South Africa pacers and Rickelton's ton overwhelm Afghanistan in Champions Trophy

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Opener Ryan Rickelton’s maiden one-day international century earned South Africa a 107-run victory over Champions Trophy debutant Afghanistan on Friday.

Rickelton hit 103 off 106 balls and four of the top five batters scored at least half-centuries in South Africa's 315-6 total.

The hard surface had plenty of cracks perfectly suited to the four-pronged South Africa pace attack and Afghanistan crumbled to 208 all out in 43.3 overs.

Victory ended South Africa's six-match losing streak in ODIs.

“Clinical performance,” Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said. “We got the rub of the green with the toss but it was a brave decision to bat first not knowing how (the pitch) would play, (but) we took care of that.”

South Africa suffered a blow before the Group B game when Heinrich Klaasen was ruled out by an elbow injury, but replacement Rassie van der Dussen struck a brisk 52 off 46 balls.

The South Africa pacers exploited Afghanistan's top order weakness against short balls.

Kagiso Rabada consistently hit the right lengths and knocked over the middle stump of Ibrahim Zadran off a delivery that was measured at 148 kph.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Mohammad Nabi all were caught from pull shots and, in between, Rabada cramped Azmatullah Omarzai with another short ball down the legside and got him caught behind for 18.

At that point, Afghanistan sunk to 89-5 in the 23rd over.

“The batting was not good enough today,” Shahidi said. “We have the ability to fight but we didn’t play the way we wanted. We have two games (left) so we will forget what happened and look forward.”

Rahmat Shah top-scored with 90 off 92 balls and Rashid Khan briefly gave hundreds of Afghan supporters cheer in National Bank Stadium with three boundaries and a six in his 18.

“He played really well in tough times, we will take that as a positive," Shahidi said.

Rabada picked up 3-36 that included the last wicket of Shah, while Lungi Ngidi (2-56), Wiaan Mulder (2-36) and Marco Jansen (1-32) also bowled at tight lengths.

Rickelton’s flawless century propelled South Africa to its second highest total in the Champions Trophy, short by just one run to its 316-5 against Kenya in 2002 at Colombo.

Captain Temba Bavuma (58) continued his fine run of form and laid a solid platform for Van der Dussen (52) and Aiden Markram (52 not out) to score better than run-a-ball half-centuries.

Rickelton and Bavuma combined for 129 runs off 142 balls for the second wicket after Mohammad Nabi (2-51) removed Tony de Zorzi when the left-hander swatted the off-spinner’s very first ball straight to mid-on.

Rickelton and Bavuma negated the spin threat of Rashid Khan, who couldn’t get enough purchase from a pitch that had a tinge of grass. Both batters rotated the strike well with singles and twos and were quick to punish loose balls for boundaries.

Bavuma, who struck five boundaries, successfully overturned an on-field leg before wicket decision against him but was dismissed off Nabi’s next ball when he holed out at deep mid-wicket in the 29th over.

Rickelton, in his seventh ODI, raised a mature century off 101 balls with a single and also became the first South Africa batter to score a hundred in his Champions Trophy debut. He hit seven fours and a six before he was run out in bizarre fashion.

Rickelton smashed a length ball by Rashid straight back to the bowler but couldn’t regain his ground as Rashid fired a flat throw to the wicketkeeper, who dislodged the bails in quick time.

“I was quite nervous coming in,” Rickelton said. “To contribute to the team and set us up for a win is something I’m very chuffed with … bounce was a bit inconsistent but you adjust accordingly.”

Van der Dussen came into the game with not-so-impressive recent ODI performances but went hard at Rashid and scored his first half-century since November 2023, also against Afghanistan.

Markram’s power-hitting in the death overs saw the South Africans rattle up 85 runs in the last 10 overs. Markram struggled early but cut loose against the pace of Fazalhaq Farooqi, whom he smashed for three successive boundaries in the 48th over.

Wiaan Mulder provided a perfect finish with a four and a six off Farooqi's last two balls to complete a daunting total.

On Saturday, two-time champion Australia takes on England in Lahore.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi, right, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of South Africa's Temba Bavuma during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi, front, walks off the field after his dismissal during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

South Africa's Lungi Ngidi, left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

South Africa's Aiden Markram, center, follows the ball after playing a shot for six runs as Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz watches during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

South Africa's Ryan Rickelton plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

South Africa's Ryan Rickelton, left, is congratulated by Rassie van der Dussen celebrates after scoring century during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

South Africa's Marco Jansen, right, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

South Africa's Kagisco Rabada, left, reacts after the dismissal of Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

South Africa's Kagisco Rabada bowls during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

South Africa's Ryan Rickelton celebrates after scoring century during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Afghanistan and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is happy to be back at his hometown event and showed it.

