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:
4.0 South Africa 11-0 Hashim Amla 6 Quinton de Kock 4
Amla has made a laborious start, leaving plenty of deliveries and looking in no hurry. He may just be trying to play his way in, but South Africa will want to wrap this up sooner rather than later.
4.5 South Africa 15-0 Hashim Amla 9 Quinton de Kock 5
Afghanistan review!
Big lbw appeal from Aftab as the ball crashes into the pad of Amla. Afghanistan choose to review it, but it's drifting down the leg side. Not out.
6.0 South Africa 15-0 Hashim Amla 9 Quinton de Kock 5
A maiden over from Hassan. Amla appears to be determined to take as long as he possibly can with this run chase. This game might not be as over as quickly as expected.
7.0 South Africa 19-0 Hashim Amla 9 Quinton de Kock 9
Very nearly another maiden, but de Kock, who's looked frustrated so far, hits a cover drive for four from the last delivery of Aftab's over. Perhaps South Africa will get things going now.
7.5 South Africa 25-0 Hashim Amla 14 Quinton de Kock 10
That's more like it from Amla! After leaving another delivery he connects perfectly with a drive down the ground. South Africa, though, are still playing cautiously, looking every bit a side yet to win in the competition.
9.0 South Africa 30-0 Hashim Amla 14 Quinton de Kock 15
Afghanistan introduce some spin in Rashid Khan. His first ball is pulled away to the boundary by de Kock but he recovers well to end with just five runs from his first over.
9.3 South Africa 34-0 Hashim Amla 14 Quinton de Kock 19
De Kock shows the first real sign of attacking intent in this innings, shuffling his feet and swinging his bat at a Gulbadin delivery. He gets a big top edge on it and it flies towards third man Ashgar Afghan. It may not have carried, but he misjudges it completely anyway and it goes for four.
10.0 South Africa 35-0 Hashim Amla 14 Quinton de Kock 20
Ten overs in, then, and South Africa are racing along at 3.5 runs per over. Thrilling stuff. The required run rate is 2.4, but Amla and de Kock aren't taking any chances.
11.3 South Africa 43-0 Hashim Amla 15 Quinton de Kock 27
The win predictor has Afghanistan's chances of victory at 1% as things stand. They're going to need some quick wickets if they're to change that.
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