Match report
That’s all from us today, thanks for your company and camaraderie, a fine way to spend a Friday afternoon. The weekend has landed and the milky bars OBOs are on me (and Rob, Tanya and Jonathan…)
I’ll be back for the final knockings of the group stages and beyond that the second semi-final next week. Have a lovely evening, goodbye!
Sri Lanka’s membership of the International Cricket Council has been suspended with immediate effect, the governing body announced on Friday afternoon. The decision comes in the wake of government interference in Sri Lanka Cricket’s administration.”
Pretty wild. Read the full story here.
South Africa Captain Temba Bavuma:
On his troublesome hamstring first of all:
Obviously my leg is sore, I don’t know to what extent but it is going to have to be fine, at least in my eyes. I obviously had that option of coming off but it was our last group stage game, and I wanted to be out there with the guys. It was an opportunity to spend some time in the middle and I did not want to let it go. I wanted to keep marshalling the guys, keep strengthening the relationship with our bowlers. It was a risk but I felt it was the right move (to stay on).
Winning is a habit and we wanted to take that momentum through (to the semis) Today we did a few things different, we batted second and to get over the line is going to give us a lot of confidence. It was a fantastic knock by Rassie, he took ownership and the guys batted around him.
Bavuma is then asked if he’s dreaming about a possible first World Cup win for his country…
Yeah, definitely. We would want to play here (in Ahmedabad) again, in front of a full capacity crowd. It will be a different experience playing in front of a hundred thousand fans. BUT Before that, we have Australia. We will enjoy today and from tomorrow, we will start training our minds for that clash.
GULP. Thursday lies in wait for that Aus v SA semi. Fingers crossed for a belter.
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Here come the captains, first up is Afghanistan’s Hashmatullah Shahidi:
As a captain, I am quite happy with our performances. We fought till the last moment in each and every game, we had good matches and take some good learnings for the future too.
I’m proud of the way our batters performed in this tournament, we were struggling before the World Cup. We sat together and talked about our weaknesses - In the end – you saw how our batters did and it is a positive sign for the future.
Everyone knows we have good spinners. If we continue with the same momentum that we had in the batting department in this World Cup, we will do well. We gave a good message to the world. We played big teams and we fought till the last moment, even if we lost.”
Well said that man. Taha and Akhtar Mohammad Makoii have both written corking pieces about Afghanistan cricket in these pages the last few days, do check them out:
Here’s that winning moment:
Phehlukwayo smashes Naveen for 6️⃣ to confirm victory for South Africa 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/mImvrF2XBb
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 10, 2023
Always enjoy Pommie Mbangwa on the commentary – something in the cadence of his voice reminds me of the magnificent Simon Farnaby of Detectorists, Mindhorn, Paddington and Ghosts fame. It’s not the main thing to takeaway from this South Africa win granted, but it is a thing. “Hello there!”
South Africa win by 5 wickets!
Next stop the semi final and Australia for South Africa! Phehlukwayo goes nuclear and smashes Naveen for 6,4,6 to finish the match in style. What were you worried about?
That was a crucial if sedate partnership of 65 between Phehlukwayo and Rassie van der Dussen, another wicket or two would have made it a lot more nervy but calm heads prevailed. Well done South Africa, they’ve been the second best team behind India in the group stages and fully deserve their tilt at the Aussies on Thursday.
A word on Afghanistan who were dogged, skilful and mightily impressive once again. They might not have made the last four but they’ve stolen a lot of hearts over the last few weeks.
as they leave the ground. Photograph: Ajit Solanki/AP
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47th over: South Africa 231-5 (van der Dussen 76, Phehlukwayo 23) Noor comes back for the 47th over but it isn’t the squeezing set of six that Afghanistan wanted with nine runs being plundered from it. Last three overs incoming, 14 from 18 the equation or FIVE quick wickets.
46th over: South Africa 231-5 (van der Dussen 70, Phehlukwayo 21) Naveen bustles in, two singles and then… Phehlukwayo bunts for six! Full ball pumped over mid-off. Just as South Africa were starting to sweat perspire feel the heat. Ten off the over makes it 23 needed off 24.
“Hi James,” Wotcha Ollie de Hoest.
“Enjoying the OBO today (taaaaa) Thankfully for you I have my boots in the office and don’t mind being a ringer for your five-a-side match later. Send me the match details and I promise I’ll do you proud on the pitch. In the meantime, my two cents is South Africa finish this off in the 48th over. Based on absolutely nothing.”
I bet you could do a job Ollie, (I’m seeing you in a Jan Molby mould based on absolutely nothing) especially amongst our number of wheezing rogues, cads and bleary eyed dads. I reckon I might be ok for a 6pm KO so put your dubbin down and your feet up. South Africa might mess this up yet…
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45th over: South Africa 222-5 (van der Dussen 68, Phehlukwayo 13)Righto, stand by your beds. Rashid Khan is going to bowl his final over. A single and four dots to Phehlukwayo who manages to rob the strike off van der Dussen with a single off the last ball. Khan finishes his World Cup campaign with 2-37 off his ten overs.
33 needed from 30… 42 balls and 30 minutes since the last boundary. Fun eh?
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44th over: South Africa 209-5 (van der Dussen 67, Phehlukwayo 12) Naveen pins Phehlukwayo on the back foot and a half hearted pull shot is spilled by Shahidi running and diving backwards! Tricky chance but could be the crucial one and it is grassed. Six from it which makes it a run or ball needed still – 36 from 36. There’s been no blitzin’ or skittlin’ – true enough it is shaping up into that meandering arsenipper mentioned about three hours ago.
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43rd over: South Africa 203-5 (van der Dussen 65, Phehlukwayo 9) Five runs off Mujeeb’s final over, he finishes with 1-51 off his ten overs. Naveen is going to return for a pace injection, spin has really stifled South Africa’s scoring today. 42 needed off 42 balls, the game hinges on a couple of wickets or a couple of big boundaries.
42nd over: South Africa 198-5 (van der Dussen 63, Phehlukwayo 6) Take a bow Mohammad Nabi, he finishes his ten over stint with 2-35, the wickets of de Kock and Miller in his back pocket, fingerspinnin’ good. 47 off 48 needed, I’m saying nothing. Nada. Nowt.
41st over: South Africa 193-5 (van der Dussen 61, Phehlukwayo 3) Mujeeb returns for his ninth over and it is just a single off it. South Africa are determined to take this down to the wire it seems?
40th over: South Africa 192-5 (van der Dussen 60, Phehlukwayo 3) Nabi into his penultimate over – he’s been fantastic today – 2-30 off his nine overs with a maiden thrown in for good measure. South Africa haven’t been able to get on top of him at all, just two singles off the over as we head into the final ten. 53 runs from 60 balls plays five wickets.
39th over: South Africa 190-5 (van der Dussen 59, Phehlukwayo 2) Van der Dussen gets his broom out and sweeps away fine for four. The camera pans to a rueful (but you’d think very proud) Jonathan Trott.
WICKET! Miller c & b Mohammad Nabi 24
Godddim! Miller offers up a tame caught and bowled and has to depart the scene, Afghanistan have just prised the lid off once more, can they fling it across the room and tip the green paint down the drain? Me neither.
