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Afghanistan’s chase of 316 has taken a major blow, with South Africa’s sharp fielding proving decisive in the early stages. The latest setback came in the 14th over when Sediqullah Atal was run out for 16 off 32 balls, leaving Afghanistan struggling at 50/3.
Atal pushed a delivery toward mid-off and hesitated while attempting a risky single. Kagiso Rabada couldn’t stop the ball cleanly, but the slight deflection caused confusion between the batters. Seizing the opportunity, Marco Jansen reacted swiftly, charging in and unleashing a direct hit to catch Atal short of his crease. The brilliant piece of fielding further dented Afghanistan’s already shaky start.
With Afghanistan now at 57/4 after 17 overs, Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai are tasked with rescuing the innings. However, with the required run rate climbing to 7.39 and South Africa’s bowlers applying relentless pressure, the chase is becoming increasingly daunting.