Afghanistan will be looking to finish their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign on a high when they face a South Africa outfit needing to bounce back from a crushing defeat at the hands of India and return to form ahead of the semi-finals.
Afghanistan have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament, winning four of their seven matches so far. They will be looking to add another victory to their tally against South Africa and finish the tournament in the top four.
South Africa, on the other hand, have been inconsistent throughout the tournament. They have won three matches and lost four. They will need to win their remaining two matches and hope that other results go their way if they want to qualify for the semi-finals.
Key Players to Watch:
- Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): Rashid Khan is one of the best bowlers in the world and will be a key player for Afghanistan against South Africa. He has taken 18 wickets in the tournament so far and is the leading wicket-taker for Afghanistan.
- Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan): Mohammad Nabi is another key player for Afghanistan. He is an all-rounder who can bat and bowl well. He has scored 222 runs and taken 12 wickets in the tournament so far.
- Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): Kagiso Rabada is one of the best fast bowlers in the world and will be a key player for South Africa against Afghanistan. He has taken 15 wickets in the tournament so far and is the leading wicket-taker for South Africa.
- David Miller (South Africa): David Miller is a big hitter of the ball and will be a key player for South Africa against Afghanistan. He has scored 291 runs in the tournament so far and is the leading run-scorer for South Africa.
What to expect from the match?
Afghanistan will be hoping to continue their good form against South Africa. They have a good record against the Proteas, winning three of their last four matches against them.
South Africa, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from their recent defeats. They have a strong team on paper, but they have not been able to perform to their potential in this tournament.
Prediction:
Afghanistan are the favorites to win this match. They have a better team on paper and have been playing better cricket in the tournament so far. However, South Africa are a dangerous team, and they can’t be underestimated. If they play to their potential, they can beat anyone.
Conclusion:
This is a must-win match for both teams. Afghanistan will be looking to finish their tournament on a high and South Africa will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to India. It is expected to be a close match and the team that plays better cricket on the day will win.