Welcome to the coverage of the T20 World Cup Group D match between Afghanistan and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
With only two teams slated to make the Super Eight stage from each group, Afghanistan find themselves in a must-win situation when they take on an in-form South Africa.
South Africa are perched at the top, head and shoulders above the rest, as 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 (+1.162) saw Afghanistan slip to third with a Net Run Rate of -1.162, which they have to improve upon in order to advance to the next round.
Afghanistan rode on Gulbadin Naib's 35-ball 63 and handy contributions from the other batters to put up a formidable score of 182 for six while batting first against New Zealand.
But the Afghans were left to rue their decision of leaving out Noor Ahmad, despite his experience of playing T20 cricket at the Chepauk, in favour of fast bowlers who failed to execute their plans and bowled wayward.
Afghanistan have played against the Proteas only three times and that too in T20 World Cups, losing all three games -- by nine wickets in the 2024 edition, by 37 runs in the 2016 edition and by 59 runs in 2010.
South Africa will feel confident going into this clash having put up an all-round show against Canada. Skipper Aiden Markram (59) led from the front with a brisk half-century and the others also chipped in with valuable runs to push them beyond 200 in a one-sided game against Canada.
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