Proteas kick off Champions Trophy campaign with big win after Ryan Rickelton ton

Rickelton stroked a classy 103 from 106 balls to help the Proteas post a total of 315-6 in their 50 overs before the bowlers did serious damage to limit Afghanistan to 208 all out.

The left-handed Rickelton started the year with a maiden Test double-century when he scored 259 against Pakistan and then carried his form into the SA20 where he blasted 336 runs in just eight innings for champions MI Cape Town.

The 28-year-old has now made a statement in his first appearance at an ICC tournament after Proteas captain Temba Bavuma had won the toss and opted to bat.

Opening pair Rickelton and Tony de Zorzi (11) put on 28 in five overs before the latter lost his wicket with the first introduction of spin as Mohammad Nabi made the breakthrough.

Bavuma then combined with Rickelton for a mammoth 129-run stand with the skipper, going on to get a patient 58 from 78 balls before Nabi (2-51) again took the wicket in the 29th over.

Rickelton went to his century off 101 balls that included seven fours but was unfortunate to be run-out with his bat just lifting off the ground in the 26th over.

Rassie van der Dussen batted with plenty of intent and struck 52 off 46 balls while Aiden Markram was unbeaten on 52 off just 36 deliveries to propel the Proteas above the 300-run mark.

Afghanistan's run-chase did not get off to the best of starts when Rahmanullah Gurbaz (10) was out in the fourth over to seamer Lungi Ngidi.

The Proteas' fast bowlers in general found the perfect length on the Karachi pitch and the Afghan batters were getting further away from the required run-rate.

The pressure eventually told and the Proteas eventually made inroads into the batting line-up with Kagiso Rabada finishing with figures of 3-36 in 8.3 overs while Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder took two wickets apiece.

Rahmat Shah was the shining light from an Afghanistan batting point of view as the number 4 struck a defiant 90 before he was was last man out as the Proteas completed a big win.

Bavuma's charges next face Australia in Rawalpindi on Tuesday before concluding their group stage with a clash against England back in Karachi on 1 March.

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