Azmatullah Omarzai top-scored with 97 as Afghanistan were bowled out for 244; Rassie van der Dussen fired an unbeaten 76 to help South Africa to victory with 15 balls to spare; Watch the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup live on Sky Sports Cricket
Saturday 11 November 2023 07:27, UK
South Africa saw off a spirited fightback from Afghanistan to win by five wickets in their final World Cup group game and consolidate second place in the standings.
South Africa - already secure of a semi-final spot, have 14 points from their nine games and are two points ahead of Australia, who play Bangladesh on Saturday, while Afghanistan wrapped up their best-ever World Cup campaign with four wins and also sealed a place in the Champions Trophy.
Afghanistan opted to bat first and posted 244 in 50 overs on the back of Azmatullah Omarzai's unbeaten knock of 97, which included seven boundaries and three sixes, while Gerald Coetzee was the pick of the South African bowlers with figures of 4-44, while Quinton De Kock finished with six catches to tie the record for most wicketkeeping dismissals in a World Cup match.
In response, South Africa opener De Kock set up the chase with a breezy 41 that took him to the top of the tournament's scoring charts on 591 runs.
Rassie van der Dussen (76 not out) then guided the Proteas home, stitching together a 65-run partnership with Andile Phehlukwayo, who smashed the winning runs with a massive six over deep mid-wicket in the 48th over.
"They say winning is a habit so we want to take that momentum through, we take a lot of confidence," South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma said.
"We did something differently today, we normally bat first but we batted second. To get over the line in that manner will give us confidence.
"We'd like to be playing here again (in the final) in front of a full-capacity crowd. But there's a hurdle we have to get over first against Australia in Kolkata."
Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi added: "We gave a good message to the world, we played big teams and fought till the end," he said.
"I'm proud of what our batsmen did in this tournament, we were struggling before the tournament... It's a positive thing looking to the future.
"Everyone knows we have a good spin department, but if we carry the momentum of what we did with the bat, we will be a very good side."
South Africa are into the semi-finals and will face Australia on Thursday (8am on Sky Sports Cricket, 8.30am start), with hosts India taking on the fourth-placed team the previous day in the other semi-final.
There's another double-header of live action on Saturday, as Australia play Bangladesh in their final group match (4.30am on Sky Sports Mix, 5am start) before England round off their disappointing title defence against Pakistan (8am on Sky Sports Golf, 8.30am start).
Watch every match from the Cricket World Cup live Sky Sports, including the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday November 19. Stream the tournament without a contract through NOW.