Andile Phehlukwayo is the new man, he managed a single before being beaten by a raging spinner off the last. 61 needed from 72 and the tail lurking… Afghanistan continue to impress in this tournament.
“Should Afghanistan win today, THAT Maxwell innings will become all the more painful, right?” You aint wrong Krishnamoorthy V
38th over: South Africa 184-5 (van der Dussen 53, Phehlukwayo 1 )
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37th over: South Africa 182-4 (van der Dussen 53, Miller 24) Noor into his seventh over and again there is no boundary, just four runs from it. South Africa determined to get some time in the middle it seems.
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36th over: South Africa 178-4 (van der Dussen 52, Miller 22) Rashid Khan into his penultimate over and there are just three runs taken from it. Is there a twist in this tale?
35th over: South Africa 175-4 (van der Dussen 52, Miller 19) That’s a nerve settling over for a Proteas point of view – Rahmat Shah comes into the attack and is drilled for SIX down the ground off his second ball, a rooobish full bunger got what it deserved. Rassie then hangs back and clubs a length ball through the on side for four to go to FIFTY. Time for some hydration. Different drinks for different… needs.
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34th over: South Africa 163-4 (van der Dussen 47, Miller 12) Just a single off Mujeeb who is also ticked off and given a warning by the umpire for treading on the danger area with his size tens. 82 needed from 96 – stick a couple of wickets on that…
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33rd over: South Africa 162-4 (van der Dussen 46, Miller 12) Mujeeb keeps it tight, jsut four singles off his eighth over.
OBO regular Brian Withington has penned another ditty, Glenn Maxwell is his muse this time – over to you Bri (Z = Zeeee)
“Once a jolly Aus man played for a cricket team
Went by the name of Glenn Maxwell did he
And he whispered as he watched and waited till the ball was bowled
‘Anything up’s going into row Z’
A piece of dumb luck to get dropped like that early on
Up reached young Mujeeb to grab him with glee
But the ball fell to earth as he tried to put him in the bag
‘What have I done dropping Maxwell, dear me’
Dropping Glen Maxwell, Dropping Glenn Maxwell
What have I done dropping Maxwell, dear me’
Back came the bowlers trying to put the game to bed
Off went the sixes one, two, three
‘How big’s that bat that you’ve taken from your cricket bag?
What can you do with a flighted googly?
What can you do with, what can you do with
What can you do with a flighted googly?’
Off just one leg Maxwell thumped it and the ball went long
“You’ll never catch me alive” said he
And he whispered as he watched and waited till the ball was bowled
‘Anything up’s going into row Z
Anything you pitch up, anything you pitch up
Anything up’s going into row Z”
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32nd over: South Africa 158-4 (van der Dussen 44, Miller 10) Nabi is steered away by the unflappable Rassie van der Dussen for four. He’s been the glue again for South Africa, with 87 runs needed from 108 balls, if he falls now as the set man then we could still be in for a tight finish. As long as it is done by my 6pm kick off guys…
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31st over: South Africa 151-4 (van der Dussen 39, Miller 8) Mujeeb returns and the pressure is released a smidge as he is angled away through point by Miller for a welcome Protean boundary. Six runs in total off the over.
Some big news breaking elsewhere:
Pretty big news: ICC have suspended Sri Lanka over government interference pic.twitter.com/QuYSUJoCal
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) November 10, 2023
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30th over: South Africa 145-4 (van der Dussen 38, Miller 3) Just a single off Rashid’s latest. South Africa now seem to be settling for playing out his spell, that is a risky ploy with a bowler who is always ‘at’ you like Khan is.
“Hi James, managed to get to see Rashid Khan’s dismissal of Klaasen and it looked more like a top spinner in the Shane Warne mode. Anyway, he’s bowling quite superbly and South Africa could be in trouble if he snatches another. Great contest, finely poised. Really enjoying the OBO.”
Y0u could be right Colum Fordham, it skidded on rather than came back. Still, would have sorted us both out right?
"He has been all over South Africa here!"
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 10, 2023
Rashid Khan perfectly bowls Heinrich Klaasen for his second wicket of the day 🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/yanSJzftrv
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29th over: South Africa 144-4 (van der Dussen 37, Miller 3) Noor is proving a decent foil to Rashid Khan. He’s gone for just 30 off his six overs and could easily have pocketed a few wickets too. Just four runs off the over, not the confident bish bashing chase that South Africa would have liked ahead of the semi-final.
28th over: South Africa 140-4 (van der Dussen 36, Miller 0) Brilliant spell this from Rashid Khan, he’s been a joy to watch these last seven overs, not to face though I’d wager. David Miller is the new man for South Africa. Rashid keeps him honest with three dots. The pressure cooker just starts to hiss for the Proteas in Ahmedabad. Australia will be watching this keenly…
WICKET! Klaasen b Rashid Khan 10 (South Africa 139-4)
Bamboozled by the googly! Rashid Khan bowls Klaasen and this game is far from done.
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27th over: South Africa 139-3 (van der Dussen 36, Klaasen 10) Decent spell this from Noor, partnering Rashid Khan ably. Just five runs off the over. Add a couple of wickets onto the score and South Africa will start to sweat.
26th over: South Africa 134-3 (van der Dussen 35, Klaasen 6) Rashid Khan into his sixth over on the bounce. He’s in fine fettle, into his groove and only goes for two off it.
Biomechanical research into six hitting you say Gary? Let me just catch me breath after floundering to keep up with Afghanistan’s spinners and I’ll be right with you – 3,000 word fully footnoted thesis coming up*.
*Actually – dunno. Its all of them isn’t it?
Is there any biomechanical research into what makes a six hit @Jimbo_Cricket? Some clear the boundary with strength, some with long levers, some with timing, some with wrists and some (pace Maxwell) with force of will.
— Gary Naylor 85 (@garynaylor85) November 10, 2023
The height and weight of the batter also seems irrelevant.
25th over: South Africa 132-3 (van der Dussen 34, Klaasen 5) Noor drops short and it is pounced on by Klaasen and smeared away through the leg side for four. Don’t bowl there to this fella.
WICKET! Markram c Naveen-ul-Haq b Rashid Khan 25
Khan snares Markram! A miss-hit pull is easily caught by Naveen – Is there a twist in this chase yet?
My oh my. Rashid Khan finds van der Dussen’s edge twice in two balls – both times the ball flies away wide of the slip for four runs. No luck for Afghanistan but a decent period of pressure. I’m legally required to tell you that the Dangerous Heinrich Klaasen is the new batter.
24th over: South Africa 126-3 (van der Dussen 24, Klaasen 1)
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23rd over: South Africa 116-2 (van der Dussen 24, Markram 25) Noor Ahmad rattles through an over that goes for just two runs. Gimme a break Noor!
22nd over: South Africa 114-2 (van der Dussen 24, Markram 24) Scrabbling to say that it is nine runs off Rashid Khan’s latest – including a moose for six by Rassie van der Dussen. Curse Lou Bega and his ear worm!
21st over: South Africa 105-2 (van der Dussen 16, Markram 23) I’ve got a bit behind due to the fun to be had in the mailbag. Eeejit.
