An unbeaten half-century from Rassie van der Dussen and a 64-run partnership for the opening wicket between Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma helped South Africa defeat Afghanistan by five wickets in their last league match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Ahmedabad on Friday. Chasing 245 for victory, the Proteas, who have already qualified for the semifinals, completed the task in 47.3 overs. They now have 14 points and continue to occupy the second spot behind India, who are on 16 points. (As It Happened | Photos | Scorecard)
De Kock (41) and Bavuma (23) gave the Proteas the early push before Van der Dussen scored an unbeaten 76 off 95 balls to guide the team home. Earlier, Azmatullah Omarzai hit a gritty unbeaten 97 as Afghanistan posted a challenging total of 244 all out in 50 overs. The South African bowlers dominated the proceedings with Gerald Coetzee grabbing four wickets for 44 runs. Lungi Ngidi (2/69) and spinner Keshav Maharaj (2/25) took two wickets each. The opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran had earlier given Afghanistan a decent start with a 41-run partnership.
With that, here's a look at all the key stats and figures from Afghanistan vs South Africa, ODI Cricket World Cup match played at Narendra Modi Stadium:
- Afghanistan were dismissed for 244 in this game to provide the 345th occasion of a team getting all out in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the 15th occasion of Afghanistan getting all out in the World Cup. This was the 193rd occasion of a team getting all out in the World Cup batting first. It also provided the eighth occasion of Afghanistan getting all out in the World Cup batting first.
- Afghanistan were dismissed for 244 in this game to provide the 20th occasion of a team getting all out on the last ball of an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the second occasion of Afghanistan getting all out in the World Cup.
- Azmatullah Omarzai scored 97 not out in this game to provide the 74th occasion of a batter scoring a ninety in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the second occasion of an Afghanistan batsman scoring a ninety in the World Cup.
- Azmatullah Omarzai's knock presented the 16th occasion of a batter scoring an unbeaten ninety in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the first occasion of an Afghanistan batter scoring an unbeaten ninety in the World Cup.
- Quinton de Kock was involved in six dismissals in the Afghanistan innings to provide the third occasion of a wicketkeeper effecting six dismissals in an innings in the World Cup. Adam Gilchrist of Australia and Sarfaraz Ahmed of Pakistan have previously achieved this feat against Namibia (in Potchefstroom on February 27, 2003) and South Africa (in Auckland on March 7, 2015), respectively. It is interesting to note that all three wicketkeepers have their six dismissals all caught.
Gerald Coetzee of South Africa captured four for 44 in this game to provide the 242nd occasion of a bowler capturing four or more wickets in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the 21st occasion of a South African bowler taking four or more wickets in the World Cup.
Gerald Coetzee's figures provided the 172nd occasion of a bowler capturing four wickets in an innings in the World Cup. It also provides the 14th occasion of a South African bowler taking four wickets in the World Cup.
It's the fourth 4/44 in the World Cup:
| Player | Figures | Team | Vs | Ground | Date |
| Sarfraz Nawaz | 12-1-4-44 | PAK | WI | Birmingham | 11-Jun-75 |
| Andre Adams | 9.4-1-4-44 | NZ | WI | Gqeberha | 13-Feb-03 |
| Trent Boult | 10-3-4-44 | NZ | WI | Wellington | 21-Mar-15 |
| Gerald Coetzee | 10-1-4-44 | RSA | AFG | Ahmedabad | 10-Nov-23 |
Gerald Coetzee's figures also provided the 38th occasion of a bowler capturing 4/44 in One-Day Internationals and also the fourth occasion of a South African bowler taking 4/44 in ODIs.
| Player | Figures | Vs | Ground | Date |
| Albie Morkel | 8.3-0-4-44 | PAK | Lahore | 29-Oct-07 |
| Dale Steyn | 7.5-1-4-44 | AUS | Gqeberha | 13-Apr-09 |
| Andile Phehlukwayo | 10-1-4-44 | AUS | Centurion | 30-Sep-16 |
| Gerald Coetzee | 10-1-4-44 | AFG | Ahmedabad | 10-Nov-23 |
Azmatullah Omarzai’s 97 not out in this game was in a losing cause to provide the 22nd occasion of a batter's ninety in the World Cup going in vain. It also provided the first occasion of an Afghanistan batter's ninety in the World Cup going in vain.
Quinton de Kock’s 41 in this game fetched him an aggregate of 1041 runs in the World Cup. He became the 27th batter in the history of the World Cup to aggregate 1000-plus runs. He also became the fourth South African to accomplish such a feat.
Quinton de Kock became the fourth wicketkeeper-batter in the history of the World Cup to aggregate 1000-plus runs. He is now the first South African wicketkeeper-batter to accomplish such a feat. He is the second wicketkeeper-opening batter in the history of the World Cup to aggregate 1000-plus runs.
Q de Kock is the seventh opening batter in the history of the World Cup to aggregate 1000-plus runs. He is the first South African opening batter to accomplish such a feat.
Afghanistan suffered their 19th loss in the World Cup while South Africa posted their 45th win in the World Cup.
Stats courtesy: HR Gopala Krishna – Veteran cricket statistician
