Chris Morris shines as Proteas beat determined Afghanistan

Mumbai: In a match that almost followed the same script the Wankhede witnessed on Friday, this time South Africa emerged victorious not before a spirited Afghanistan side gave the starry Proteas a run for their money, here in the ICC World T20 on Sunday.

Electing to bat first, Faf du Plessis and his men piled up 209 runs on the board courtesy AB de Villiers (64), Quinton de Kock (45) and du Plessis (41), who were responsible for the run feast today.

Chasing 210 was never going to be easy for the Associate nation. However opener Mohammad Shahzad’s ‘see ball hit ball’ mantra sent ripples down the South African bowling. The Afghanistan batsman, who shares the same initials as India skipper MS Dhoni, slammed three huge sixes in Kyle Abbott’s first over.

Shahzad went boundary-less till the last ball of the third over. Afghanistan were 47 without loss after three overs. The South African bowlers were distraught after the initial onslaught. But then came in the aggressive Chris Morris, who crashed the woodwork and gave ‘MS’ the proper send off.

A belligerent knock from Shahzad saw him register 44 runs from 19 balls, an innings that was decorated with three boundaries and five maximums.

Meanwhile, Gulbadin Naib and Noor Ali Zadran did pose a few problems for South Africa. Their third-wicket partnership of    45 runs almost took the game away.

But it was Morris, who salvaged his team from danger. His for 27 runs in his spell of four overs was the turning point of the game. He also won the Man of the Match award for it.

Imran Tahir too contributed picking up two wickets for 24 runs. Kyle Abbott and youngster Kagiso Rabada added two wickets each but were expensive on the day.

Earlier, South Africa went about their business right from the word go with in-form southpaw Quinton de Kock terrorising the Afghan bowling attack. De Kock struck three boundaries in the first over.

They did suffer an initial setback. Hashim Amla, who was looking to loft it over, chipped it straight to mid-off. Amla scored five runs during his 11-minute stay at the crease. The returning Shapoor Zadran got his first wicket.

Meanwhile, De Kock at the other end was busy clobbering the ball. South Africa raced to 66 runs in the first powerplay.

Skipper Du Plessis and De Kock put on 65 runs for the second-wicket partnership that saw the Afghan bowlers clueless out in the middle.

An unfortunate run-out might have been the only way to get rid of du Plessis, who scored a brisk 27-ball 41 runs. De Kock was not far to follow after wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad held on to the catch. The South Africa batsman added 45 runs to the target, an innings that was laced with six boundaries and two sixes.

Then came the moment the half-full Wankhede fans were waiting for. After a brief lull in the South African innings courtesy some good spin bowling from Aghanistan, all hell broke loose when AB de Villiers lashed a hat-trick of sixes in the 17th over. One of them went straight into the Proteas’ dressing room. 29 runs were scored from the Rashid Khan over.

ABD brought up his half-century in 24 balls during the 30-minute stay in the middle. De Villiers show was soon over when the danger man, who holed one out to deep mid-wicket could not find the distance. Chants of AB AB reverberated across the arena as he departed for a 29-ball 64 runs with four boundaries and five huge hits.

Dawlat Zadran’s bowling hurt Afghanistan, going for 46 runs in his three overs.