Van der Dussen sees South Africa home in tricky chase

AHMEDABAD: Rassie van der Dussen was the stand-out performer for South Africa as he guided them to a five-wicket win over Afghanistan in their final World Cup league match played at the Narendra Modi Stadium here in Ahmedabad, Friday.

South Africa, second in the standings behind India are through to the semi-finals where their opponents are Australia.

In a tricky chase South Africa managed to overhaul Afghanistan’s score of 244 with 15 balls to spare. Van der Dussen held up one end to finish on an unbeaten 76 off 95 balls (6 fours, 1 six) and with Andile Phehlukwayo (39* off 37 balls, 1 four, 3 sixes) saw South Africa get over the line in an unbroken stand of 65, despite the spin threat from Rashid Khan who dismissed Aiden Markram and the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen in one spell. 

Afghanistan just didn’t have enough runs to work with in the end although they did well to keep South Africa’s scoring rate under check and drag the game till the 48th over.

A remarkable innings from Azmatullah Omarzai (97 off 107 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes), also his highest score in ODIs, was the backbone of Afghanistan’s moderate total of 244.

Opting to bat, Afghanistan found themselves in a hole at 116/6 but as has been the case against South Africa’s bowlers often in this tournament, the lower middle order fought back under Omarzai’s leadership to get Afghanistan to a respectable total.

The innings started off on a promising note as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran racing to 41 in eight overs. The introduction of spin though, changed the tide as Keshav Maharaj struck off his very first ball to dislodge Gurbaz. Soon after, Zadran perished to Gerald Coetzee while skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi became Maharaj’s second victim. In the space of 17 deliveries, Afghanistan lost three wickets for four runs.

Rahmat Shah along with Omarzai stitched a 49-run stand to do a brief repair job but the former’s innings was cut short by Lungi Ngidi. Afghanistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals however, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad both weighed in with priceless cameos to give Omarzai the support adding 44 apiece. A maiden ODI century beckoned but an outstanding 50th over from Kagiso Rabada denied Omarzai of that landmark. Apart from Maharaj who bowled a standout spell, Coetzee impressed with a four-fer as Afghanistan batters found his pace too hot to handle. – (ST)

Scores: 244 (50) (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 25, Rahmat Shah 26, Azmatullah Omarzai 97*, Noor Ahmed 26, Lungi Ngidi 2/69, Gerald Coetzee 4/44, Keshav Maharaj 2/25)

South Africa 247-5 (47.3) (Quinton de Kock 41, Temba Bavuma 23, Rassie van der Dussen 76*, Aiden Markram 25, David Miller 24, Andile Phehlukwayo 39*, Mohammad Nabi 2/35, Rashid Khan 2/37)