20th over: South Africa 99-2 (van der Dussen 12, Markram 22) The stadium PA plays Lou Bega’s Mambo No 5 which is always good for a big fat shot of nostalgia. Five runs pocketed off Rashid Khan, South Africa steadily chipping away.
19th over: South Africa 94-2 (van der Dussen 11, Markram 19) Noor Ahmad into the attack, Markram greets him with a crunch through point for four from his first ball. Bosh.
18th over: South Africa 85-2 (van der Dussen 8, Markram 12) Rashid Khan keeps a lid on things – just a brace of singles off his second over.
“Hi Jim – Big OBO fan and first time responder here.
We’ll be gentle with you Glenn Walton.
“What are your (and the OBO massive) thoughts on Temba Bavuma as captain? There is an argument for dropping him for Reeza Hendriks for the semi. I rate him as a captain, but I’m one of a minority as it seems the majority of SA fans want him dropped. Or at least my clique of chums. Very, very anxious about Thursday.”
Well, I can’t speak for m’colleagues but I am a big fan of his. I don’t think he is perhaps the most intuitive tactical captain (how many are?) but as a leader and a man I think he is the right man for the moment. Which I actually do mean but made me immediately think of this:
*Warning* – fruity language for a Friday afternoon.
17th over: South Africa 83-2 (van der Dussen 7, Markram 11) The players take a drink in the moments after Aidan Markram gets on the front dog and pumps Mujeeb down the ground for six. Woof.
16th over: South Africa 75-2 (van der Dussen 6, Markram 4) Rashid Khan starts perkily, just a couple off the over and a fizzing googly is not picked by van der Dussen and tamely poked at, the ball looping off the bat and pad for an easy catch… if only there was a fielder there.
“Hi Jim – someone who is out there, eking out a Friday afternoon at work with an eye on the entertaining updates from you and Rob.”
We can only aim to disappoint, Tom Barrington
“Question for you – if you are in Babar’s shoes tomorrow, what’s your game plan? Do you just try and win or go hell for leather to try and put the fractional chance of qualifying on the table?”
I often like to imagine I’m in Babar’s shoes Tom, if only so I could have 0.0000001 chance of ever playing a cover drive like the great man. RE tomozza v Eng I think it is a simple case of bat first and rack up 400 plus and then skittle Jos and co for under 100? Difficult, Difficult, Lemon Difficult?
“Another one (re. the viral ‘back catch’) – what’s the most entertaining catch you’ve seen either playing or in your professional duties?” Hmmm let me muse on this one – over to you OBO hivemind!
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15th over: South Africa 75-2 (van der Dussen 6, Markram 4) Now then, are we going to see a wobble from the Proteas here. Stabilisers at the ready. That’ll help settle a few nerves – Rassie vdD reverse sweeps Mujeeb fine for four. Six off the over and here comes the crunch moment in this match – Rashid Khan is coming on for a bowl.
WICKET! Quinton de Kock lbw b Mohammad Nabi 41 (South Africa 66-2)
Out on review! Nabi skids on onto QDK who missed the reverse-sweep. Afghanistan like the look of it and send it up the apples. OUT! Three reds and South Africa lose their second and its the Quinton de big Kahuna who has to go!
Aidan Markram is the new man at the crease, he scuttles back in his crease to get off the mark with a clip to leg and keeps strike with a scampered single off the last. Game on!
14th over: South Africa 69-2 (van der Dussen 1, Markram 3)
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13th over: South Africa 66-1 (de Kock 41, van der Dussen 1) Mini squeeze from Afghanistan after the wicket of Bavuma – just a couple off Mujeeb’s fourth over.
“Jim, if it’s any subject, where do you stand on the haibun? Is it a pathetic attempt to falsely favour the haiku format, or just an unnecessary indulgence? Try applying it to a cricket topic, eh?”
Move over WG – here’s Doctor JCC:
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12th over: South Africa 64-1 (de Kock 40, van der Dussen 0) Rassie van der Dussen is the new man but can’t get near the strike as Nabi stitches together a maiden to de Kock.
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WICKET! Bavuma c Gurbaz b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 23 (South Africa 64-1)
Bavuma holes out to the man on the square leg boundary! Mujeeb nearly got his man earlier in the over with a ball that nipped back and took the inside edge. On that occasion the ball went for four down to fine leg but off the final ball of the over Bavuma perishes on the pull. A stuttering innings comes to an end, will that dicky hammy be ready for Thursday and the Aussies?
11th over: South Africa 64-1 (de Kock 40)
10th over: South Africa 57-0 (de Kock 39, Bavuma 18) Azmatullah starts a spell. Wonder how much of his frontal cortex is taken up with those three missing runs?
Ah. That might take his mind off it – a slot slower ball delivery is absolutely mullered down the ground for six by QDK!
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9th over: South Africa 49-0 (de Kock 32, Bavuma 17) Shot! Bavuma steps outside off and paddles Mohammad Nabi over the leg-side for a one bounce four. Yeah, better to blitz boundaries than mess about with running in your condition Temba. Eight off the over in total.
“I‘m still out here, Jim.” Glad to hear it Neil Way.
“I’m surprised your suggestion that de Kock was duking it out with Rachin Ravindra for top scorer didn’t generate an inbox bulging with Indian fans pointing out that you might not want to forget who’s currently in third...”
Enlighten me, is someone else in the running? (Even a bit of light trolling is preferable to feeling lonely)
8th over: South Africa 41-0 (de Kock 30, Bavuma 11) Naveen sends down a half-tracker and is slotted over midwicket by de Kock. *Adopts the honeyed tones of feather haired vowel masseuse Mark Nicholas* Sixah!
This is a steady start from South Africa, my 6pm five-a-side football kick off would like a bit of a brisker run rate but I’m nitpicking and making it all about me again aren’t I? Aren’t I? I am.
7th over: South Africa 33-0 (de Kock 23, Bavuma 10) My days! Quinton de Kock is nearly run out after a stuttering in the middle of the pitch results in a direct hit… de Kock fired up the afterburners and just made it home. Bavuma is definitely not in a fit state for quick/daft singles.
6th over: South Africa 31-0 (de Kock 22, Bavuma 9) Lucky lucky lucky. Bavuma attempts a hook to a short ball from Naveen and gets into a real muddle, the ball is onto him too fast and a top edge loops away over the keeper and trickles away for four.
Is there anybody out there? Frasier has finished by now hasn’t it? Drop me a line or a tweet, no topic off limits*, the OBO mailbag is always open.
*Might regret this.
5th over: South Africa 24-0 (de Kock 21, Bavuma 3) Mohammad Nabi into the attack for an early bowl. Close! A teasingly flighted delivery outside off sees QDK throws his hands out wide - a meaty edge flies past slip and away for four. A quarter chance if you are being unkind, it really did travel off the edge.
Here’s a lovely piece. Truth be told I’ve found this World Cup a bit stodgy and interminable but Afghanistan have been a delight. Cockle warming stuff.
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4th over: South Africa 19-0 (de Kock 17, Bavuma 2) Tidy over from Naveen who beats Quinton with a beautiful dip-in-nip-away-er. That isn’t a thing is it? You know what I mean though. Lovely.
