South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton has etched his name into the record books with a scintillating century in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against Afghanistan at the National Stadium, Karachi. Rickelton reached the milestone in 105 deliveries, smashing seven boundaries and a six, showcasing his dominance at the crease.
With this century, Rickelton became only the fifth South African player to register a hundred in the history of the Champions Trophy. He now joins an elite list of Proteas centurions in the tournament, which includes Herschelle Gibbs (three centuries), Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, and Hashim Amla (one each).
However, his brilliant knock came to an unfortunate end in a moment of sheer brilliance from Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. Facing Rashid, Rickelton pushed the ball back towards the bowler and attempted to return to his crease. Rashid, in a stunning display of awareness and athleticism, executed a no-look throw that struck the stumps directly. Rickelton, despite putting in a dive, had his bat in the air as the bails were dislodged, leading to his dismissal for 103 off 106 balls.
This is RASHID KHAN 😮#RASHIDKHAN #India #viral pic.twitter.com/q2SzpJuAF4
— Muhammad Tanveer (@MuhammadTa91090) February 21, 2025
The magical run-out by Rashid Khan left South Africa at 201/3, shifting the momentum momentarily in Afghanistan’s favor. The Proteas opener’s innings was a masterclass in stroke play, but Rashid’s brilliance in the field ensured Afghanistan struck at a crucial juncture.