Afghanistan vs South Africa: Proteas record first victory of Cricket World Cup with nine-wicket hammering
Re-live the action below
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Your support makes all the difference.South Africa finally got a World Cup win under their belt as they eased to a nine-wicket triumph over Afghanistan at Sophia Gardens on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a semi-final berth.
Leg spinner Imran Tahir took 4-29 as he engineered an Afghani collapse after a 75-minute rain break as they were dismissed for 125. Chris Morris contributed with figures of 3-13 and Andile Phehlukwayo took two wickets for 18.
The South Africans then set about the slightly adjusted target of 127 from 48 overs in cautious fashion, reaching 131-1 with 19 overs to spare. Re-live the action below:
The teams
1.0 Australia 4-0 Aaron Finch 0 David Warner 4
Lasith Malinga, with his distinctive bowling action, gets us going from the Vauxhall end. It's a solid over from the Sri Lankan fast bowler, but Warner wastes no time in pushing one through midwicket for four. He'll be looking for a repeat of his performance against Pakistan.
2.0 Australia 12-0 Aaron Finch 8 David Warner 4
Finch, too, is looking in imposing form early on here. Nuwan Pradeep bowls the second over and twice gets hit for four, the second a perfectly-timed drive down the ground. It's a fast outfield, and there's already the makings of a solid opening partnership between Finch and Warner.
3.0 Australia 12-0 Aaron Finch 8 David Warner 4
Malinga has started well, bowling at a consistent line and length. That's an impressive maiden over. Warner is content to wait and watch for now, though.
3.4 Australia 16-0 Aaron Finch 12 David Warner 4
Every run so far today has come from a boundary. Finch hits one off his pads onto the leg side and runs tantalisingly away for another four. The boundaries are small at the Oval, and Isuru Udana's efforts to stop the ball running away are in vain. He hurts his arm in the process, too.
5.0 Australia 20-0 Aaron Finch 14 David Warner 6
Another economical over from Malinga. Australia's openers are just getting set, remaining patient as they look to navigate the new ball. Udana is back out fielding now having been treated by the Sri Lanka physios.
6.0 Australia 23-0 Aaron Finch 15 David Warner 8
Pradeep keeps things tight at the other end. He doesn't give Finch or Warner much to work with, so they manage just three runs from the over.
7.0 Australia 33-0 Aaron Finch 25 David Warner 8
Malinga chooses to go around the wicket to Finch, but Australia's captain looks in excellent nick. He hits two powerful drives down the ground for four and moves onto 25 from just 21 deliveries. Sri Lanka won't want to let these two get in and settled.
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