Imran Tahir came out firing for South Africa after the second rain interruption and helped the Proteas to restrict Afghanistan to 125 in their World Cup group-stage match in Cardiff, writes JOHN GOLIATH.
Afghanistan lost four wickets for just one run in 13 balls after the players returned to the field following a second brief shower at Sophia Gardens. Before that, Afghanistan had largely frustrated the South African bowlers after Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and decided to bowl on a green pitch under cloudy skies.
Afghanistan went from 69-2 after 20 overs to 78-7 at the end of the 26th over, with Andile Phehlukwayo (1-36) and Tahir (4-29) sharing the five wickets between them.
Before that, Afghanistan abandoned their aggressive, sometimes gung-ho, approach for a measured one at the start of their innings to try to nullify South Africa’s opening bowlers.
They managed to frustrate Kagiso Rabada (1-36) and Beuran Hendricks (0-25) for eight overs, before Radaba bagged hard-hitting Afghan opener Hazratullah Zazai (22) with a short ball.
The Proteas’ change bowlers Phehlukwayo and Chris Morris (3-13) bowled really well after the powerplay, but they were also frustrated by the Afghan batsmen having a bit of luck either side of the first break.
Morris eventually picked up the wicket of Rahmat Shah (6) lbw, but five overs later the players left the field after another shower hit.
When the players got back on to the field, the game was reduced to 48 overs. Phehlukwayo then struck with the fourth ball after the weather interruption when he had Hashmatullah Shahidi (8) caught at slip by captain Faf du Plessis.
Tahir struck with the very first ball of his spell when he landed a googly on the perfect spot before bowling Noor Ali Zadran (32) through the gate. He didn’t have to wait long for his second wicket – four deliveries, in fact – when Asghar Afghan (0) popped the ball straight back to the veteran leg-spinner.
Phehlukwayo picked up the wicket of the dangerous Mohammad Nabi (1) in the next over, and suddenly Afghanistan were reeling at 73-6.
Tahir struck again in the 25th over when Gulbadin Naib hit a long-hop straight to Aiden Markram, who took a sharp catch at mid-wicket.
Morris came back into the attack to pick up Ikram Alikhil (9), who shared a crucial partnership with Rashid Khan (35). Khan had a bit of a go at Tahir and hit him for a few boundaries. However, the Proteas leg-spinner had the final say when he had his counterpart caught on the boundary.
Morris then wrapped up the innings when Hamid Hassan hit one straight up in the air.
Teams:
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis (c), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Beuran Hendricks, Imran Tahir.
Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib (c), Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan.
