South Africa had their confidence shattered with a 243-run thrashing against India after flying high for the most part in the ICC World Cup. On Friday, however, the Proteas ensured they enter the all-important semi-final against Australia having regained some of their lost confidence with a victory against Afghanistan in Ahmedabad, that too in a tricky chase.
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It was only the second time South Africa ended on the winning side in four chases in this World Cup. They had fallen short by 38 runs against Netherlands in Dharamsala and nearly bottled a chase of 271 against Pakistan in Chennai. Then there was that game at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens where the Proteas were bowled out for 83 after being set an improbable 327 to win by 83, failing to surpass what Virat Kohli had scored with the bat on his 35th birthday.
And they certainly were challenged by an Afghan side that has been a revelation in this World Cup with victories over England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan had nearly pulled off a dominant win against Australia, only to be undone by an extraordinary innings from Glenn Maxwell, and were looking to sign off on a high at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
In their quest for a fifth victory in nine outings, the Afghan Atalan posted a fighting total in the range of 250, and their spinners did challenge the South African batters, to the point where they dominated certain phases of the second innings.
The Proteas, however, managed to overcome their chasing blues for once and stitched enough partnerships along the way to reach home with enough wickets and deliveries to spare.
Looking back at the events of the 42nd match of the World Cup, we bring to you five key moments that shaped the South Africa-Afghanistan encounter:
Maharaj strikes off his first ball of the day
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran got the Afghans off to a promising start after skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi opted to bat, adding 41 runs in eight overs and collecting boundaries at fairly regular intervals.
South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma decided to introduce Keshav Maharaj into the attack in the eighth over, giving Kagiso Rabada a break after a four-over spell, and the left-arm spinner immediately delivered by getting rid of Gurbaz, the aggressor in the opening partnership who ended up nicking the ball to Heinrich Klaasen at slip.
Coetzee rips through the Afghan batting order
Maharaj’s dismissal of Gurbaz helped turn the tide after Afghanistan’s positive start, and soon enough, the South Africans were all over the Afghan batters like a rash. Gerald Coetzee would get Zadran, who struck Afghanistan’s first-ever World Cup hundred in their previous game against Australia, caught behind for 15 in the very next over. The right-arm pacer conceded 11 in his first over in the powerplay, but would respond with a wicket-maiden next up.
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That, however, wasn’t all from the 23-year-old; Coetzee had bowled an excellent opening spell of 1/14 from four overs and would strike right away after being brought back in the 27th over, getting Ikram Akhilil caught-behind for 12. And in his third spell in the slog overs, he would dismiss Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman to finish the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/44, going past teammate Marco Jansen to the third spot on the wicket-takers’ list.
Azmat misses out on a ton
Afghanistan might have been bundled out for a total in the range of 150 or so and the match would have ended a lot more quickly had it not been for Azmatullah Omarzai’s fighting unbeaten innings of 97. Azmat, who had dismissed David Warner and Josh Inglis in successive deliveries against Australia, fought on even as wickets tumbled at regular intervals from the other end.
Azmat collected seven fours and three sixes during his 107-ball stay and stitched 44-run partnerships with Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad to ensure the Afghans finishing within touching distance of the 250-mark that would give their bowling unit enough cushion to propel them to victory.
Spinners keep Afghan hopes alive
Quinton de Kock and skipper Temba Bavuma managed to stitch a 64-run opening stand before the latter holed out to Gurbaz at deep square leg to mark the beginning of an Afghan fightback led by their spin department.
Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi would strike shortly after, trapping de Kock LBW though he had to take it upstairs after the umpire initially shook his head. Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan the struck twice in a space of three overs, sending Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen back as the Proteas suddenly found themselves in a precarious position of 139/4. Nabi would strike for a second time later in the day, completing a catch off his own bowling to dismiss David Miller and break a 43-run fifth-wicket stand.
Van der Dussen, Phehlukwayo guide the Proteas home
South Africa had nearly thrown the game away from a position of strength in their chase against Pakistan at Chepauk last month. This time however, they would go over the line with five wickets and 15 deliveries to spare thanks to a calm and composed knock from Rassie van der Dussen under pressure.
Van der Dussen, whose consistency with the bat in this World Cup has been overshadowed by de Kock’s brilliance, maintained a cool head and went about rebuilding the chase after the Proteas had lost their fourth wicket, getting his team back on its feet in Miller’s company before stitching 65-run fifth-wicket partnership that ultimately sealed the deal in favour of Bavuma and Co.
Van der Dussen remained unbeaten on 76 off 95 deliveries while Phehlukwayo showcased his value with the bat down the order with an unbeaten 39 that came off 37 balls. Phehlukwayo decided to finish thing off in style when 14 were needed off 18, smashing Naveen-ul-Haq for two sixes and a four in the 47th over.
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