Cricket World Cup: South Africa move second with five-wicket win over Afghanistan as Rassie van der Dussen hits 76
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ByOli Gent
Published 10/11/2023 at 18:13 GMT
South Africa moved into second place in the Cricket World Cup group stage as they closed out their ninth and final game with a five-wicket win over Afghanistan. Rassie van der Dussen's unbeaten 76 set the Proteas on their way to a less comfortable victory than they would have hoped for, but Afghanistan, coached by former England international and South African-born Jonathan Trott, are out.
South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen and Andile Phehlukwayo (R) celebrate after winning the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match between South Africa and Afghanistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 10, 2
Image credit: Getty Images
South Africa moved into second place in the Cricket World Cup group stage as they closed out their ninth and final game with a five-wicket win over Afghanistan in Ahmedabad.
Rassie van der Dussen's 76 not out powered the Proteas to victory after they had bowled Afghanistan out for 244, and they surpassed the target with two and a half overs to spare, as Andile Phehlukwayo hit three boundaries - two sixes sandwiching a four - in the game's final three balls to seal victory.
The defeat put an end to Afghanistan's excellent World Cup run, eliminating any lingering hope the Afghans had of sneaking into the group stage's top four.
Afghanistan, coached by former England international and South African-born Jonathan Trott, needed to win by 438 runs to overtake New Zealand on net run rate, but their poor performance with the bat was their downfall.
A decent start was quickly undone as they lost their opening three wickets for four runs to go from 41-0 to 45-3, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz caught by Heinrich Klaasen, Ibrahin Zadran caught by Quinton de Kock from Gerald Coetzee's delivery, and Rahmat Shah also dismissed by Lungi Ngidi, whose ball forced the Afghan batsman to slash into the grateful hands of David Miller.
Another mini collapse saw the Afghans lose three further wickets inside three overs, leaving them 116-6, but Azmatullah Omarzai, who scored an undefeated 97 off 107, steadied the ship.
His following partners did him no favours however, with Noor Ahmad's 26 the highest of them all, and Naveen-ul-Haq's run out showed the desperation as their final World Cup innings fizzled out.
The Proteas took to the crease and scored 64 runs before their first wicket fell, with Temba Bavuma, the captain, caught by Gurbaz.
In came van der Dussen, whose composure brought an element of calm to the South African ranks, but not before Quinton de Kock was dismissed LBW just two runs later.
Aiden Markram and Klaasen both fell as van der Dussen kept the tally ticking, before Miller was caught and bowled by Mohammed Nabi in the 37th over.
In came Phehlukwayo, whose 39 - and big hitting - was what hauled the Proteas over the line.
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