Proteas secure first 2019 World Cup win against Afghanistan

The Proteas brittle batting lineup was not tested by an Afghanistan outfit who weren’t able to put near enough runs on the board.

South Africa cruised to a nine wicket victory over the Asian minnows in a one-sided match at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

Skipper Faf Du Plessis won the toss and put Afghanistan in to bat fearing that the rain that was around could tilt the game in favour of the chasing side.

In the early going the Proteas were loose and allowed Afghanistan’s opening pair to do some damage but the departure of Hazratullah Zazai caused the bottom to fall out of their effort. Zazai had been aggressive from the outset but rode his luck once too often and wound up pulling Kagiso Rabada to Rassie van der Dussen at Mid off to leave Afghanistan 39 for 1.

The middle order gave way completely with only openers Zazai (22) and Noor Ali Zadran (32) getting into double figures among Afghanistan’s top six.

Proteas leg spinner Imran Tahir gutted the middle order with a return of 4 for 27 from his seven overs. Two rain delays meant the match was shortened to 48 overs a side but Afghanistan wouldn’t get close to using their allotment.

Afghanistan crumbled to 125 all out which DLS adjusted to a victory target of 127.

Quinton de Kock was the more fluent of the Proteas openers in a stand of 104 that all but ended the contest. De Kock equalled his tournament high score of 68 before being brilliantly caught by Mohammad Nabi while attempting to belt Gulbadin Naib to the midwicket fence. The Proteas promoted Andile Phehlukwayo to finish things off with Hashim Amla.

Phelukwayo (17*) and Amla (41*) achieved victory in the 29th over of the chase with the latter smashing six to win the game.

Speaking after the game, man of the match Imran Tahir said: “I really enjoyed that, the way it came out, it was more important for me to play my role for the team, nice to have a first victory in our pocket. We were really up for it, we can’t control the weather, but we wanted the intensity to stay in the game. All in all a very pleasing performance.”