Live updates: Afghanistan vs South Africa in Sharjah
Sharjah Cricket Stadium is all set to witness a thrilling clash between Afghanistan and South Africa in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022. The match promises to be a nail-biter as both teams are looking to secure their spot in the Super 12s.
Here are the live updates from the match:
Toss: South Africa won the toss and elected to field first.
Afghan Batting:
- Early Wicket: Afghanistan lost their first wicket early on, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz falling for a duck. This was a crucial blow for Afghanistan as Gurbaz is a key player in their batting line-up.
- Steady Recovery: Ibrahim Zadran and Hazratullah Zazai steadied the ship, building a solid partnership.
- Zazai's Blitz: Zazai took the attack to the South African bowlers, smashing 50 runs off just 31 balls.
- Afghan Surge: Afghanistan continued to score runs at a quick rate, with Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran playing key roles.
- Afghan Collapse: After a strong start, Afghanistan lost wickets in quick succession, losing their last 4 wickets for just 20 runs. They were eventually bowled out for 128 runs.
South African Chasing:
- Excellent Start: South Africa got off to a flyer, with Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks scoring at a rapid pace.
- Tight Bowling: Afghanistan kept the pressure on, but the South African openers were relentless.
- Wickets Fall: South Africa lost wickets in quick succession, losing their middle order in a flurry.
- Faf du Plessis's Calmness: Faf du Plessis provided the calm presence, guiding the South Africans closer to victory.
- South African Win: South Africa successfully chased down the target, securing a comfortable victory.
Key Moments:
- Zazai's 50: Zazai's attacking innings gave Afghanistan a much-needed boost.
- Du Plessis's composure: Du Plessis steered South Africa towards victory with a composed and experienced knock.
- Afghanistan's late collapse: Afghanistan's failure to capitalise on a strong start proved costly.
Match Highlights:
- [Video Highlights]
Final Score:
- Afghanistan: 128 all out
- South Africa: 129/5 (18.1 overs)
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis for his crucial innings.
This match provided a thrilling and tense encounter, with South Africa eventually emerging victorious. This result has a huge impact on the group standings and keeps the race for Super 12s qualification wide open. Stay tuned for more updates and exciting matches in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.
