A weightlifting national champion at school, Ryan Rickelton muscled South Africa to a spirit-soaring scything of Afghanistan in Karachi. A resourceful, well-grooved unit, the Proteas had weirdly stumbled onto a lean patch this year in this format, winless until Friday, and consequently not counted among the outright favourites. But when the whistles of big-ticket tournaments buzz their ears, they inevitably turn up. So they did, to the lively cheers of scattered locals, though eventually drowned out in the acoustics of the Afghanistan supporters. Agonisingly for them, South Africa laid bare Afghan vulnerabilities, in a format in which they are work in progress. From cracking the 50-over temperament to scientifically plotting a steep chase and taking wickets in the middle-overs, there are holes that impede their evolution from party-spoilers to knockout hopefuls, as they stuttered to 208 all out, chasing South Africa’s 315 for 8. Apart from Rahmat Shah’s plucky 90, they had few takeaways from the game. Conversely, South Africa are a well-worn side, a last-four guarantee in most global tournaments. Every time they seem …