Proteas march on

5 May 2010

South Africa advanced to the Super Eights after an impressive bowling display secured a 59-run win against Afghanistan.

The lottery of the T20 format and the disappointing performance in the defeat against India created some concerns for South Africa heading into this crucial fixture. However, realistically, did Afghanistan really stand a chance of beating the Proteas, who have more top-level experience and have world-class players in their squad? Captain Graeme Smith and his team answered all the wishful thinkers with a convincing victory.

While South Africa have depended a lot on their batsmen in recent times, it were the bowlers who produced the match-winning performance as they skittled the Afghans for a 80 in 16 overs.

However, it was an indifferent start to the innings for the Proteas. After Smith smashed 13 off the first over, his opening partner Loots Bosman was run out off his first ball. Smith and Jacques Kallis then steadied the innings, with the latter top scoring with 34 off 33 balls.

Afghan bowler Hamid Hassan picked up four vital wickets which slowed South Africa’s run-rate. JP Duminy (25 off 21 balls) and Albie Morkel (23 off 17 balls) were the only other batsmen to impress as South Africa finished on a modest 139-7.

With the ball, Dale Steyn, Charl Langeveldt and Morne Morkel ripped through Afghanistan’s batting order as the new-comers slumped to 25-7. Mirwais Ashraf and Hassan added some respectability to the score, but in the end South Africa sealed the win as Langeveldt finished off the tail.

The Proteas now face New Zealand in their first Super Eights fixture on Thursday.

South Africa 139-7 (20 overs)
Jacques Kallis 34, Graeme Smith 27, Hamid Hassan 3-21.
Afghanistan 80 (16 overs)
Mirwais Ashraf 23, Hamid Hassan 22, Morné Morkel 4-20.

South Africa won by 59 runs

For a full scorecard click here


21 Comments

  • 1.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    5 May 2010, 23:25 pm

    Might as well stay up the whole night and watch

  • 2.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 00:22 am

    I will not be sad if Afghan wins. Proteas rusty, Afghans got a lot of heart, can only be a good thing for their country

  • 3.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 00:52 am

    Things don’t just look right in the camp. A few strange selections. Bosman two ducks – as slow as a snail. Easy two runs and gets run out. Won’t make it all the way for sure.

  • 4.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 00:57 am

    Thank heavens for our bowling attack. Feel sorry for the Afghans though

  • 5.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 01:01 am

    @Partizan(Partizan)-4:

    Yes – hope Morkels no balls are a thing of the past. Have to bring in Botha now. Vd Merwe struggling with bat and was so bad on a turning wicket with ball last outing.

  • 6.gunther: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 01:15 am

    I like these Afghans … They shake hands instead of hi fiving.. Old school.

    Please corrie drop kick Bosman and Roelof.

  • 7.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 01:22 am

    Roelof is the mongrel, we need him, sort of.. He has never disappointed me. Better than Paul Adams.. I wish Botha was still allowed the ol’ Doosra.. That thing is potent

  • 8.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 01:25 am

    Hamid is the face of Afghan cricket. Will be remembered as THE legend if the team gets to play more often.. A few ODI’s would be cool

  • 9.gunther: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 01:33 am

    At the moment Botha is a better bet with bat and ball… Mongrel is all roelie has at the moment I’m afraid…he is one for the future though but he needs to revisit his batting strategy… I have seen headless chickens with more composure..

    Albie is bowling pies…honestly how embraboer…

  • 10.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 01:33 am

    Afghan sloggers well up to the task. They’ve hit numerous 6′s against us. Morkel brothers getting klapped

  • 11.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 01:38 am

    Great cameraderie shown by Steyn

  • 12.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 01:42 am

    Roelof is there to give the other teams 6 hitting practice lol. Not a good day at the office

  • 13.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 01:49 am

    For a country ravaged by war they are one of the most humble teams I’ve ever seen. Humble as hell, hope to see them in the future

  • 14.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 01:49 am

    Soz for tautology ^

  • 15.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 09:36 am

    Very poor squad…this is the 1st time I can remember watching a South African cricket team at an international tournament and not expecting them to win it. Maybe it’s a good thing because I won’t be disappointed when they don’t win it.

    As much as I try watching this bunch, they just don’t inspire me to. Some of the selections are just plain pathetic…Roelof and Bosman should be playing street cricket somewhere on the Cape flats…why select Botha in the squad when he can’t bowl his doosra??? Why not bowl JP more and bat him at 6??? His stats are similar, if not better than the two front-line ‘spinners’ or should I say slow bowlers???

    The ONLY thing Morne Morkel can do is bowl bouncers…great against a team like Afghanistan, but do you actually think it will work against higher-level cricketers???…I for one seriously doubt it.

    They have not moved on with the rest of the cricketing world WRT 20 over cricket because they are trying to implement a 50 over game plan which is so limited and flawed its there for all to see.

    Poor management, poor squad, poor captain that will be blown away in the super 8′s….where is the X factor that all the other teams seem to have???

  • 16.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 09:42 am

    @Golden Boy(Golden Boy)-15:

    I have to agree with you! You just waiting for them to choke – it just seems it will happen earlier than the semi’s.

  • 17.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 09:42 am

    @Partizan(Partizan)-7:

    If I was looking for a mongrel I would go down to the local SPCA…we need cricketers who can actually play cricket…watching Roelof ‘play’ is just embarrassing…even the commentators can be heard chuckling when he comes in to bat.

    For someone who gets paid hundreds of thousands you would expect him to at least pretend to be a cricketer…This is really a true case of Affirmative Action at work.

    Pathetic…do you honestly think that he is the best ‘spinner’ in the country at the moment???

  • 18.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 09:44 am

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-16:

    LOL…only this time we can’t call it choking because they are poor…no one really expects them to win!!!

  • 19.Dorff: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 09:49 am

    And can someone please tell Roelof to get a helmet that fits his head ffs.. :roll:

  • 20.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 11:57 am

    Afghanistan bananastan.

  • 21.racheltjiedebeer: Reply to this comment
    6 May 2010, 12:01 pm

    Doesn’t say much for the quality of world cricket if afghanistan can manage to qualify…. :roll:

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