🏏 Cricket World Cup 2023: Match #42: South Africa vs Afghanistan 🏏 - Page 6

Where's pitch report?

Rashid Khan: (On the Australia game) It was a kind of game that was hard to take. As a team, we should be proud of how we have played the tournament. We did not play well in that part when Maxwell was playing but credit goes to him. We have done some great things and we have had some great wins. We want to think about that, and want to focus on what we can do against South Africa today. It is just the beginning for us, winning big games. We will face such games in the future but as a team, it is about staying together collectively. (On the conditions in Ahmedabad) I have played a lot here in the IPL and the wicket is good for batting, but there is some help for the bowlers as well. The pitch is not very different to Mumbai. We should be thinking more about our skills. The challenge is to adjust our skills as soon as possible and we have done it successfully so far this tournament. (Biggest positive from this World Cup) Lots of positives, especially the batting department. We have three or four guys who have scored more than 300 runs. that was one of the goals we had. The batting department taking responsibility, and all of them taking responsibility, I am very happy and proud about it. I was relaxed, sitting in the dressing room and that is down to how the batters have played.

Not sure why Jansen was not picked?

Afgha has lots of potential and considering how little they play, they hv surely punched above their weight! FALLING short of the trophy would have conjured up the wraith of lugubriousness but their 4 dazzling wins is a menacing precursor of their domineering proclivity !

Hope they never cease to live upto the sobriquet of giant killers they have earned with their innane prowess and unswerving grit 💪

Willy: "It's ironic that Afghanistan needs 438, as that was also SA's total in the famous 438 chase against Aus." -- Well, Afghanistan need many more than that, because they need the margin of victory to be 438 runs...

Rashid Khan: (On the Australia game) It was a kind of game that was hard to take. As a team, we should be proud of how we have played the tournament. We did not play well in that part when Maxwell was playing but credit goes to him. We have done some great things and we have had some great wins. We want to think about that, and want to focus on what we can do against South Africa today. It is just the beginning for us, winning big games. We will face such games in the future but as a team, it is about staying together collectively. (On the conditions in Ahmedabad) I have played a lot here in the IPL and the wicket is good for batting, but there is some help for the bowlers as well. The pitch is not very different to Mumbai. We should be thinking more about our skills. The challenge is to adjust our skills as soon as possible and we have done it successfully so far this tournament. (Biggest positive from this World Cup) Lots of positives, especially the batting department. We have three or four guys who have scored more than 300 runs. that was one of the goals we had. The batting department taking responsibility, and all of them taking responsibility, I am very happy and proud about it. I was relaxed, sitting in the dressing room and that is down to how the batters have played.

Originally posted by: Rosyme

Not sure why Jansen was not picked?

Willy: "It's ironic that Afghanistan needs 438, as that was also SA's total in the famous 438 chase against Aus." -- Well, Afghanistan need many more than that, because they need the margin of victory to be 438 runs...

Originally posted by: SoniRita

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.

Score 538 then restrict sa to 100 😂😂 so simple 😂

The players make their way out for their respective National Anthems - Afghanistan first and after that, South Africa. It's done and we are ready to roll. Kagiso Rabada is standing at the top of his mark with the new ball in hand.