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Temba Bavuma-led South Africa downed Afghanistan by five wickets to end their World Cup 2023's league campaign on a high at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad on November 10, Friday.
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South Africa have secured a semi-final berth in the 2023 World Cup with 14 points from nine matches, two ahead of Australia, which play Bangladesh on Saturday. Both teams have already qualified for the next stage. Afghanistan has concluded its best World Cup campaign ever with four wins, also earning a spot in the Champions Trophy.
Afghanistan posted a most total of 244, thanks to Azmatullah Omarzai's splendid 97. In reply South Africa rode on Rassie Van der Dussen's unbeaten 76 to chase down the target with 15 balls to spare. This defeat mathematically ended Afghanistan's hopes of making it to the top four.
South Africa, known for their high-flying batting when batting first but facing challenges in chasing, got off to a promising start with openers Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma forming a 61-run partnership. Although they lost their wickets in quick succession, Van der Dussen and Aiden Markram kept up the pace with a 60-run partnership. The match saw several turning points as Afghanistan consistently took wickets just as South Africa seemed to be gaining control. The dismissal of David Miller, with 62 runs still required, left the outcome uncertain. However, Van der Dussen and Andile Phehlukwayo maintained their composure and rapidly closed in on the target, with Phehlukwayo hitting two sixes and a four to clinch the victory. Facing the semi-final against Australia next, the South African team now has some time to rest and attend to several players who sustained minor injuries during the game.
Earlier, Afghanistan's young all-rounder Omarzai delivered a performance to remember in their World Cup match against South Africa, scoring an unbeaten 97 runs. His impressive knock, which included seven fours and three sixes, was a significant contribution that helped lift Afghanistan to a respectable total of 244 after an initial batting collapse. Omarzai, who faced 107 balls, showed his batting prowess but narrowly missed out on a maiden ODI century, failing to score off the last three balls of the final over bowled by Kagiso Rabada.
South Africa's bowling attack was spearheaded by Gerald Coetzee, who finished with excellent figures of 4/44 in 10 overs. The Proteas showcased their bowling strength, causing early troubles for Afghanistan. However, the match saw a twist when South African pacer Lungi Ngidi had to leave the field due to what appeared to be an ankle or achilles issue. Despite this setback, Ngidi made a strong comeback, taking the wickets of key Afghan players Rahmat Shah and Mohammad Nabi.
Afghanistan's innings saw several notable moments, including Rahmanullah Gurbaz's aggressive batting against Rabada and Coetzee. Gurbaz's quickfire 25 off 21 balls added much-needed momentum to Afghanistan's innings. South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma's strategic introduction of spinner Keshav Maharaj paid off as Maharaj claimed the vital wicket of Gurbaz, followed by a wicket-maiden over that shifted the game's momentum in South Africa's favor.
The match also saw some disappointment for Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran, who couldn't replicate his previous performance against Australia, falling prey to Coetzee's short ball. Quinton de Kock's exceptional wicketkeeping was another highlight, as he finished with a record six catches behind the stumps.
Despite the early setbacks, Omarzai's resilience at the crease was commendable. His partnerships with Rashid Khan and later with Noor Ahmad were crucial in steering Afghanistan past the 150-run mark. Omarzai's composed and mature innings showcased his potential as a key player for Afghanistan, especially in high-pressure situations.
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