Image Credit- ICC
Afghanistan came dangerously close to winning their
most significant ODI match. Opposing Australia. in an attempt to reach the
World Cup semifinals. Nearly there. Before a meteor the size of Glenn Maxwell
flattened them.
They are currently in Ahmedabad for their last league
match before being eliminated from the World Cup in the biggest cricket venue
on the planet. Afghanistan has defeated three past champions this time,
including England, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, in addition to the Netherlands.
However, they will never be able to defeat South Africa by 438 runs in order to
move New Zealand out of fourth place on net run rate. Afghanistan has only ever
defeated Scotland once in 2015 and 2019. But a ten-point exit—ten more than the
fourth-place team—will be a huge victory in and of itself.
Afghanistan has only faced South Africa in one ODI and
two T20I matches, and they have never prevailed. But that was Afghanistan in
the past. As a team, Afghanistan’s performance in the 2023 World Cup was
outstanding. In the competition, all five of their best hitters have scored
more than 250 runs. It’s not the regular culprits in the bowling department
causing the damage. Although Rashid Khan is currently Afghanistan’s top
wicket-taker, he hasn’t always been reliable. However, players like Noor Ahmad,
Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Naveen-ul-Haq have all been among the wickets, while
Mujeeb Ur Rahman has only seven in eight games.
Regarding South Africa, their semi-final berth is
already guaranteed, thus this matchup presents a pressure-free chance for them
to bounce back after India’s crushing of them in Kolkata. David Miller did not
think South Africa had been “horrific chasing” following that 243-run
thumping, but it is a known fact that they have been far more successful this
year batting first than second in ODIs.
The outcome ultimately will probably depend on how
Afghanistan’s bowlers perform against South Africa’s formidable batting lineup.
The only two teams remaining in the World Cup without giving up 300 are
Afghanistan and India. Five times, South Africa has scored more over 300, with
their maximum being against Sri Lanka at 428. Is Afghanistan capable of holding
South Africa within its borders?