South Africa vs Afghanistan, Cricket World Cup 2023: South Africa Scrape Past Spirited Afghanistan By 5 Wickets

Calmness of Rassie van der Dussen and the fire of Gerald Coetzee helped experienced South Africa overcame a spirited resistance from Afghanistan to carve out a five-wicket win in their last league game of the World Cup in Ahmedabad on Friday. Set a target of 245, South Africa, who are already assured of a place in semifinals, completed the task with Van der Dussen remaining unbeaten on 76 off 95 balls. Andile Phehlukwayo was unbeaten on a 37-ball 39 after a match-winning partnership of 65 runs with Van der Dussen.

Earlier, pacer Coetzee took four wickets as Afghanistan were limited to 244 despite Azmatullah Omarzai's impressive 97. Omarzai's knock, however, helped the Afghans to recover from 116 for six. The defeat notwithstanding, Afghanistan, who shocked defending champions England and Pakistan during a very promising campaign, would go home with their heads held high.

Continuing his good run in the tournament, Omarzai faced 107 balls while hitting seven fours and three sixes. However, he could not record his maiden ODI hundred after failing to score off the last three balls of the final over bowled by Kagiso Rabada.

On a pitch without any demons, South Africa started their chase confidently. But, as the match progressed, things didn't pan out the way South Africa would have liked them to.

In the end, they achieved it with 15 balls remaining after a mighty scrap.

The in-form Quinton de Kock (41 off 47 balls) made his intentions clear quite early with a four and a six off Mujeeb Ur Rahman, dancing down the track to pummel the seasoned bowler over mid-off.

The dashing left-handed batter, who went past Rachin Ravindra to become the leading scorer of this tournament, then pulled a Naveen-ul-Haq half-tracker over deep