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2023 Cricket World Cup
One Day International Format
Afghanistan v South Africa
Narendra Modi Stadium
Ahmedabad, India
Friday, 10 November 2023
South Africa are in danger of losing out on second place in the
2023 Cricket World Cup points table as they prepare to take on Afghanistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, November 10.
Rob Walter's side suffered their second defeat of the tournament after they capitulated with the bat to lose to hosts India by 243 runs in Kolkata on Sunday, November 5.
The Men in Blue posted a respectable 326/5 in their allotted 50 overs, with the Proteas bowlers struggling to make an impact for once as Virat Kohli (101 n.o.) played a splendid knock to register his second century of this World Cup.
Temba Bavuma and company wilted under the pressure and all 11 of their batters were dismissed for under 20 runs in a sorry reply of just 83 - the second-lowest total at the spectacle in India.
South Africa remain second, although Australia trail them by just two points with a game in hand and will be expected to up their net run rate of 0.924 against Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Image copyright: Getty Images
Walter has urged his players to learn from the chastening experience as they might get another opportunity to play India potentially in the final.
"They're a hell of a team. And very well balanced and highly skilled," he said. "You have to believe that on a day if you execute your skills, you've also got a chance.
"The beauty of it is that there may well be another shot for us and we've been given an opportunity to learn from that."
Afghanistan still have everything to play for as they look to challenge Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan for a place in the top four.
Jonathan Trott's side are tied with those three teams above them in the standings on eight points after beating the Netherlands by 7 wickets on Friday, November 3.
They're already caused three major upsets at the World Cup in defeating defending champions England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to put themselves in the frame for the semi-finals.
Mohammad Nabi performed exquisitely with the ball as they restricted the Flying Dutchmen to 179, finishing with figures of 3/28 in 9.3 overs.
Afghanistan comfortably reached the target in the 32nd over, with Rahmat Shah (52) and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (56 n.o.) both scoring half-centuries.
Trott praised the ability of Shah to control their innings from one end and bring a measure of calm to the batting order as he went on register his third consecutive half-century against the Netherlands.
"As you see, 50-over cricket is a long time and you have to be able to, I think, ride the sort of ebbs, and flows of a game," he said.
"The thing that I'm really happy about from the last game (against Sri Lanka) is we lost a wicket in the first over and you know Rahmat Shah was able to go into No. 3 and soak up that pressure but still keep scoring at a good tempo.
"So that shows the ability to soak up pressure at times, what you have to do in 50-over cricket, but also then accelerate at certain times.
"So, wanting and trying to enable batters and give them the game and help them grow the game so they can have both facets of the game. Pressure, soaking it up, rotation of strike, and obviously accelerating and boundary-hitting."
Head-to-Head (ODI)
Matches - 1
Afghanistan - 0
South Africa - 1
Draws - 0
No result - 0
ODI World Rankings
4 - South Africa
9 - Afghanistan
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