The South Africa national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline began at the 2010 T20 World Cup, when South Africa won their first meeting by 59 runs. For years, the Proteas remained unbeaten against Afghanistan in international cricket.
That changed in September 2024. Afghanistan won their first ODI against South Africa and followed it with another victory to claim their first bilateral series against the Proteas.
Since then, the teams have produced some of their most important matches, including the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final, the 2025 Champions Trophy encounter and a dramatic double Super Over at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
South Africa vs Afghanistan Timeline: Major Matches
| Year | Tournament/Series | Result |
| 2010 | T20 World Cup | South Africa won by 59 runs |
| 2016 | T20 World Cup | South Africa won by 37 runs |
| 2019 | ODI World Cup | South Africa won by 9 wickets |
| 2023 | ODI World Cup | South Africa won by 5 wickets |
| 2024 | ODI, 1st match | Afghanistan won by 6 wickets |
| 2024 | ODI, 2nd match | Afghanistan won by 177 runs |
| 2024 | ODI, 3rd match | South Africa won by 7 wickets |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup semi-final | South Africa won by 9 wickets |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy | South Africa won by 107 runs |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup | South Africa won after 2 Super Overs |
2010: South Africa Win the First Meeting
South Africa and Afghanistan first met at the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 in Barbados. South Africa scored 139/7 before Afghanistan were bowled out for 80. Morne Morkel was the leading bowler, taking four wickets as South Africa secured a 59-run victory.
The result reflected the difference in experience between the two sides at the time. Afghanistan were still establishing themselves in international cricket, while South Africa already had an experienced squad accustomed to major tournaments.
2016: Another T20 World Cup Victory
The teams met again at the 2016 T20 World Cup in Mumbai. South Africa posted 209/5, with AB de Villiers scoring 64. Afghanistan fought back with 172 but could not complete the chase. South Africa won by 37 runs, keeping their unbeaten T20I record against Afghanistan intact.
2019: South Africa Control the ODI World Cup Match
Their first ODI World Cup meeting came in Cardiff in 2019. Afghanistan were dismissed for 125, with Imran Tahir taking four wickets. South Africa then reached the target comfortably, led by Quinton de Kock’s 68.
The Proteas won by nine wickets. At this point, the pattern was clear: South Africa had won every official meeting between the teams.
2023: Afghanistan Put Up a Stronger Fight
Afghanistan were much more competitive at the 2023 ODI World Cup. Batting first, they scored 244, with Azmatullah Omarzai finishing unbeaten on 97. South Africa had to work through the chase but eventually reached 247/5.
Rassie van der Dussen’s unbeaten 76 helped South Africa secure a five-wicket win. Although Afghanistan lost, the match showed how much their ODI side had improved.
2024: Afghanistan Finally Beat South Africa
The biggest change in the south africa national cricket team vs afghanistan national cricket team timeline came in September 2024. The three-match ODI series in Sharjah was historic because it was the first time the teams had met outside an ICC tournament.
Afghanistan won the opening match by six wickets after bowling South Africa out for 106. Fazalhaq Farooqi and 18-year-old spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar were central to the victory. It was Afghanistan’s first international win over South Africa in any format.
Afghanistan then produced an even bigger result in the second ODI. Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a century as Afghanistan posted a huge total, while South Africa were dismissed for 134.
Afghanistan won by 177 runs and secured the series with one match still to play. ICC described it as Afghanistan’s first bilateral ODI series win against a top-five ranked side. South Africa won the third ODI by seven wickets, but Afghanistan took the series 2-1.
2024 T20 World Cup Semi-Final
Just months after Afghanistan’s historic ODI series win, the sides met again in the T20 World Cup semi-final. Afghanistan’s remarkable run had taken them into their first men’s T20 World Cup semi-final. South Africa, meanwhile, were attempting to reach their first final in the competition.
The semi-final was completely dominated by South Africa’s bowling attack. Afghanistan were bowled out for just 56. Marco Jansen took 3/16, while Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje claimed two wickets each. Tabraiz Shamsi also took three wickets.
South Africa needed only 8.5 overs to chase the target and won by nine wickets. The victory sent South Africa into their first men’s T20 World Cup final.
2025 Champions Trophy
South Africa and Afghanistan met again at the 2025 Champions Trophy in Karachi. South Africa scored 315/6, with Ryan Rickelton making his maiden ODI century. Afghanistan struggled during the chase and were eventually dismissed for 208. South Africa won by 107 runs, giving them another comfortable victory in a major ICC tournament.
2026: A Double Super Over Decides the Match
The latest chapter in the south africa national cricket team vs afghanistan national cricket team timeline produced their most dramatic match yet. South Africa scored 187/6 at the 2026 T20 World Cup. Quinton de Kock made 59, while Ryan Rickelton scored 61 from only 28 balls.
Afghanistan matched the total at 187, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz leading the chase with 84 from 42 balls. The first Super Over also ended level at 17 runs apiece.
South Africa then scored 23 in the second Super Over. Afghanistan managed 19/2, giving South Africa a four-run victory. It was the first double Super Over in the history of the men’s T20 World Cup.
South Africa vs Afghanistan Head-to-Head Record
After their 2026 T20 World Cup meeting, South Africa continued to hold the better overall record.
| Format | Matches | South Africa | Afghanistan |
| ODI | 6 | 4 wins | 2 wins |
| T20I | 4 | 4 wins | 0 wins |
| Overall | 10 | 8 wins | 2 wins |
The two Afghanistan victories both came during the 2024 ODI series. South Africa, on the other hand, have won all four official T20Is between the teams.
Key Players in South Africa vs Afghanistan Matches
South Africa
Several South African players have delivered important performances in this fixture.
AB de Villiers scored 64 in the 2016 T20 World Cup, while Quinton de Kock made 68 in the 2019 ODI World Cup and 59 in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Imran Tahir took four wickets in the 2019 World Cup, while Ryan Rickelton scored a century against Afghanistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s leading performers include Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Azmatullah Omarzai and Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Gurbaz’s 84 in the 2026 T20 World Cup was particularly important, while Omarzai’s unbeaten 97 against South Africa in the 2023 World Cup remains one of Afghanistan’s best batting performances against the Proteas.
Wrapping Up
The South Africa national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team timeline has changed from one-sided South African victories into a much more competitive contest.
South Africa still lead the overall head-to-head record, but Afghanistan’s 2-1 ODI series win in 2024 was a major turning point. Their performance showed that they could beat South Africa consistently rather than simply challenge them in individual matches.
South Africa responded with a dominant T20 World Cup semi-final win and another victory in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Then came the 2026 T20 World Cup, where two Super Overs were needed to separate the teams.
The numbers still favour South Africa, but the recent history shows why future South Africa vs Afghanistan matches are worth watching.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. When did South Africa first play Afghanistan?
South Africa first played Afghanistan at the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 in Barbados. South Africa won by 59 runs.
Q2. When did Afghanistan first beat South Africa?
Afghanistan recorded their first international win over South Africa in the first ODI of their September 2024 series in Sharjah. They won by six wickets.
Q3. Who won the 2024 Afghanistan vs South Africa ODI series?
Afghanistan won the series 2-1. They won the first two matches before South Africa won the third.
Q4. Who won the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final?
South Africa defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets after bowling them out for 56.
Q5. Who has the better South Africa vs Afghanistan head-to-head record?
South Africa have the better record, with eight wins from their 10 official ODI and T20I meetings.
Q6. What happened in the 2026 T20 World Cup match?
Both teams scored 187 in regulation play. The first Super Over was also tied before South Africa won the second Super Over by four runs.