South Africa v Afghanistan: betting preview, team news, tips & TV details

TV: Sky Sports Cricket, 1.30pm Saturday

Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

South Africa didn’t have high hopes coming into the World Cup but even the most pessimistic of Proteas supporters wouldn’t have expected their fixture against Afghanistan in Cardiff to be a bottom-of-the-table clash.

Defeats to England, Bangladesh and India were followed by a washout against the West Indies, when South Africa were already in trouble at 29-2.

Faf du Plessis says his side have five “cup finals” remaining and any slip-up against the 6-1 Afghans would spell the end of a bitterly disappointing campaign.

Best bets

Afghanistan started the tournament by losing both openers for ducks against Australia and their batsmen are likely to struggle again.

They recovered to make 207 against the Aussies but were bowled out for 152 by Sri Lanka at today’s venue Cardiff and 172 by New Zealand in Taunton.

Should the Afghans bat first and fold cheaply again then the 3-1 that opener Quinton de Kock top-scores for South Africa would look an even more tempting price.

Openers David Warner and Kusal Perera led the way for Australia and Sri Lanka against Afghanistan and De Kock looks a worthy favourite to follow suit.

His stats in this World Cup haven’t been spectacular – his 68 against England was followed by 23 against Bangladesh and ten against India, while he was unbeaten on 17 when the rain came against the Windies.

But De Kock is worth backing, especially considering how few of his fellow batsmen are in form, and he has the ability to take apart weak bowling attacks. In the March series against the Lankans he made 81, 94, 121, 51 and six.

The Afghan seamers are far from the most fearsome in the tournament but their spinners pose a threat as they showed against Sri Lanka in Cardiff.

Mohammad Nabi took 4-30, including three wickets in an over, to spark a Lankan collapse from 144-1 to 201 all out, and he should relish a crack at a Proteas batting unit who have struggled against spin in this tournament.

Bangladesh’s frontline spinners took a combined 2-94 from 20 overs against South Africa while India’s Yuzvendra Chahal took 4-51 at the Hampshire Bowl.

Nabi picked up four wickets in two warm-up matches against Pakistan and England and can add to his tally of 122 scalps in 111 ODI innings against some under-pressure South African batsmen.

Recommendations
Q de Kock top South Africa runscorer
2pts 3-1 Betfred
M Nabi top Afghanistan wicket-taker
1pt 7-2 bet365, Coral

Team news

South Africa
Beuran Hendricks, a replacement for the injured Dale Steyn, was named in the 11 for the washout against the West Indies and should feature again.

Afghanistan
Mohammad Shahzad has left the squad due to a knee injury, although the wicketkeeper and opener insisted he was fit enough to remain at the tournament.

Venue

Sri Lanka (twice) and Afghanistan were bowled out cheaply in the first two games in Cardiff but England posted 386-6 there in the win over Bangladesh and 342-8 against Australia last year.

Cardiff pitches can help the spinners although the new ball should move around if the match starts under overcast skies.

Weather

Heavy rain in the morning should clear by the time the day/night match starts. Sunny intervals, 16C.

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