In other news, England have announced the women’s squads for the upcoming tour of India. Affable newshound Billy Mac has got you covered - Test debut for Alice Capsey incoming?
England women squads for next month's tour of India for three T20s and a Test. Great that Sophie Ecclestone is on the mend, Alice Capsey in line for a Test debut pic.twitter.com/oJoDYBDzlM
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) November 10, 2023
3rd over: South Africa 15-0 (de Kock 14, Bavuma 1) Ploooop. de Kock saunters down the wicket and pops Mujeeb into the stands with the minimum of fuss – a lovely lofted drive over mid off for six. Bavuma is definitely a bit ginger between the wickets but gets off the mark with a push into the covers.
2nd over: South Africa 6-0 (de Kock 6, Bavuma 0) The irrepressible Naveen shares the new ball. Seam canted (love that word) towards the stumps and some movement found early doors. Bavuma is tied down – be interesting to see how mobile he is between wickets with that dodgy hamstring- just a single off the over.
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1st over: South Africa 5-0 (de Kock 5, Bavuma 0) A dot to start from Mujeeb… but de Kock is into his work second ball with a crash through extra-cover for four! Quinnie is duking it out with 23 year old Kiwi tyro Rachin Ravindra to be the tournament’s top scorer. (FYI My prediction at the start of the tournament 8 years ago was Harry Brook -arf.) A nudged single make it five from the first over.
South Africa could really do with chasing confidently to give themselves some belief as they go into next week’s semi-final against the Aussies (loins well and truly girded for that one). A spluttering second dig here won’t be ideal preparation to vanquish the ghosts of ‘99.
Enter a (potentially crocked) Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock strolling out to the middle. Mujeeb is going to start with the ball, twirling his off-spinners under the lights in Ahmedabad - let’s play!
Thanks Rob, still a real pleasure to share the OBO with the Guardian’s live-blogging Don. Hello everyone, Jim here to pick up the tools for South Africa’s response. Are we in for a meandering arsenipper or a relatively rapid skittlin’ or a’ blitzin’?
I was willing Azmatullah to get over the line there, funny how even an ostensible dead rubber in this ridiculous game of ours can still make you give a fig. Rob’s preamble has had me humming this all morning as I went about my errands in a famous battered old raincoat.
“You’re living for nothing now, I hope you’re keeping some kind of record”
Something to read between innings
This is a really good, warm piece from Jo Harman in the new Wisden Cricket Monthly.
It’s in the post
Spare a thought for Azmatullah Omarzai.. Denied his first ever ODI 100 after finishing on a brilliant 97 not out 👏🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/Se4V6Kbi1w
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 10, 2023
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That’s it from me – I’ll hand over to Jim for South Africa’s ruthless/fraught runchase. See you tomorrow for the sadly irrelevant game between England and Pakistan. Bye!
Afghanistan recovered well from 116/6, and they pilfered 41 runs from the last four overs. This is unlikely to be a comfortable chase for South Africa.
South Africa need 245 to win
50th over: Afghanistan 244 all out (Azmatullah 97*, Naveen run out 2) Naveen does his job by getting off strike again, but Rabada bowls two dot balls to Azmatullah – the second a borderline bouncer.
One delivery remaining, three needed for a century. Azmatullah leathers a straight drive that is blocked with his right foot by Rabada, who has all the time in the world to ruin Naveen out. Ach!
Azmatullah rests on his bat, devastated to miss out on a maiden hundred, but he played the innings of his life: 97 not out from 107 balls with seven fours and three sixes. His strokeplay caught the eye but his shot selection and tempo were equally impressive. If he keeps playing like that, he’ll score his first century sooner rather than later.
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49.2 overs: Afghanistan 243-9 (Azmatullah 97, Naveen 1) Weird cricket from South Africa, who keep the field back and give Naveen a single off the first ball of Rabada’s final over. But Azmatullah can only manage one himself, so Noor is back on strike with four balls remaining. ‘Mon Azmatullah!
49th over: Afghanistan 241-9 (Azmatullah 96, Naveen 0) Azmatullah picks Ngidi’s wide slower ball and launches it back over his head for six. That takes him into the nineties for the first time in his career.
Ngidi tries to give even further outside off stump, but he gets it wrong and bowls three wides in four balls. The other delivery looked close as well.
Azmatullah steals a pair of twos to move to 94 with one delivery remaining. Six for a century or a single to keep strike? Neither: he sprays Ngidi over point and comes back for the second. It was surely the better option – for him and the team – to settle for a single.
“Good to see what you think about the format,” says Jonathan. “I was derided below the line recently for suggesting it didn’t really work. I find it incredibly slow and cumbersome and the calculations to find out who’d qualify on equal points often require a degree in maths. My main criticism is that a full league has no place in a cup competition, as it reduces any jeopardy, which is part of the fun. Make it shorter and snappier!”
While I agree with you – apart from the net run rate stuff, which will apply in any format unless you change to head-to-head records – I was one of the millions who had fond memories of this format from 1992. Maybe the balance of power in world cricket was different then, I’m not sure.
48th over: Afghanistan 224-8 (Azmatullah 84, Naveen 0) Naveen survives the last two balls, so Coetzee ends a good day’s work with career-best figures of 10-1-44-4.
“I think two groups of seven is probably the least worst option, although I wouldn’t have Super Sixes (something like top two in each group go to the semis; or top one go to semis, second and third places play off),” says Andrew Cosgrove. “The problem with four groups of four isn’t so much that India might get knocked out (they wouldn’t), it’s that once you get to 16th placed team in the world, you’re looking at some potentially pretty ugly match-ups. Anyway, who are we kidding, there isn’t going to be another 50-over World Cup.”
WICKET! Afghanistan 224-9 (Mujeeb c Markram b Coetzee 7)
Coetzee bounces out yet another sucker. Mujeeb went deep in his crease, expecting the bouncer, but he could only slug it to mid-on. Fourteen balls remaining.
47th over: Afghanistan 224-8 (Azmatullah 83, Mujeeb 7) Azmatullah drives Ngidi sweetly over mid-off for four to move past his previous ODI best: 73 not out against Sri Lanka a couple of weeks ago.
Mujeeb, who may have some frustration to dispense after the Australia game, top-edges his first ball high over long leg for six. A huge over for Afghanistan – 20 from it – ends with Azmatullah blasting a massive straight six. This is now the highest score of his career in any format, domestic or international. He has played quite brilliantly.
46th over: Afghanistan 204-8 (Azmatullah 70, Mujeeb 0) “The really disappointing thing about Glenn Maxwell is that he appears (like far too many Australian cricketers these days) to be a really decent bloke too, as evidenced by an interview with Kate Cross I saw last night,” says Gary Naylor. “It does take something to warm to a 35 year-old man who chooses to wear a reverse baseball cap indoors, but I did. I hope they win it now to give me licence to go back to how we used to feel about Australian cricketers - much more fun.”
I feel a bit gulity about this because for a decade I assumed Maxwell was a [redacted], having read all that Big Show stuff and not bothered to investigate further. Then I heard a TMS interview over the summer and he could barely have been more likeable. He was smart, eloquent, funny and, best of all, really self-deprecating. Also, he’s so good at cricket that the fastest hundred in World Cup history isn’t even his best innings of the tournament, so he could theoretically be as much of a [redacted] as he liked.