Cameron Champ isn't far from familiar territory, either, which is a good thing considering he got the call that he was in the Byron Nelson as an alternate about 18 hours before his tee time.

Scheffler made the turn in 29 on his way to a 10-under 61 on Thursday for a two-shot lead over Rico Hoey and Jhonattan Vegas, with Champ among seven players another shot back at 64.

Defending champion Taylor Pendrith shot 67 with players allowed to lift, clean and replace their shots in the fairways after the par-71 TPC Craig Ranch got heavy rainfall Wednesday.

The top-ranked Scheffler outshined fellow hometown star Jordan Spieth with the former Texas Longhorns paired together along with Si Woo Kim, a South Korean who also calls Dallas home and was showcased in an event sponsored by CJ Group, a conglomerate based in his home country.

Kim shot 67, capping his round with a lofty chip-in for eagle at the par-5 18th and rolling onto his back in celebration. Spieth is 2 under. Vegas, another Texas alum, had a bogey-free round along with Scheffler and Hoey.

The others at 7 under with Champ are Stephan Jaeger, Michael Thorbjornsen, Eric Cole, Andrew Putnam, Patton Kizzire and Will Gordon.

Scheffler missed last year's event in Dallas' northern suburb of McKinney for the birth of his first child, son Bennett.

“Jordan and I love playing here. This tournament has meant a lot to us over the years,” Scheffler said. “Obviously last year I was missing for some pretty good reasons. I wasn't too sad about what was going on in my life at the time.”

Back then, he had 10 wins combined before May over a three-year stretch, including the Masters and Players Championship twice each. Now, Scheffler is still seeking the first victory of 2025.

Not that he was playing poorly before posting his lowest round of the year. Scheffler finished fourth as the defending champion at Augusta and has four other top-10 finishes this year.

“I wouldn't say anxious or eager, anything like that,” the 13-time winner said of seeking his first victory in 2025. “I got off to a pretty good start today, and there's three more days of the tournament. Just focused on going home and getting some rest.”

Scheffler birdied four consecutive holes on the front nine and added one more before putting his approach at the par-5 ninth inside 5 feet for an eagle to get to 7 under.

A chip for birdie stopped on the lip at the par-4 11th, the second of three consecutive pars before he pulled even with Hoey with a birdie at 13. Scheffler took the lead by putting his tee shot on the stadium hole — the par-3 17th — inside 3 feet.

Hoey, a 29-year-old from the Philippines seeking his first PGA Tour victory, started with eight pars on the back nine before an eagle on 18 triggered an 8-under finish over his final 10 holes. His 63 tied his career low on the PGA Tour. Hoey's best finish this year also was in Texas, a tie for 11th at the Houston Open.

“It’s been up and down, but from the start of the last season and comparing it, I think I’m doing a way better job,” said Hoey, who won on the Canadian tour in 2017 and the Korn Ferry circuit two years ago. “Just feel like there are rounds I’ve been clicking; other rounds I haven’t put it up. Kind of nice to get the momentum rolling now.”

Champ, who lives in Houston and played at Texas A&M, was home when he got the call that he was replacing Gary Woodland, who withdrew. He made it to the Dallas area Wednesday night and countered two bogeys in his first three holes with nine birdies.

The 29-year-old from California won three times from 2019-21 but missed 35 of 55 cuts over the previous two years. This is just his fourth start of 2025.

“Considering last year, how many cuts I missed by one, it was like 11 or 12 or something, I haven’t really been playing that bad,” Champ said. “The last two years is probably the hardest I’ve ever worked. Feel like my physical abilities are there. It’s just getting back to the right mental state.”

Spieth and Danny Walker had to pause to clean spikes after wayward tee shots into muddy territory. Walker's cleaning delay lasted several minutes, including others helping by splashing the soles with bottled water.

Walker, playing in the group ahead of Spieth, ended up with a bogey on the par-4 11th on his way to a 68. Spieth scrambled for a par-4 at No. 3 after barely missing the water while putting his tee shot in a waste area.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Cameron Champ watches his shot off the ninth tee during the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Si Woo Kim hits off the sixth tee during the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Jordan Spieth, left, and Scottie Scheffler, right, walk the sixth fairway together during the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Jordan Spieth follows through on his shot off the sixth tee during the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Rico Hoey, right, and his caddie approach the 8th green during the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Scottie Scheffler watches his drive on the sixth tee during the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in McKinney, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)