MUMBAI: South Africa clinched victory against Afghanistan by 37 runs despite mega show exhibited by the Afghan top order.
Opener Mohammad Shahzad scored outstanding 44 off 19 balls while Gulbadin Naib made 26 runs to become second top scorer for his side. Samiullah added 25 runs to the scorecard.
However, South African bowlers did not let the Afghan batsmen to regain confidence on the crease after fall of Shahzad and Gulbadin Naib.
Chris Morris was top wicket taking bowler who grabbed crucial four wickets while Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Kyle Abbott took two wickets each.
Proteas set huge target of 210 runs against Afghanistan thanked to AB de Villiers’ 64 off 29 balls and 45-run outstanding inning of opener Quinton de Kock. Skipper Faf du Plessis scored 41 runs in the match being played at Played at Wankhede Stadium.
Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran and Mohammad Nabi took one wicket each while Plessis got stumped out by wicket keeper Mohammad Shahzad.
Earlier, South Africa won the toss and decided to bat against Afghanistan in the World T20 at Wankhede Stadium.
Afghanistan team:
Asghar Stanikzai, Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Karim Sadiq, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiqullah, Shapoor Zadran, Usman Ghani
South Africa team:
F du Plessis, KJ Abbott, HM Amla, F Behardien, Q de Kock, AB de Villiers†, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, DA Miller, CH Morris, AM Phangiso, K Rabada, RR Rossouw, DW Steyn, D Wiese