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WICKET! Afghanistan 204-8 (Noor c de Kock b Coetzee 26)
A terrific bouncer from Coetzee is top-edged into the grille by Noor, who is being checked for concussion as I type. He’s going to continue.
Coetzee’s eventual follow-up is an excellent yorker that Noor inside-edges just past leg stump for four – but he gets his man with another excellent short ball. Noor flaps it down the leg side to de Kock, who takes an ODI record-equalling sixth catch of the innings. Noor made a handy 26 from 32 balls.
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45th over: Afghanistan 198-7 (Azmatullah 69, Noor 21) “Returning to today’s game, my viewing has been somewhat hampered by a poorly timed home visit eye test,” writes/dictates Brian Withington. “Of course the Sky coverage was discreetly maintained on the grounds that the scorecard ribbon at the bottom of the screen provides an excellent variety of text and numeral sizes for assessment purposes, although my ability to read/infer the names of the batters and even the small word ‘Overs’ after the current score did not impress the examiner sufficiently to dispense with his usual tools of the trade.
“An hour later and some £350 poorer, I can now look forward to seeing the denouement of the tournament with some Tailor-Made SuperDigital Vari-Focal lenses in Super Flex frames (I kid you not). I wonder if there is a more expensive rose-tinted version that shows England and Afghanistan taking it to a Super Over in a pulsating final?”
You need the Tailor-Made SuperDigital Vari-Focal headset for that. A snip at £999.40.
44th over: Afghanistan 195-7 (Azmatullah 68, Noor 19) Coetzee replaces Phehlukwayo. Bavuma is still limping around in the field, and if he misses the semi-final there will be hell to pay on social media.
Meanwhile, Noor Ahmad is playing very nicely. He cuts Coetzee wide of extra cover for his third boundary – “definitely not the shot of a No9,” says Aaron Finch on commentary – before muscling a top-edged pull short of fine leg.
Six overs remaining. This could yet turn into another hairy chase for South Africa.
43rd over: Afghanistan 188-7 (Azmatullah 67, Noor 13) Azmatullah slugs a Rabada slower ball over midwicket for four more. This is a decent recovery from Afghanistan, who were 116/6 at one point, and they benefit from a moment of fortune when Rabada drops a sharp return catch offered by Noor. He’d usually take that.
42nd over: Afghanistan 182-7 (Azmatullah 62, Noor 12) The league format is great in theory but it hasn’t really worked in the last two World Cups. And it probably wasn’t quite as competitive as we like to remember in 1992, when New Zealand and England qualified for the semi-finals with little trouble. I think they’re going back to a 14-team tournament in 2027, with two groups of seven followed by a Super Six stage. Far too many games but that’s another point. Four groups of four would be good, then into the quarter-finals, but that will never happen.
Meanwhile, Noor Ahmad gets his second boundary with a terrific straight drive off Phehlukwayo. That’s a cracking stroke for a No9.
41st over: Afghanistan 176-7 (Azmatullah 61, Noor 7) Noor mishits Rabada just over Maharaj, running back from cover. They’re not quite out of this, not while Azmatullah is still there.
“I still haven’t recovered from that innings,” says Brian Withington, and he’s not talking about Jonny Bairstow’s 15 against the Netherlands. “I don’t know how he’s coping, but the image of poor Mujeeb dropping that dolly at short fine leg continues to haunt me. I texted immediately to my brothers to say simply ‘Maxwell steals this now’, and then glimpsed explosions of the unbelievable yet inevitable whilst reviewing my ravaged finances with our cricket loving adviser half blocking the screen (who occasionally swivelled round to join in, too). I gather that Glenn (like most assuredly Adam Collins) is a lovely guy, and it was a truly stupendous performance for the ages, but …
“Meanwhile, I’m going for passive global all caps equities trackers for growth and a bonds ladder comprising of UK gilts for income certainty, but might throw in a bit of whatever Glenn’s buying too - is there a Maxwell 200 Index?”
I didn’t understand a word of that last paragraph, with the exception of ‘meanwhile’, but it sounds like a fun idea. Can I guy shares in Travis Head?
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40th over: Afghanistan 173-7 (Azmatullah 60, Noor 5) Noor Ahmad edges Phehlukwayo for four, a shot that gets him off the mark and gives him a new career-best in List A cricket. That’s not as strange as it might sound; this is only his fourth innings in that format.
Azmatullah continues his quietly superb innings with a lofted straight drive for four.
39th over: Afghanistan 162-7 (Azmatullah 55, Noor 0) Maharaj ends another crafty, boundaryless spell with figures of 10-1-25-2.
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REVIEW! Afghanistan 160-7 (Azmatullah not out 53)
Azmatullah sweeps Maharaj firmly towards short fine leg, where Bavuma seems to take a brilliant low catch. The umpires go upstairs to check the catch – and then discover it was a bump ball.
38th over: Afghanistan 160-7 (Azmatullah 53, Noor 0)
WICKET! Afghanistan 160-7 (Rashid c de Kock b Phehlukwayo 14)
Maybe Rashid Khan should just have teed off from ball one. Instead he played himself in, and then fell while switching gears. He tried to swat a short ball from Phehlukwayo and top-edged it to de Kock, who took his fifth catch of the innings. Rashid goes for an unusual 30-ball 14; that’s an important wicket for South Africa.
37th over: Afghanistan 157-6 (Azmatullah 51, Rashid 13) Azmatullah drives Maharaj for a single to reach a stylish, mature fifty from 71 balls. After two more singles, Rashid finally tries a big shot – a slog-sweep that he under-edges onto the back leg. There would have been a big LBW appeal had he missed that.
36th over: Afghanistan 154-6 (Azmatullah 49, Rashid 12) Back comes Phehlukwayo, a bowler Afghanistan may want to target given the alternatives. But for now Rashid is playing with almost exaggerated restraint: after another over of dot balls and low-risk singles he has 12 from 24 balls, the second slowest innings of his ODI career in which he has reeached double figures.
35th over: Afghanistan 150-6 (Azmatullah 47, Rashid 10) Keshav Maharaj hasn’t conceded a boundary in his last two games: 10 overs against India and now eight against Afghanistan. They know he’s the biggest threat and are happy to see him off.
34th over: Afghanistan 149-6 (Azmatullah 47, Rashid 9) Rabada has a big LBW appeal against Rashid Khan turned down. South Africa make the mistake of reviewing the decision, with replays showing the ball was missing leg by a fair distance.
This is a useful partnership, 33 from 6.2 overs. Ideally Afghanistan would want 250 but in the circumstances – and on this pitch – they’d take 220.
33rd over: Afghanistan 146-6 (Azmatullah 46, Rashid 7) Maharaj returns to try to nip this partnership in the bud. Rashid Khan has made an unusually restrained start to his innings, flicks a couple and drives a single to long on. He has 7 from 13 balls, Azmatullah 46 from 63.
32nd over: Afghanistan 143-6 (Azmatullah 46, Rashid 4) Rabada replaces Ngidi, who has figures of 6.3-0-34-2. Azmatullah drives him stylishly for four off the back foot to move to 300 runs for the tournament. He looks a real find.
