Match 42 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will be hosted by the biggest cricket stadium of India, Ahmedabad. South Africa and Afghanistan will clash in this encounter. The Match happens on 10th November 2023. Following is the Afghanistan vs South Africa Preview of Match 42 of World Cup 2023.
Afghanistan vs South Africa Today Match Preview
This is a must-win game for Afghanistan. They have worked so hard in this event and they are one win away from the semi-final spot. But, things aren’t this simple. Afghanistan needs to win and win by a massive margin in this game to go above New Zealand in terms of the net run rate. If they win a narrow game, then despite having equal points as New Zealand, they will still not qualify due to a lesser net run rate.
South Africa on the other hand can do two things. They can test their bench or gain some more momentum before going into the semi-finals. Win or lose doesn’t matter for the Proteas. They have already qualified and this game is just a preparatory one before the semi-final. Their semi-final is locked with Australia already and there cannot be any change in that.
Ahmedabad’s surface behaves well for the batters. Batting first and posting a big total on the board is the strategy here. South Africa has an explosive batting unit and they can create a lot of problems for the Afghan bowlers. Afghanistan on the other hand will have to do extremely well in order to restrict the South African batters or bat first and post 300+.
South Africa Expected Lineup
South Africa can rotate their players. Coetzee is likely to come in while Shamsi will be on the bench. Meanwhile, Andile Phehlukwayo can get a game replacing Jansen.
Probable XI: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma (C), 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 David Miller, 6 Heinrich Klaasen, 7 Marco Jansen/Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Kagiso Rabada, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Gerald Coetzee
Afghanistan Likely Lineup
Afghanistan is likely to leave out Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi will come in to replace him.
Probable XI: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), 5 Azmatullah Omarzai, 6 Ikram Alikhil (wk), 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi
Head to Head Record
In the World Cup, both these sides have played only once with South Africa winning that sole encounter. They have never played outside the World Cup.
Players to Watch Out For
Ibrahim Zadran became the first Afghan batter to score a World Cup hundred in the game against Australia. He will be key for Afghanistan once again. Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah are also in good rhythm and they need to bring their A-Game against South Africa.
Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq and Azmatullah Omarzai took 2 wickets each against Australia and bowled really well. All 3 of them will be crucial in this encounter as well.
For South Africa, Quinton de Kock has over 600 runs in his last 6 ODI innings. They will rely on him once again. Apart from de Kock, Klaasen and Markram are also in good batting form and if they get going, it will be curtains for Afghanistan.
Keshav Maharaj is in good bowling form and so is Jansen. If Jansen isn’t rested, then he will be someone to watch-out for. Meanwhile, Maharaj has been gripping the ball well, and playing him won’t be easy for the Afghan batters.
Afghanistan vs South Africa Toss Prediction
The Toss is likely to go Afghanistan’s way and they will opt to bat first.
South Africa vs Afghanistan Win Prediction
South Africa is the 70 percent favorite side to win this contest.
