AHMEDABAD: With only two teams set to qualify for the Super Eight stage from each group, Afghanistan face a must-win situation when they take on an in-form South Africa in their Group D match of the T20 World Cup here on Wednesday.
South Africa are perched at the top of the table, head and shoulders above the rest, after their 57-run victory over minnows Canada bolstered their net run rate to 2.850 along with two points.
On the other hand, a five-wicket defeat to New Zealand saw Afghanistan slip to third with a net run rate of -1.162, which they will need to improve if they are to advance to the next round.
The competition in Group D is expected to intensify in the coming days, with Afghanistan remaining among the teams to beat in the tournament.
South Africa, runners-up in the last edition, and the resolute Kiwis are set to add further heat to the battle, making Group D one of the most closely contested in the first round.
Afghanistan rode on Gulbadin Naib’s 35-ball 63 and useful contributions from other batters to post a formidable 182 for six while batting first against New Zealand.
However, the Afghans were left to rue their decision to leave out Noor Ahmad, despite his experience of playing T20 cricket at Chepauk, in favour of fast bowlers who failed to execute their plans and bowled waywardly.
The Afghanistan fast bowlers collectively failed to apply pressure on the Kiwis and even skipper Rashid Khan had an off day, conceding 36 runs without a wicket in his four overs.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s 2/31 was the only bright spot for Afghanistan with the ball, as they look to make significant improvements when they move to the world’s biggest stadium.
Rashid’s experience of playing at the venue in the IPL will be crucial for Afghanistan, who need a win to bounce back and resurrect their campaign. Their bilateral record against South Africa will also weigh heavily on them, having lost all three previous encounters between the sides.
Afghanistan have played South Africa only three times, all in T20 World Cups, losing by nine wickets in the 2024 edition, by 37 runs in the 2016 edition and by 59 runs in the 2010 edition.
South Africa will head into the clash brimming with confidence after an all-round performance against Canada. Skipper Aiden Markram (59) led from the front with a brisk half-century, while others chipped in with valuable runs to propel the side beyond 200 in a one-sided contest.
However, young Dewald Brevis will be under scrutiny after falling for just six against Canada. Brevis, considered among the brightest batting talents of the next generation, has endured a quiet run in T20 internationals, with 31 being his highest score in his last 14 matches.
David Miller’s unbeaten 39 has also given the South African camp considerable assurance, especially after the experienced left-handed batter was in doubt to make the squad for the T20 World Cup.
Teams:
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Ibrahim Zadran (vc), Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Shahidullah, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Faqalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Ziaur Rahman.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), David Miller, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kewna Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada.
Match starts at 11.00 am IST.