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31st over: Afghanistan 139-6 (Azmatullah 42, Rashid 4) Coetzee continues to harass the middle of the pitch. One ball is too short and called wide; the rest are milked for four singles.
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30th over: Afghanistan 134-6 (Azmatullah 40, Rashid 2) Ngidi’s first ball after the drinks break is an offer Azmatullah can’t refuse: short, wide and nailed through extra cover. The next shot is even better, a maker’s-name straight drive for four. Azmatullah, who came into this World Cup with just 137 runs from 13 ODIs, has played superbly: 22, 62, 19, 27, 73*, 31*, 22 and now 40*.
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29th over: Afghanistan 124-6 (Azmatullah 31, Rashid 1) Azmatullah stands tall to spank Coetzee past extra cover for four. While he’s at the crease Afghanistan still have hope of making a competitive total, especially as their lower order can also do some damage.
That’s drinks.
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28th over: Afghanistan 116-6 (Azmatullah 25, Rashid 0) “Dear Rob and OBO colleagues,” writes Jāna Jeruma-Grinberga. “This may be a dead rubber to you (OK, it is a dead rubber) but for me it is another bit of salvation from depression. There isn’t any legal (or even slightly less legal) way of watching the WC here in the frozen north, indeed of watching much cricket at all. But following you guys with your endless good humour and knowledgeable comments has really helped to keep me moderately sane during a long period of recovery after an operation. So thank you, and keep the verbal googlies and ramps coming.”
Thanks for such a kind email, even if the thought that the OBO might alleviate anything is a little strange. We all hope you feel better soon, mentally and physically.
WICKET! Afghanistan 116-6 (Nabi c de Kock b Ngidi 2)
Ngidi isn’t happy with the footholes, though it looks like a rhythm problem rather than anything more serious. And he’s still taking wickets. Nabi flirts outside off stump at a back of a length delivery and is taken by de Kock behind the stumps.
The umpire says not out but Bavuma hobbles in for a discussion and takes de Kock’s advice to go upstairs. UltraEdge shows a slight spike at the relevant moment. Quinton de Kock has had a sixth sense for caught behinds at this tournament.
27th over: Afghanistan 113-5 (Azmatullah 24, Nabi 1) Mohammad Nabi’s first ball is a sizzling 93mph yorker that he manages to dig out for a single.
WICKET! Afghanistan 112-5 (Ikram c de Kock b Coetzee 12)
Coetzee replaces Phehlukwayo, a nice, aggressive move from Temba Bavuma that brings a wicket straight away. Coetzee rammed in a bouncer that went for four byes but it had the effect of pushing Ikram back in his crease, and his feet went nowhere as he snicked the next ball to the wicketkeeper de Kock. Good captaincy, good bowling, good times.
26th over: Afghanistan 107-4 (Azmatullah 23, Ikram 12) Now Temba Bavuma is limping. This World Cup is an endurance test, and you could make a strong XI of players who have missed games through injury.
Ngidi beats Ikram with a fine delivery in the corridor, the fourth of five consecutive dot balls. But the sixth is a wide and the seventh is driven imperiously over wide long on for six. For somebody who barely played in the four and a half years between World Cups, Ikram looks a fine player.
“Not to mention Glens Moray, Morangie, Farclas and Scotia,” says John Starbuck. “Did you know you can now get a wide range of Whisky Advent Calendars?”
25th over: Afghanistan 100-4 (Azmatullah 23, Ikram 6) Ikram, another success story in this World Cup, drives Phehlukwayo confidently back over his head for four. Given the position they were in, 45/3 after 11 overs, Afghanistan are doing pretty well.
24th over: Afghanistan 99-4 (Azmatullah 23, Ikram 1) Ikram Alikhil is the new batter. I’m still not sure Ngidi should be out there, but he is and he greets Ikram with a nasty bouncer that takes the glove and flies to safety.
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Stop what you’re doing and watch this right now
Talking of unique catches. (With thanks to Krishnamoorthy V for sending it in.)
Forget Maxwell, cricket peaked somewhere else this week. pic.twitter.com/aVWtYeNheR
— Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) November 10, 2023
WICKET! Afghanistan 94-4 (Rahmat c Miller b Ngidi 26)
Lungi Ngidi is back on the field and into the attack – but he’s still struggling. Apparently it’s a problem with his achilles rather than the ankle, so goodness knows why he’s making it worse.
To take wickets, that’s why. Rahmat slashes a cut to backward point, where Miller takes a brilliant and unique catch at the third or fourth attempt. He dropped the ball, then headbutted it, but he was alert and agile enough to clasp it with his left hand.
23rd over: Afghanistan 93-3 (Rahmat 26, Azmatullah 22) Phehlukwayo misses a run-out chance after a classic mix-up. Azmatullah drove him over mid-off for two, turned for a third and then sent Rahmat back.
Phehlukwayo collected the throw from the outfield a couple of yards from the stumps, with almost too much time to run Rahmat out. He did a dummy throw, almost like a man with dartitis, and then flicked the ball wide of the stumps. In hindsight he could probably have run to take the bails off, or maybe tried a Jonty Rhodes. Not so easy from a standing start I guess.
“It is inevitable that we will come back to THAT Maxwell innings time and again,” says Krishnamoorthy V. “A viral WA forward doing the rounds captured it beautifully. You have to respect a Glenn; be it a Fiddich, a Livet, or a Maxwell.”
It’s a clever line, but the pedant in me is screaming that there’s only one ‘n’ in Glenfiddich and Glenlivet, and indeed Glengarry Glen Ross which could also have been on the list. I didn’t choose to be born this way.
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22nd over: Afghanistan 89-3 (Rahmat 25, Azmatullah 19) A short ball from Markram is cut to the cover boundary by Rahmat. He has played increasingly well in this tournament and is arguably, as a level-headed No3 who has managed runchases expertly, the best advert of all for Jonathan Trott’s coaching.
21st over: Afghanistan 82-3 (Rahmat 19, Azmatullah 18) Andile Phehlukwayo, who until now has been the Vince Wells of South Africa’s squad, comes on for his first bowl of the tournament. His first over is milked for four.
This partnership has been fairly slow – 37 in 10.1 overs – but it’s exactly what Afghanistan need. A more attacking team would give Rabada or Coetzee a burst in pursuit of wickets.
20th over: Afghanistan 78-3 (Rahmat 18, Azmatullah 15) That’s a lovely stroke from Azmatullah, a languid drive down the ground for six when Markram ovepitches. He had has a terrific tournament: 271 runs at 54, with a strike rate of 96, and seven wickets. He should be a threat under lights tonight.
19th over: Afghanistan 70-3 (Rahmat 17, Azmatullah 8)
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18th over: Afghanistan 68-3 (Rahmat 16, Azmatullah 7) Four singles from Markram’s second (full) over. We’re into the boring middle overs, in a dead game, on a Friday. On the plus side, there’s a new episode of Frasier to watch. When an old flame visits Daphne, the Crane household is turned upside down!
