South Africa overcame a slow start to comfortably beat Afghanistan by 41 runs in the sides' first warm-up game, with spin bowling playing a significant part in the game for the Proteas.

Temba Bavuma, who recovered sufficiently from a finger injury to take the field, decided to bat first after winning the toss, but struggled for fluency with bat in hand. He managed just 31 in 39 balls as South Africa fell well below a run a ball, with Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman controlling the early passages of play brilliantly. Quinton de Kock was removed early, and it fell to Aiden Markram and the lower middle order to try and picking up a wobbling South African batting line-up.

The excellent Mujeeb got rid of Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen before they could really do enough damage, and leaving it to Markram and David Miller to salvage the innings. Markram smashed 48 in 35, while an unbeaten 20 off 10 from Miller dragged South Africa from the mediocrity of 120 to post 145. Gulbadin Naib and Fareed Ahmed were targeted as the weak links of the bowling attack, the ir six overs responsible for 59 of the runs scored.

Whereas Afghanistan had begun the first innings promisingly, they completely capitulated with bat in hand. Bjorn Fortuin and Lungi Ngidi removed both openers for ducks, and a steady stream of wickets right through the innings meant only Mohammad Nabi, who managed an unbeaten 34 off 29, managed to cross 20. Tabraiz Shamsi took three wickets for 18, while Fortuin and Keshav Maharaj allowed just 26 in their allotted eight as the asking rate soared well beyond Afghanistan's reach, and South Africa convincingly finished a job they had begun with something of a stutter.