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Proteas wrap up World Cup group stage with win over Afghanistan

cricket10 November 2023 17:08| © MWP
By:Neil Manthorp
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A rock-solid, unbeaten 76 from Rassie van der Dussen and a late flourish from allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo helped South Africa finish a nervy run-chase to beat Afghanistan by five-wickets with 15 balls to spare in the final World Cup group match for both teams at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.

Career-best figures from Gerald Coetzee and a disciplined bowling performance from South Africa restricted Afghanistan to 244 all out and South Africa slipped to 139-4 before Phehlukwayo, having absorbed intense pressure, lashed three sixes and four to finish the match in a hurry with 39 not out from 37 balls.

Van der Dussen’s 76 came from 95 balls (6x4, 1x6) as South Africa finished on 247-5 from 47.3 overs to confirm second position on the final group-stage log.

Coetzee claimed 4-44 from his 10 overs while there were two wickets a piece for Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj - Azmatullah Omarzai held the Afghan innings together with a resilient and highly skilful 97 not out from 107 balls with seven fours and three sixes.

The dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the only batter to score at better than a run-a-ball before edging the once-again excellent Maharaj to Heinrich Klaasen at slip and wickets fell at regular intervals thereafter.

Coetzee’s extra pace earned him all of his wickets, the first three of which were caught by Quinton de Kock who benefitted behind the stumps with a World Cup record-equalling six victims – all of which fell neatly into his gloves with diving or running required.

Ngidi limped off the field with an Achilles problem after 15 balls but returned after treatment to finish with figures off of 8.3-0-69-2 while Maharaj appeared not to bowl a single loose delivery in a remarkable analysis of 10-1-25-2.

Phehlukwayo, playing his first game of the tournament, bowled tidily in the middle overs to finish with 1-36 from seven overs while the leader of the attack, Kagiso Rabada, went wicketless against a batting unit with that as a clear goal.

SOME NERVES

The run chase began with captain Temba Bavuma (23), limping with a hamstring injury which threatens his further involvement in the tournament, heaving spinner Mujeeb to deep square leg after an opening stand of 64 with De Kock.

De Kock continued his magnificent form with 41 including two fours and three sixes before he was trapped LBW by offspinner Mohammad Nabi and Aiden Markram (25) top edged a slog-sweep against the great Rashid Khan to cover.

Heinrich Klaasen (10) was bowled by a trademark, fast googly from Rashid and when David Miller (24) was tamely caught and bowled by Nabi (2-35) South Africa were 182-5 and needing 73 from 12.5 overs.

South Africa’s target of 245 for victory looked straightforward on an excellent batting surface but, given their recent record of struggling in run-chases, there were clearly some nerves in the middle of it.

That they overcame them will be important in the remaining game, or games.

South Africa had already qualified for the semifinals where they will meet Australia at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday.

SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

AFGHANISTAN: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq

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