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:
37.0 Australia 210-2 Aaron Finch 116 Steve Smith 47
Udana had been heading towards a good over - just three singles until the final ball - but a wide delivery allows Finch to open his arms and smash over extra cover for four.
38.0 Australia 218-2 Aaron Finch 122 Steve Smith 49
Finch looks unstoppable at the moment. He capitalises on more loose bowling, this time from Perera, to strike an excellent square drive for four.
38.3 Australia 220-2 Aaron Finch 123 Steve Smith 50
A mixture of applause and boos as Smith brings up his 50 with a single. It's taken him just 46 deliveries to reach his half century, and he's allowed Finch to go after the bowlers by cleverly rotating the strike.
39.2 Australia 231-2 Aaron Finch 132 Steve Smith 52
Finch looks like he's going to get a move on now. He smashes another six into the stands and hits it so hard that he breaks the ball. There's a pause in play as the umpire brings out a replacement.
40.0 Australia 237-2 Aaron Finch 137 Steve Smith 53
Finch follows up his six with a cut for four. Twelve runs come from the over and Australia are well placed for the last ten. Finch will, no doubt, be targeting a double century.
41.0 Australia 255-2 Aaron Finch 146 Steve Smith 62
A devastating over from Finch, who hits two more powerful boundaries and moves closer to 150. Smith gets in on the act, too. Sri Lanka, somehow, need to stem the tide of runs.
41.1 Australia 259-2 Aaron Finch 150 Steve Smith 62
And there is Finch's 150. A full delivery from Malinga is flicked away, almost for six, bouncing just in front of the boundary. There's no sign of him slowing down here.
42.0 Australia 269-2 Aaron Finch 152 Steve Smith 69
That's another expensive over. It ends with a massive slog over deep mid-wicket for Smith's first six of the innings. That made a glorious noise off the middle of the bat and very nearly cleared the stands.
42.4 Australia 273-3
WICKET! Finch (154) b Isuru c Karunaratne
That's the end of Finch's magnificent innings. He attempts another big six but mistimes it, picking out Karunaratne at cover. It was a good slower ball from Isuru to catch Finch out and deny Australia's captain a double century.
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