Bavuma on injury scare as CWC hits business end: 'I wanted to be out there for the guys'

An injury cloud hangs over Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma as the Cricket World Cup enters the semi-final stage after he sustained a hamstring injury in the five-wicket win over Afghanistan on Friday.

Bavuma was seen limping at times during the Afghanistan inning and was noticeably hampered by the injury when opening the batting with Quinton de Kock.

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Speaking after the match, Bavuma said he was in pain from the injury, but he was hoping to recover for the Proteas' semi-final clash against Australia on Thursday.

"Obviously, my leg is sore," he added.

"[I] don't know to what extent [the leg is injured], but it is going to have to be fine, at least in my eyes. 

"I obviously had that option of coming off, but it was our last group stage game, and I wanted to be out there with the guys.

"[It] was an opportunity to spend some time in the middle, and I did not want to let it go. 

"[I] wanted to keep marshalling the guys, keep strengthening the relationship with our bowlers. It was a risk, but I felt it was the right move [to stay on the field]." 

Regarding the win, a rare occasion in which the Proteas have won batting second this year, Bavuma acknowledged it would help build momentum with the semi-final in mind.

"Winning is a habit, so we want to take that momentum through," he said.

"Today, we did a few things differently. We batted second today. To get over the line in that manner, that is going to give us a lot of confidence.

"[It was a] fantastic knock by Rassie; he took ownership, and the guys batted around him."

Worryingly, the Proteas again allowed the opposition's lower order to make some runs after making early inroads.

However, this isn't something