Tahir, de Kock give South Africa first World Cup win
Afghanistan collapsed after the rain break to hand the Proteas an easy chase
Afghanistan collapsed after the rain break to hand the Proteas an easy chase
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: Andrew Miller
8.10pm That's it from Andrew Miller, Hemant Brar and Thilak Rama. Don't forget to tune in bright and early tomorrow. I hear there's something brewing up at Old Trafford ...
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8pm So, there's not a lot left to see here. South Africa have a win at last, but I'm afraid to say that whatever is eating Afghanistan is looking pretty terminal. A match-up between two hugely flawed teams today, and it made for some attritional viewing.
Ravi: "With this win, SA are in exactly same position as Pak in 1992 World Cup after 5 matches. 3 losses, 1 NR and 1 win." This is very, very true. And if they can somehow find their way past New Zealand at Edgbaston later this week, they've got, in theory, winnable games against Pakistan and Sri Lanka to come. But they've got to find some inspiration with the bat ... I'm not holding my breath
Faf du Plessis, South Africa's captain, is simply relieved to be up and running. "Today was a good day for us. It was important to get a good start, the wicket was not conducive to spin. Morris and Tahir were fantastic in the middle overs, and Tahir singlehandedly made us a strong team in the last two years with his ability to take wickets in the middle overs."
On the tedious run-chase, he adds: "Quinton plays quite freely but it was important for him to see off the new ball. We needed a 60 or 70-run stand and we could work on the run rate later. It was important for Amla to get among the runs, in the next four games, net run-rate is not going to play a massive role if you win those games. We need Hashim to score runs for us, so he needed a not-out innings today.
Gulbadin Naib, Afghanistan's captain: "We repeated the same mistake again. We did well against the fast bowlers but the batsmen didn't take responsibility in the middle overs. We have a lot of batsmen with Rashid Khan coming at 9. Asghar is a senior player that's why we gave him a chance. Najib is an outstanding batsman, we'll have him in the team in the upcoming matches. We need to play better cricket."
Imran Tahir is Man of the Match for his 4 for 29 "I really enjoyed that, the way it came out, it was more important for me to play my role for the team, nice to have a first victory in our pocket. We were really up for it, we can't control the weather, but we wanted the intensity to stay in the game. All in all a very pleasing performance."
7.57pm And draw breath... the tension nearly killed me there... Amla finishes with 41 not out from 83 balls, a nice leisurely net that ought to set him up for better things. But seriously, I know getting a win at all costs was all that mattered today, but this South Africa side will be roadkill with that attitude for the rest of the tournament ...
Sones: "This win won't help SA. Actually it will have a negative effect on their confidence. Nobody will appreciate them for this approach. "
Anshit : "Wasn't Andile sent to finish things in hurry?" Err ... yeah
Good grief this is desperate. As miserable an experience as covering England's dismal post-elimination victory over Afghanistan at the 2015 World Cup ... and that's saying something!
Lungi Ngidi might return to the XI for the next fixture, against New Zealand on Wednesday
The omission of Najibullah Zadran, their batsman of the tournament, summed up a team that is not giving the best account of themselves
ESPNcricinfo's live updates and analysis of today's World Cup encounter from Cardiff
There will be higher-stakes contests to come, when a little more bluff and nonsense may be required, but two points for the win has at least strengthened SA's hand
Afghanistan collapsed after the rain break to hand the Proteas an easy chase