South Africa lose three wickets in chase of 245, Rashid Khan strikes twice

Quinton de Kock (Pic: AFP)

Afghanistan's spinners took three wickets as South Africa chased 245 to win their ICC World Cup 2023 league stage clash on Friday with the Asian side playing for pride after their elimination from the semi-final race was confirmed.

Azmatullah Omarzai hit an unbeaten 97 to guide Afghanistan to 244 all out in a match where they needed an unlikely 438-run win to make the last four.

In reply, South Africa reached 132-3 in 25 overs with Rassie van der Dussen, on 34, and Heinrich Klaasen, on five, batting in their team's tune-up for their semi-final against Australia next week.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed skipper Temba Bavuma for 23 to end an opening stand of 64 and fellow spinner Mohammad Nabi trapped Quinton de Kock lbw on 41. The Proteas put their chase back on track in a third-wicket stand of 50 but leg-spinner Rashid Khan broke through with the wicket of Aiden Markram for 25.

Earlier, Afghanistan slipped to 116-6 before Azmatullah Omarzai struck a competitive total but not enough for the huge victory margin that the team required. South Africa fast bowler Gerald Coetzee took four wickets while spinner Keshav Maharaj returned impressive figures of 2-25 as the Proteas tune-up for their semi-final clash with five-time winners Australia next week.

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Quinton de Kock played a key part with his six wicketkeeping dismissals to equal a World Cup record of Australia's Adam Gilchrist (v Namibia - Potchefstroom, 2003) and Pakistan's Sarfaraz Ahmed (v South Africa - Auckland, 2015).

Pakistan, who play England on Saturday, need a mathematical miracle to edge out New Zealand, who are all but through to the semi-finals and a likely clash with toppers India. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran started aggressively before Maharaj struck with his first ball to have Gurbaz caught out for 25.

Coetzee sent back Ibrahim in the next over to check the batting surge and Afghanistan slipped from 41-0 to 45-3 when Maharaj had skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi caught behind for two. Rahmat Shah attempted to rebuild in a 49-run stand with Azmatullah but fell to fast bowler Lungi Ngidi for 26.

Afghanistan lost two more wickets to be in danger of getting bowled out in less than their quota of 50 overs but Azmatullah stood firm to play out the innings. He put on key stand with Rashid Khan (14) and then Noor Ahmad (26) to thwart the opposition bowling.

(With agency inputs)