17th over: Afghanistan 64-3 (Rahmat 14, Azmatullah 5) Azmatullhan is beaten by a jaffa from Maharaj that turns and bounces. Afghanistan are taking no risks at all against him, just picking up the occasional single.
Maharaj bowled his 10 overs on the spin against India, which in hindsight was a mistake. The context is different here but it will be interesting to see whether Temba Bavuma does anything differently. Ideally you’d want to him to bowl two or three spells in the semi-final.
16th over: Afghanistan 62-3 (Rahmat 13, Azmatullah 4) Aiden Markram comes on to bowl his first full over, and Rahmat Shah rocks back to drive his first ball stylishly for four. That’s the first boundary since the 8th over.
There’s a bit turn for Markram, but it’s slow and you’d expect Afghanistan to target him. If Ngidi stays off the field he’ll probably have to bowl another six overs.
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15th over: Afghanistan 56-3 (Rahmat 8, Azmatullah 3) Three singles from Maharaj’s fourth over. Afghanistan would probably take a score of 250, especially as the pitch is already doing a bit for Maharaj, so it makes sense for Rahmat and Azmatullah to sit in for a while.
“Following your coverage from Suva (Fiji) and you are doing your best for to us to change channels on this match,” says Brendan Favot. That’s a compliment, right? “As an Aussie I am still abuzz with Maxie’s innings and can’t wait until Thursday’s game against the Saffers!”
As a neutral, I feel the same. There are so many layers to it: recent history, distant history, the toss, the tesosterone, the league game, the contrasting batting approaches, Klaasen v Zampa, Head v Coetzee (if he plays), and on and on.
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14th over: Afghanistan 53-3 (Rahmat 6, Azmatullah 2) Coetzee is bowling with the intensity of a man who wants to give the selectors an easy decision ahead of the semi-final. Another quiet over gives him figures of 4-1-14-1, and that’s drinks.
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13th over: Afghanistan 51-3 (Rahmat 5, Azmatullah 1) Aaron Finch, an excellent addition to the commentary team at this World Cup, praises Maharaj’s “unbelievable control of length”. Legspinners will always be the most exciting slow bowlers but there is something uniquely enjoyable about watching a flighty left-armer bowling with swagger, mischief and an unspoken sense of superiority.
Maharaj is teasing the batters with his changes in flight, pace and line – but not length, never length. Three singles and a wide from the over.
12th over: Afghanistan 46-3 (Rahmat 2, Azmatullah 0) “Good morning Rob,” says Krishnamoorthy V. “I understand your ennui in covering dead rubbers. This must feel like watching Waiting for Godot, in a foreign language with Jose Mourinho.”
I was only joking (though it is a good episode of Frasier). I enjoy games like this: they allow a few digressions and end-of-term reflections. And, well, I’m lucky as hell to do this job.
11th over: Afghanistan 45-3 (Rahmat 1, Azmatullah 0) Maharaj has started immaculately: 2-1-4-2. The pitch is helping a little but he is bowling with such confidence and accuracy.
“You could teach an entire moral philosophy seminar from what happened in the Australia Afghanistan match,” writes Robert Wilson. “All sport is a moral and emotional zero sum game. Someone wins because someone loses. But cricket is even worse than that. Maxwell’s preposterous Roy-of-the-Rovers double-ton was profoundly unwhimsical.
“Yes, it briefly made you feel like a 12-year-old boy (or girl) again, living in a world that is nothing but seamless possibility. Yes, it reduced the impeccably virile Adam Collins to bromantic tears. But it also throttled the nailed-on certainty of one of the most delightful and prodigious underdog stories in the history of organised sport - the impossibly likeable Afghan team cantering to the semis with all the sweat and panic of one of Alastair Cook’s quieter afternoons.
“For the neutral, it was ethically and sympathetically horrifying. Everybody lost. And everybody won. Simultaneously. I’m the wrong generation to know for sure but I think I might have been triggered.”
Beautifully put. It was made even more complicated by the fact that Maxwell is one of the most likeable players in world cricket. The whole story was almost too nuanced to function.
WICKET! Afghanistan 45-3 (Hashmatullah c de Kock b Maharaj 2)
Three wickets in three overs for South Africa. Hashmat tries to cut a quicker ball from Maharaj and toe-ends it to de Kock. Afghanistan are in a bit of bother. The camera cuts to their coach Jonathan Trott, whose slightly confused expression does not move – not even a blink – for about five seconds. That was very odd, as if somebody has pressed pause on his facial features.
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10th over: Afghanistan 41-2 (Rahmat 0, Hashmatullah 0) On Sky, Nasser points out that nine of Coetzee’s 15 wickets at this World Cup have come from short balls – more than any other bowler. If he plays the semi-final, and I think he will unless it’s a really dry pitch, there’s going to be a river of testosterone out there.
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WICKET! Afghanistan 41-2 (Ibrahim c de Kock b Coetzee 15)
Ibrahim is okay to continue – but only for one ball. He gloves a short ball from Coetzee down the leg side and limps off the field as Coetzee yells with the kind of angry joy that is unique to sport.
What a memorable tournament Ibrahim has had: 376 runs at 47 with a strike rate of 76.
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9.1 overs: Afghanistan 41-1 (Ibrahim 15, Rahmat 0) Ibrahim inside-edges a very full ball from Coetzee onto his pad, then follows through to whack his toe with the bat. There’s a break in play while he receives treatment.
9th over: Afghanistan 41-1 (Ibrahim 15, Rahmat 0) Maharaj starts with a wicket maiden. He has such good rhythm right now and will be a key man in the semi-final.
Gurbaz finishes a slightly frustrating tournament with 280 runs at 31, with a commendable strike-rate of 99. He’d have liked to convert more starts, though we shouldn’t forget that his pulsating 57-ball 80 against England kickstarted Afghanistan’s success.
WICKET! Afghanistan 41-1 (Gurbaz b Maharaj 25)
Gurbaz was looking good. Alas, he has fallen to Keshav Maharaj’s first ball. He pushed forward tentatively at a ball that straightened sharply to take the edge, and Klaasen flew to his right at slip to take a fine catch. Gurbaz goes for 25 from 22 balls.
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8th over: Afghanistan 41-0 (Gurbaz 25, Ibrahim 15) A change of boot doesn’t do much for Coetzee. Two disgusting short balls and pulled and cut for four by Gurbaz, who flicks three more past mid-on. He’s looking good.
7.1 overs: Afghanistan 30-0 (Gurbaz 14, Ibrahim 15) The new bowler Gerald Coetzee has a problem with his boot, so there will be a bit of a delay. “You can’t be timed out for that, can you?” says Nasser Hussain on commentary.
“Morning Rob, it’s a shame isn’t it, there was a genuine ‘sliding doors’ moment in their last game where they go on to complete a comfortable pummelling of the Aussies and this becomes a BIG game,” says Mark Beadle. “Ah well. Hopefully they put in another good performance. I know it’s difficult to carry momentum from one tournament to another (hi England!), but a bunch of these guys will be at the next one so I think they’ll want to do well here.”
