South Africa National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Timeline
The South Africa national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team rivalry has advanced swiftly, specifically in ICC tournaments and the bilateral ODI collection played within the UAE in 2024. South Africa ruled the early conferences, but Afghanistan later produced historic victories and have become a miles extra aggressive opponent.
As of August 2026, the teams have met throughout ODIs and T20Is, with South Africa retaining the general advantage. Their contention has included World Cup encounters, a T20 World Cup semi-final, Afghanistan’s first global win over South Africa, and a dramatic Champions Trophy assembly.
Table of Contents
South Africa vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head Timeline
| Date | Format | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2010 | T20I | Bridgetown, Barbados | South Africa won by 59 runs |
| Mar. 20, 2016 | T20I | Mumbai, India | South Africa won by 37 runs |
| Jun. 15, 2019 | ODI | Cardiff, Wales | South Africa won by 9 wickets |
| Oct. 18, 2021 | T20 World Cup Warm-up | Abu Dhabi, UAE | South Africa won by 41 runs |
| Nov. 4, 2022 | T20I | Sydney, Australia | South Africa won by 6 wickets |
| Nov. 10, 2023 | ODI | Ahmedabad, India | South Africa won by 5 wickets |
| Jun. 27, 2024 | T20I | Tarouba, Trinidad | South Africa won by 9 wickets |
| Sep. 18, 2024 | ODI | Sharjah, UAE | Afghanistan won by 6 wickets |
| Sep. 20, 2024 | ODI | Sharjah, UAE | Afghanistan won by 177 runs |
| Sep. 22, 2024 | ODI | Sharjah, UAE | South Africa won by 7 wickets |
| Feb. 21, 2025 | ODI | Karachi, Pakistan | South Africa won by 107 runs |
| Feb. 11, 2026 | T20I | Ahmedabad, India | South Africa won after a tied match and Super Over |
The historical record shows South Africa winning the early encounters, while Afghanistan’s breakthrough came in the 2024 ODI series.
2010: The First Meeting
South Africa and Afghanistan first met in international cricket during the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies.
South Africa won the match at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, by 59 runs. South Africa scored 139/7, while Afghanistan were bowled out for 80.
This established an early pattern: South Africa’s experienced international attack proved too strong for Afghanistan’s developing side.
2016: South Africa Continue Their Dominance
The teams met again at the 2016 ICC World T20 in Mumbai.
South Africa posted 209/5, with Afghanistan responding with 172 all out. South Africa therefore won by 37 runs.
The match demonstrated Afghanistan’s improving batting ability, although South Africa still controlled the contest and maintained their unbeaten record against Afghanistan.
2019: World Cup Meeting
The next major meeting came during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
Afghanistan were dismissed for 125, while South Africa reached 131/1 in 28.4 overs. South Africa won by 9 wickets via the DLS method.
Imran Tahir was one of the major performers for South Africa, taking four wickets, while Quinton de Kock scored 68.
2021: T20 World Cup Warm-Up
South Africa and Afghanistan also played a T20 World Cup warm-up match in Abu Dhabi in October 2021.
South Africa won by 41 runs, continuing their strong record against Afghanistan.
2022: T20I Encounter
At the 2022 T20 World Cup, South Africa again defeated Afghanistan.
South Africa scored 145/5 and Afghanistan managed 104/8, giving South Africa a 41-run victory according to the historical match record.
2023: South Africa Win Another World Cup Thriller
The 2023 Cricket World Cup meeting in Ahmedabad was much more competitive.
Afghanistan scored 244, with Azmatullah Omarzai making a valuable contribution. South Africa successfully chased the target, finishing on 247/5 and winning by five wickets.
The result kept South Africa unbeaten against Afghanistan in their official senior international meetings at that stage.
2024: Afghanistan Make History
The rivalry changed dramatically in 2024.
T20 World Cup Semi-Final
Afghanistan reached their first men’s T20 World Cup semi-final and faced South Africa at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
Afghanistan were bowled out for just 56, and South Africa reached 60/1 in 8.5 overs to win by 9 wickets.
