🏏 Cricket World Cup 2023: Match #42: South Africa vs Afghanistan 🏏 - Page 5

It's toss time. Bavuma and Shahidi are out in the middle. Bavuma gives it a flick. Shahidi calls heads, and it comes down as heads. Afghanistan will bat first. Says that the weather and the surface influenced his decision, expects it to perhaps spin a little more later in the game. Same team for Afghanistan. Reflects on the game against Australia, calling it a "tough game" but also understands that they have to move on now, and just think about today.

Hashmatullah Shahidi: We want to bat first. The surface looks like there will be spin in the second innings so we are batting first. It was a tough game for us. Today, it is an important game of the world cup for us.

Afghanistan have won the toss and have opted to bat

Hashmatullah Shahidi: We want to bat first. The surface looks like there will be spin in the second innings so we are batting first. It was a tough game for us. Today, it is an important game of the world cup for us.

Temba Bavuma: We have another chance to chase today and we want to do well. A strong Indian side put us under pressure with bat and ball. Tabraiz Shamsi and Marco Jansen have been rested today and Andile Phehlukwayo and Gerald Coetzee come into the side. I feel that it might skid on later. It might be a little slow to start with and there also might be a bit of dew in the evening.

Temba Bavuma: We have another chance to chase today and we want to do well. A strong Indian side put us under pressure with bat and ball. Tabraiz Shamsi and Marco Jansen have been rested today and Andile Phehlukwayo and Gerald Coetzee come into the side. I feel that it might skid on later. It might be a little slow to start with and there also might be a bit of dew in the evening.

Teams:

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Ikram Alikhil(w), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq

South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Andile Phehlukwayo, David Miller, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Ikram Alikhil(w), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq

South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Andile Phehlukwayo, David Miller, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Lost the toss points

Afghanistan batting first means they are still mathematically in contention for a semi-final spot. A 438-run win is all they need. That aside, it is interesting that both teams have read the surface differently. Afghanistan expect it to slow down, South Africa feel it will skid on better under lights. This also gives South Africa a chance to test their chasing skills, having won just once in three attempts when batting second so far this World Cup.