Hashmatullah Shahidi said, “Congrats to our nation. We’re happy here and all people back home will be happy. In the batting, the way Gurbaz started and then Rahmat and Omarzai carried on, all of them were very good. When it comes to bowling, I know the spinners will deliver it for me.”

The thumping 177-run victory — Afghanistan’s biggest in ODIs by runs — came just two days after Afghanistan beat South Africa for the first time.

South Africa’s bowlers struggled in the humidity and only spinners Fortuin and Markram kept the batters quiet for some time by conceding 59 runs off their 14 overs.

South Africa’s chase started promisingly. The return from illness of captain Temba Bavuma gave the Proteas some hope. He scored 38 and put on 73 runs for the opening wicket with Tony de Zorzi, who made 31.

But after Bavuma top-edged a pull shot against Omarzai’s short-pitched delivery, an inexperienced South Africa side collapsed.

South Africa lost seven wickets for 39 runs before Rashid completed a five-wicket haul by clean bowling Markram on 21. Kharote completed the rout.