South Africa therefore advanced to the T20 World Cup final.
September 2024 ODI Series
Afghanistan then produced one of the biggest breakthroughs in the rivalry during the three-match ODI series in Sharjah.
First ODI – September 18, 2024: Afghanistan defeated South Africa by 6 wickets after dismissing South Africa for 106. This was Afghanistan’s first international victory over South Africa. The Afghanistan Cricket Board described the result as a historic moment for Afghan cricket.
Second ODI – September 20, 2024: Afghanistan won again, this time by a huge 177 runs. Afghanistan scored 311/4, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz making 105, while South Africa were dismissed for 134. Rashid Khan took 5/19.
Third ODI – September 22, 2024: South Africa responded strongly. Afghanistan made 169, but South Africa chased the target with 170/3 and won by 7 wickets.
Afghanistan therefore won the three-match ODI series 2–1, marking a major turning point in the rivalry.
2025: Champions Trophy Clash
South Africa and Afghanistan met again at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Karachi.
South Africa batted first and scored 315/6. Ryan Rickelton produced his maiden ODI century, scoring 103 from 106 balls. Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram also made important contributions.
Afghanistan fought back through Rahmat Shah’s 90, but South Africa’s bowling attack restricted them to 208 in 43.3 overs.
South Africa won by 107 runs, with Kagiso Rabada taking 3/36.
2026: Dramatic T20 World Cup Encounter
The rivalry produced another memorable contest at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad.
South Africa scored 187/6, with Ryan Rickelton making 61 and Quinton de Kock scoring 59. Afghanistan responded with exactly 187, led by an outstanding 84 from Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
The match was tied after 20 overs, sending it to a one-over eliminator. South Africa ultimately won the Super Over.
This became one of the most dramatic matches in the South Africa–Afghanistan rivalry.
Major Turning Points in the Rivalry
1. South Africa’s Early Dominance
From 2010 through the early 2020s, South Africa controlled the rivalry. Their greater international experience and strong pace attack generally gave them the advantage.
2. Afghanistan’s First Victory in 2024
The September 2024 ODI in Sharjah was the biggest turning point. Afghanistan defeated South Africa for the first time in senior international cricket.
3. Afghanistan Win the 2024 ODI Series
Afghanistan followed their historic first victory with another huge win, defeating South Africa by 177 runs in the second ODI and taking the series 2–1.
4. South Africa’s Response
South Africa regained momentum by winning the third ODI and then defeating Afghanistan convincingly in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
5. The 2026 T20 World Cup Thriller
The tied match followed by a Super Over victory for South Africa showed how competitive the rivalry had become.
South Africa vs Afghanistan: Memorable Matches
| Match | Result | Why It Was Memorable |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 T20 World Cup | South Africa won by 59 runs | First international meeting |
| 2019 World Cup | South Africa won by 9 wickets | Imran Tahir took 4 wickets |
| 2024 T20 World Cup Semi-Final | South Africa won by 9 wickets | Afghanistan reached their first T20 World Cup semi-final |
| 1st ODI, 2024 | Afghanistan won by 6 wickets | Afghanistan’s first win over South Africa |
| 2nd ODI, 2024 | Afghanistan won by 177 runs | Huge Afghan victory and series-clinching performance |
| Champions Trophy 2025 | South Africa won by 107 runs | Ryan Rickelton scored 103 |
| T20 World Cup 2026 | South Africa won via Super Over | Match ended tied after 20 overs |
Overall Head-to-Head
| Format | Matches | South Africa Won | Afghanistan Won | Tied | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tests | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Overall | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Conclusion: South Africa National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Timeline
The South Africa National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Timeline displays the high-quality boom of Afghan cricket. South Africa dominated the early years after the groups first met in 2010, prevailing their initial encounters easily. Afghanistan’s breakthrough arrived in September 2024, when they defeated South Africa twice in an ODI series and gained their first-ever international ties in opposition to them. South Africa spoke back within the 2025 Champions Trophy, at the same time as the dramatic 2026 T20 World Cup Super Over showed that this has become a genuinely aggressive current cricket contention.
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