South Africa sealed their first win in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 after beating Afghanistan by 37 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 20 March.
Advertisement
Afghanistan were not under threat immediately while de Villiers settled in and de Kock nicked off. After conceding just 19 runs in three overs after the halfway stage of the South African innings, Afghanistan might have been hopeful of pulling South Africa even further back. Du Plessis (41off 27 balls) and JP Duminy (29 off 20 balls) were the other star performers apart from de Villiers. Mohammad Shahzad (44), Noor Ali Zadran (25), Gulbadin Naib (26) and Samiullah Shenwari (25) were the top scorers.
Shahzad struck three fours and five sixes but his stay in the middle was short-lived as seamer Chris Morris cleaned him up to help South Africa claw back into the game.
Afghanistan opener Mohammad Shahzad was disappointed not to face Dale Steyn as he sent South Africa’s bowlers around the ground in Mumbai.
“I was anxious at the half way stage (of Afghan innings)”, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was to admit later. Afghanistan also did not have a 17th over like South Africa did; de Villiers took 29 runs off Rashid Khan, which ended up being the major difference between the two sides.
Imran Tahir, Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada all claimed two each. “It was a concern the way they started but we came back nicely into the game”, Du Plessis admitted after his team ultimately showed the composure to close out the game.
Mohammad Shahzad, the Afghan wicketkeeper built like David Boon and with the confidence of Chuck Norris, was timing the ball ever so sweetly and was rekindling memories of a certain Jason Roy. With no Dale Steyn, who was dropped for allrounder David Wiese, to contend with, Shahzad had propelled the Associate Nation to 52 without loss within four overs.
Having been stunned by a Joe Root-inspired England on Friday, the Proteas knew this was a game they had to win in order to harbour any realistic hopes of progressing from Group 1.
Opener Hashim Amla had earlier walked for a disappointing five after he hit a weak shot in the third over straight to the safe hands of Afghanistan skipper Asghar Stanikzai. De Villiers was out in the next over, caught at deep mid wicket off Nabi. His dominating partnership for the fourth wicket with J.P. Duminy yielded 76 runs in just 35 balls. That innings came at a better strike rate than that of AB de Villiers, who contributed with a 34-ball 64 to the South African cause. But it has been the bowling which has let them down against England and much improvement is needed ahead of Sunday’s clash.
“It doesn’t matter which bowler is playing because the wicket is very good”, Shahzad said.
Advertisement
Opener Quinton de Kock (45) continued his impressive show with the bat and added 65 for the second wicket with captain Faf du Plessis, who won the toss and opted to bat in their second Group One match at the venue. He returned to clean bowl Rashid Khan and Dawlat Zadran in his last over.