Definitely. The history of cricket – mainly in Tests, admittedly – is full of landmark victories for emerging nations that empower the next generation to achieve even greater things. It hasn’t happened often at World Cups, though. Sri Lanka jumped from easybeats in 1992 to winners in 1996, Zimbabwe didn’t build on 1999 for all kinds of reasons and Bangladesh are about as competitive as they were in 2007. It’s not just that Afghanistan have won four games, including three against teams above them in the rankings, that makes this feel like a breakthrough; it’s the mature way they have done so, particularly with the bat.
What’s frustrating about the Australia game, from a neutral perspective, is that at one stage Afghanistan were on course for a 150-run victory. That would have jeopardised Australia and made the net run rate picture far more interesting. Ah well, you can’t have a group stage as brilliant as 1987 every time. Or, indeed, ever again.
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6th over: Afghanistan 30-0 (Gurbaz 14, Ibrahim 15) Rabada’s first ball is a sharp, meaningful bouncer that forces Gurbaz to take evasive action. You see what happens, Larry, when you hit KG Rabada for six?
The next ball cuts Gurbaz in half. But after eight consecutive dot balls from Rabada, Gurbaz drives handsomely wide of mid-off for four.
“Good morning,” says John Starbuck. “Yes, there are some of us following the OBO but some of us haven’t got to fully functioning state. I’ve neither had breakfast , taken the morning pills, nor brushed me tegs yet. Probably all in about five overs’ time.”
6th over: Afghanistan 25-0 (Gurbaz 9, Ibrahim 15) This isn’t good: after three balls of his third over, Lungi Ngidi is leaving the field. He’s walking freely enough but it looks like an ankle problem so he may be a doubt for the humongous one on Thursday.
Aiden Markram finishes the over with his occasional offspin. Three balls, three dots. South Africa have no other bowling options so he’ll probably have to bowl seven more overs. You can’t imagine they will take a risk Ngidi given how relatively meaningless this game is.
Talking of which, there’s a decent episode of Frasier on Channel 4 right now. Frasier struggles to come up with a clever catchphrase for his show, while Daphne tries to avoid returning to England to visit her family.
5th over: Afghanistan 24-0 (Gurbaz 9, Ibrahim 15) Gurbaz, who faced only five deliveries in the first four overs, makes up for lost balls by dragging Rabada over wide long-on for six.
In doing so, he pokes the bear. Rabada has successive LBW turned down – one slightly high, one going down – and then beats the outside edge with a good delivery.
Given the paramount importance of breaking dismissing David Warner and/or Travis Head as early as possible, I’d be tempted to give Rabada the new ball ahead of Ngidi in the semi-final. Marco Jansen has to take it given his record against left-handers.
“I’m out here, Rob,” says Neil Way. “While also working, should my employers happen to read this. Speaking of which, did you run that preamble past your editors?”
Nah, they have better things to do than read a live blog of a meaningless game. So have you!
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4th over: Afghanistan 18-0 (Gurbaz 3, Ibrahim 15) Rabada and Ngidi are hammering a good length. Ngidi, in particular, would appreciate a quiet new-ball spell after being taken to the cleaners by Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.
Inevitably, the moment I type that, Ngidi drops short and is flayed through point by Ibrahim.
“Hello Rob,” writes Matthew Doherty. “I am viewing your output. Is there a player in the match that could count as a pantomime villain?”
Not really. Or, at least, not yet: it’s never too late to time somebody out.
3rd over: Afghanistan 13-0 (Gurbaz 2, Ibrahim 11) Ibrahim is dropped, a sharp one-handed chance to the diving Maharaj in the covers off Rabada. He tried another cover drive on the up but sliced it to the right of Maharaj, who is visibly annoyed that he couldn’t hold on. It wasn’t easy but he’d probably take that catch seven or eight times out of 10.
2nd over: Afghanistan 12-0 (Gurbaz 1, Ibrahim 11) Lungi Ngidi went off with a muscle strain against India, which led to a bit of concern that he might miss the semi-final against Australia, but he’s fit to share the new ball.
Ibrahim waves another cover drive for four, a high-class stroke from a perfectly acceptable delivery. He’s 21 yearas old, he has an ODI average of 54 and he will forever be Afghanistan’s first World Cup centurion. Sometimes, life is good.
A clip for two takes Ibrahim into double figures for the ninth time in nine innings. Nobody aged 21 and under has ever scored as many runs at a World Cup: 372 at an average of 53.
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1st over: Afghanistan 6-0 (Gurbaz 1, Ibrahim 5) With Marco Jansen rested, KG Rabada – playing his 100th ODI – takes the first over. And it’s a pretty good one. His first ball kicks from a length to beat Gurbaz, who then mishits a drive just over Bavuma at mid-off.
Ibrahim, fresh from an historic hundred against Australia, makes a more assured start, timing his first ball through the covers for four.
For the last time at the 2023 World Cup, Afghanistan’s opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran walk to the crease. They’ve added 415 runs in this tournament, which puts them behind only two other partnerships: Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen of South Africa, and Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand.
Urgent pre-match business
Make your vote count! (Ideally after listening to the podcast, but it’s not a dealbreaker.)
Voting is open for our 1999 Cricket World Cup draft. These are the teams, starting with @JonathanHungin. pic.twitter.com/cPslcVWtIT
— Nessun Dorma Podcast (@nessundormapod) November 8, 2023
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Pre-match reading
This is a really excellent piece from Taha Hashim on Afghanistan’s tournament.
Team news
Afghanistan are unchanged. South Africa make two changes: Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi are replaced by Andile Phehlukwayo and Gerald Coetzee, though Temba Bavuma stresses they have been rested rather than dropped.
Afghanistan Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq.
South Africa de Kock, Bavuma, van der Dussen, Markram, Klaasen, Miller, Phehlukwayo, Coetzee, Maharaj, Rabada, Ngidi.
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Afghanistan win the toss and bat
The captain Hashmatullah Shahidi thinks the pitch will spin the second innings, so this could be a very interesting test of South Africa’s ability to chase.
“We haven’t done it well,” says their captain Temba Bavuma, “so we have another opportunity to learn in terms of a blueprint, and take confidence from doing so.”
Preamble
We’re all friends here, so let us speak frankly. Go. Bugger off. Do something else. Watch repeats of Frasier on Channel 4. This game between South Africa and Afghanistan, which promised so much, is essentially meaningless.
Glenn Maxwell’s mind-blowing double hundred and New Zealand’s long, soothing, ooh-I-didn’t-realise-I-had-so-much-tension-there net run rate massage against Sri Lanka mean that Afghanistan can no longer qualify for the semi-finals. Had they beaten Australia, a win here would have put them through. But they didn’t, and it won’t, so what are we going to do?
Celebrate Afghanistan, for a start. They may not have made the semis but they are one of the teams of the tournament, and this is their last match of a campaign which, all things being equal, will be recognised historically as their big breakthrough.
It’s a pretty important game for South Africa, a de facto warm-up for Thursday’s humongous semi-final against Australia, and a chance to replenish their morale after they were demolished by India last weekend.
With that in mind, what should Temba Bavuma do if he wins the toss? Bat first and try to resume normal servie by scoring 350+? Or bowl first to give South Africa more practice at chasing, thereby also increasing the risk of a damaging defeat?
We’ll find out soon enough. The match starts at 8.30am GMT, 2pm in Ahmedabad.
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