In the forthcoming clash at Bengaluru, South Africa is set to encounter Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup. This showdown marks the 42nd ODI of the ongoing Cricket World Cup in 2023, unfolding at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. The Proteas aim to solidify their stance as the second-ranked team in the concluding league fixture, presently holding the second position with 12 points. This positions them just behind India, boasting 16 points, and ahead of Australia with 12 points and a lower net run rate. Simultaneously, Afghanistan resides in the sixth spot with eight points, requiring a victory over South Africa by a margin of no less than 438 runs. The team securing the fourth position will square off against India in the initial semi-final, while the second semi-final is slated between Australia and South Africa.
In South Africa’s lineup, Andile Phehlukwayo stands as the sole player yet to partake in a single match during this World Cup. A reminiscent scenario unfolded in the 2015 World Cup with Aaron Phangiso remaining on the bench throughout the tournament. The order of play, whether batting or bowling first, is inconsequential to their strategy, thanks to the formidable top and middle order. The Proteas boast a top-notch ensemble in both their pace and spin bowling departments, featuring some of the premier talents in international cricket.
Conversely, Fazalhaq Farooqi is anticipated to secure a spot in Afghanistan’s playing XI. On the flip side, Mujeeb Ur Rahman might find himself on the bench after a crucial drop of Glenn Maxwell on 33 during Tuesday’s encounter. While not flashy, the Afghans have substantiated their prowess through consistency and collective teamwork.
Head-to-head statistics in ODIs reveal a single encounter between South Africa and Afghanistan, with the former emerging victorious. Examining their history in ODI World Cups, the two teams locked horns in 2019, with South Africa prevailing. Assessing recent form, South Africa displays a sequence of wins and losses, denoted as L-W-W-W-W, whereas Afghanistan exhibits a pattern of wins and losses, denoted as L-W-W-W-L.
A fascinating tidbit lies in the fact that since their solitary ODI encounter in the 2019 World Cup, Afghanistan has secured victory in 43.90 percent of their matches in this format, while South Africa boasts a triumph rate of 56.86 percent in their ODI outings.