Image Credit- Getty
In their final league-stage match of the 2023 ODI
World Cup, South Africa defeated Afghanistan thanks to a 62-ball partnership of
65 between Rassie van der Dussen and Andile Phehlukwayo. This victory ensured
that South Africa wouldn’t falter in a challenging chase ahead of their
semi-final match against Australia.
With Afghanistan’s spinners holding the momentum of
the game and South Africa requiring 63, Phehlukwayo entered the game at number
seven. With a final score of 6, 4, 6, Phehlukwayo concluded the match
undefeated at 39, while van der Dussen, with his 95-ball 76*, controlled the
chase.
In the afternoon, Gerald Coetzee (4-44) and Keshav
Maharaj (2-25) had ensured Afghanistan could only make 244 in 50 overs. In
fact, the target could’ve been much less had it not been for Azmatullah
Omarzai’s unbeaten 97 that expertly held the crumbling Afghanistan innings
together.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the captain of Afghanistan,
summed up their bowling performance when he declared, “We bowled right
till the last moment” following their defeat. They recovered well from
South Africa’s opening partnership of 64 for the first wicket, but South Africa
was put under strain when Temba Bavuma (age 23) and Quinton de Kock (age 41)
were removed by Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi, respectively, in short
succession.
Afghanistan dismissed Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen,
and David Miller with little damage, spearheaded by Rashid Khan’s insightful
and worrisome spell of 2 for 37. When Phehlukwayo, playing in his first World
Cup match, joined van der Dussen, it appeared that Afghanistan were just one
wicket away from exposing the lower order. That did not transpire, and South
Africa dispelled any remaining scepticism on their pursuit skills.