2/35 (2 overs) |
| Ethan-John Cunningham | South Africa | Batsman | 22 (11 balls, 1 four, 2 sixes, SR: 200.00) |
Sources: ESPNcricinfo, CricTracker, CricketWorld
Key Moments
- Opening Blitz: Gulbadin Naib and Karim Janat put together a powerful start for Afghanistan, racing to 61 runs before the first wicket fell in the 2.1 over
- Naib’s Masterclass: The Afghan captain retired hurt after smashing an incredible 50 runs off just 12 balls, including five boundaries and four massive sixes at a strike rate of over 400
- Janat’s Fireworks: Karim Janat matched his captain with 46 runs from 11 balls before being caught by Morris off Abdullah Bayoumy’s bowling
- Late Surge: Afghanistan added 87 runs in the last 3.5 overs, with Farmanullah contributing 28 not out and Sediqullah Pacha adding 16 before falling on the final ball
- South Africa’s Struggle: Despite good starts from Ethan-John Cunningham (22 off 11) and Kashief Josephs (22 off 10), South Africa could never match Afghanistan’s scoring rate
- Van Schalkwyk’s Effort: Jorich Van Schalkwyk tried his best with 37 not out from just 9 balls, hitting six sixes in his innings, but it was too little too late
Match Analysis
Afghanistan’s batting was simply too powerful for South Africa in this Pool A clash. The opening partnership between captain Gulbadin Naib and Karim Janat set the tone with aggressive stroke play from the very first ball. Both batsmen scored at over 400 strike rate, putting South Africa’s bowlers under immediate pressure.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that paid off handsomely. Their total of 148 runs in six overs was always going to be difficult to chase in the six-a-side format where every ball counts.
South Africa’s bowlers struggled to find answers against the Afghan batsmen. Only Abdullah Bayoumy managed to take wickets, dismissing both Karim Janat and Sediqullah Pacha, but even he was expensive, conceding 35 runs in his two overs. The other bowlers went wicketless and were hit for boundaries regularly.
In their chase, South Africa needed to score at 24.83 runs per over but could only manage 16.50. While Cunningham and Josephs both retired after quick starts, and Van Schalkwyk played a brilliant cameo at the end, the middle overs lacked the required intensity. South Africa’s total of 99/2 left them 49 runs short, one of the bigger margins in six-a-side cricket.
What’s Next
Afghanistan will next face India in the 4th Quarter Final on November 8, 2025, a highly anticipated matchup between two strong Asian sides. This dominant performance against South Africa will give them confidence heading into the knockout stages.
South Africa will play Nepal in their next Pool A match on November 8, needing a strong performance to keep their tournament hopes alive after this heavy defeat. They will need to regroup quickly and find ways to score more freely in the powerplay overs.
With the Hong Kong Sixes being such a fast-paced tournament, teams must bounce back quickly from losses. South Africa has the talent to compete, but they will need their top order to fire more consistently against Nepal.
Match Details:
- Date: November 7, 2025
- Venue: Mission Road Ground, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
- Format: 6-over per side (Hong Kong International Sixes)
- Umpires: Shelton J D’Cruz, Tabarak Dar, Jayanth Babu (TV)
- Match Referee: Gandhimathinathan Sankaranarayanan