Afghanistan vs South Africa: Proteas record first victory of Cricket World Cup with nine-wicket hammering
Re-live the action below
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Your support makes all the difference.South Africa finally got a World Cup win under their belt as they eased to a nine-wicket triumph over Afghanistan at Sophia Gardens on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a semi-final berth.
Leg spinner Imran Tahir took 4-29 as he engineered an Afghani collapse after a 75-minute rain break as they were dismissed for 125. Chris Morris contributed with figures of 3-13 and Andile Phehlukwayo took two wickets for 18.
The South Africans then set about the slightly adjusted target of 127 from 48 overs in cautious fashion, reaching 131-1 with 19 overs to spare. Re-live the action below:
36.5 Sri Lanka 217-6
WICKET! Perera (7) b Starc c Warner
A very brief cameo from Perera comes to an end. He lobs a shot straight at Warner, who takes a good catch. Sri Lanka have fallen apart.
31.0 Afghanistan 105-7 Ikram Ali Khil 8 Rashid Khan 18
Afghanistan have steadied the ship slightly having been 77-7 just a short while ago. Rashid is going well and they have, at least, gone beyond 100. South Africa will want to clean up the tail fairly quickly.
38.1 Sri Lanka 222-7
WICKET! Mendis (30) b Starc c Carey
Starc gets his fourth wicket of the game, and his third in two overs. Mendis can't resist swinging at the ball just outside off stump and edges it through to Carey.
39.0 Sri Lanka 229-7 Dhananjaya de Silva 8 Isuru Udana 2
The last ball of an excellent Starc over is pushed down the ground by de Silva for four. The required run rate is up at almost ten an over now for Sri Lanka.
32.4 Afghanistan 111-8
WICKET! Ikram (9) b Morris c Amla
Morris fires a shorter ball into Ikram, who edges behind to Amla at slip. South Africa need just two more wickets to bowl out Afghanistan.
39.5 Sri Lanka 236-8
WICKET! Udana (9) b Richardson c Finch
Australia have fielded excellently today, and Finch does well to backtrack and take a difficult catch from a high, looping Udana shot. Two wickets remaining.
33.5 Afghanistan 125-9
WICKET! Rashid Khan (35) b Tahir c Van der Dussen
An entertaining and commendable innings from Rashid Khan comes to an end as he tries to hit one too many big shots. Van der Dussen takes the catch right on the boundary.
Afghanistan 125 all out
WICKET! Hassan (0) b Morris c Du Plessis
That's it! Hassan smashes one up in the air and Du Plessis takes a routine catch. South Africa's run chase should be fairly routine, and they'll have a chance to boost their net run rate. Afghanistan, who have yet to pick up a point in this World Cup, lost eight wickets for 56 runs in 14 overs after play restarted.
41.3 Sri Lanka 237-9
WICKET! Malinga (1) b Richardson c Khawaja
Australia are now so confident in their ability to win this game they don't feel the need to celebrate. Malinga picks out Khawaja at extra cover and exits having collected just one run.
43.0 Sri Lanka 238-9 Dhananjaya de Silva 9 Nuwan Pradeep 0
Starc bowls his last over of the day and can't quite get a five-for. This has been a disappointing collapse from Sri Lanka given the start they made. At one point, they were 112-0 and looked more than capable of getting close to Australia's 334.
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