The Proteas suffered a six-wicket defeat to Afghanistan in the opening one-day international at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

The Afghan hitters had a smooth chase thanks to opening bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi (4-35) and AM Ghazanfar (3-20), who kept South Africa from scoring their lowest ODI score.

After Rahmanullah Gurbaz was caught at third man by Lungi Ngidi on the third ball of the innings, and Rahmat Shah went leg before to Bjorn Fortuin, the Afghans were struggling at 15-2.

Fortuin dismissed Riaz Hassan for 16 and Aiden Markram, captaining for the ill Temba Bavuma, dismissed Hashmatullah Shahidi.

But Azmatullah Omarzai (25 not out) and Gulbadin Naib (34 off 27 balls) took them home in 26 overs.

After Markram won the toss and batted first, Reeza Hendricks and Tony de Zorzi added 17 for the first wicket before left-arm quick Farooqi bowled Hendricks for 9 to plunge South Africa to 36-7.

Fakhri bowled Markram (2) and de Zorzi (11) while Ghazanfar bowled Tristan Stubbs and Jason Smith, making his ODI debut, for ducks and Kyle Verreynne for 10.

Even though South Africa had enough problems, Andile Phehlukwayo went walkabout as Ghazanfar was begging for leg, leaving Nabi to run him out.

South Africa’s 1993 Sydney ODI record low of 69 was threatened with only 10 of the 50 overs bowled.

An eighth-wicket partnership of 39 between Wiaan Mulder and Fortuin got them past the danger and threatened to rebuild the innings.

Rashid Khan, playing his first ODI since last year’s World Cup, bowled Fortuin, but Mulder got them past 100 and reached his first ODI fifty.

He fell soon after to Farooqi, scoring 52 off 84 balls with five fours and a six.

Rashid finished with 2-30 in 33.3 overs with Ngidi leg before.