Opener Ryan Rickelton struck a maiden one-day international hundred as South Africa routed Afghanistan by 107 runs in the Champions Trophy in Karachi on Friday.
Rickelton cracked a 106-ball 103 with seven boundaries and a six to anchor South Africa's imposing total of 315-6 in the Group B match at the National Stadium.
South Africa's pace attack of Kagiso Rabada (3-36), Wiaan Mulder (2-36), and Lungi Ngidi (2-56) then dismissed highly-fancied Afghanistan for just 208 in 43.3 overs.
South Africa blunted the threat of Afghanistan's slow bowlers with star leg-spinner Rashid Khan going wicketless for 59 runs in his 10 overs.
Rahmat Shah top-scored for Afghanistan with a fighting 92-ball 90 with nine boundaries and a six before he was the last man out.
Chasing a formidable target, Afghanistan desperately needed a fast start but lost flamboyant openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 10 and Ibrahim Zadran for only 17 by the 10th over.
Sediqullah Atal fell for 16 while skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi went without scoring as Afghanistan was left teetering at 50-4.
Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai (18) took the score to 89 before Rabada and Marco Jansen, who got rid of Mohammad Nabi, struck to effectively end Afghanistan's hopes.
Rashid Khan briefly entertained the crowd with a quickfire 13-ball 18 including a six and three boundaries.
Earlier, Rickelton was ably assisted by skipper Temba Bavuma (58), Rassie van der Dussen (52) , and Aiden Markram (52 not out) to steer South Africa to a solid total after they won the toss and batted.
Nabi, who finished with 2-51, provided an early breakthrough with his first ball by dismissing opener Tony de Zorzi, caught at mid-on for 11.
Rickelton and Bavuma then added 129 for the second wicket as Afghanistan toiled in the field.
Bavuma hit five boundaries in his 76-ball knock before he was finally caught off a short Nabi delivery to give some joy to hundreds of Afghan fans in an otherwise sparse crowd.
Rickelton, who has two Test centuries to his name but a previous best of only 91 in ODIs, completed his first white-ball century with a single.
Two runs later, however, he was gone, the victim of an unlucky runout.
Coming down the pitch to drive Rashid, Rickelton was forced to turn quickly and dive back into his crease as the bowler collected and fired the ball to wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Rickelton appeared to make his ground but replays showed that his bat was slightly raised so not in the crease when Gurbaz whipped off the bails.
Van der Dussen hammered two sixes and three boundaries in his 46-ball knock before falling to spinner Noor Ahmad in the 43rd over.
It was left to Markram to take South Africa past the 300 mark, clubbing six boundaries and a six in a 36-ball 52 not out that helped the Proteas to add 50 runs in the last five overs.
Australia meets England in another Group B clash in Lahore on Saturday.
Pakistan, India, New Zealan,d and Bangladesh are in Group A. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
Earlier, opting to bat first after winning the toss, South Africa scored 315 for 5 in the 50 mandatory overs.
Ryan Rickelton, the left-handed batter led the charge, while Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, and Aiden Markram provided crucial support with well-compiled half-centuries.
After opting to bat, the Proteas opener, Tony de Zorzi (11), fell early in the fifth over. He was caught off Mohammad Nabi, who bowled an absolute peach of a delivery.
Following his wicket, the due of captain Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton added 129 for the second wicket. The former and latter scored half-centuries.
The South African captain departed after a brisk 58 off 76 balls, laced with five fours.
Rickelton, on the other hand, continued his brilliant batting, along with Rassie van der Dussen (52), and scored his maiden ODI century. His innings included six fours and one huge six. However, he was run out on 103 runs in the 35th over.
Following his departure, Aiden Markram (52) scored a quick-fire half-century, propelling the team to 315 in 50 overs. Markram hit six fours and one six in his innings.
Nabi was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan, who took two wickets in his ten overs, while Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai bagged one each.
This match marks Afghanistan’s debut in the ICC Champions Trophy, a significant milestone for the cricketing nation.