Afghanistan U19 Vs South Africa U19 Highlights, World Cup: Afghans Stun Proteas By 28 Runs In Opener

Hey all, welcome to our continued live coverage of the ICC U-19 World Cup. Afghanistan Colts meet South Africa in match 6 of the tournament, and we will bring to you the latest updates from the encounter. Stay with us.

South Africa U19: Jorich Van Schalkwyk, Adnaan Lagadien, Muhammed Bulbulia (wk/c), Jason Rowles, Armaan Manack, Paul James, Daniel Bosman, Bandile Mbatha, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, Buyanda Majola, Corne Botha, JJ Basson, Michael Kruiskamp, Enathi Kitshini, Ntando Soni

Afghanistan U19: Osman Sadat, Khalid Ahmadzai, Faisal Shinozada, Uzairullah Niazai, Mahboob Khan (wk/c), Hafeez Zadran, Abdul Aziz, Khatir Stanikzai, Salam Khan, Roohullah Arab, Azizullah Miakhil, Zaitullah Shaheen, Nazifullah Amiri, Nooristani Omarzai, Wahidullah Zadran

South Africa have won the toss and have opted to field first against Afghanistan.

South Africa U19: Jorich Van Schalkwyk, Adnaan Lagadien, Muhammed Bulbulia (c), Jason Rowles, Armaan Manack, Paul James, Daniel Bosman, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (wk), Corne Botha, JJ Basson, Buyanda Majola

Afghanistan U19: Osman Sadat, Khalid Ahmadzai, Faisal Shinozada, Uzairullah Niazai, Mahboob Khan (wk/c), Azizullah Miakhil, Khatir Stanikzai, Nooristani Omarzai, Abdul Aziz, Wahidullah Zadran, Hafeez Zadran

Left-arm seamer JJ Basson takes the new ball for South Africa. He makes a good start against Afghan openers Osman Sadat and Khalid Ahmadzai, with just one leg bye and one wide coming off the first over.

Buyanda Majola provides the breakthrough for South Africa! It is an excellent delivery, on a length outside the off stump, that draws Osman Sadat's edge and goes straight to the keeper. Afghanistan lose their first wicket in the eighth over and that brings Faisal Khan to the middle.

Khalid Ahmadzai (28 not out off 56) has gone slow but steady along with a bit more busy Faisal Khan (18 not out off 24). The duo is trying to weather the early Proteas storm, knowing that conditions should ease out eventually and they could get a chance to cash in then.

Faisal gets to his half century off 64 balls, and Khalid is also nearing the fifty-run mark. They have taken the Afghans to a position of relative strength and are both well set. Can they up the ante now to put even more pressure on South Africa?

The Faisal-Khalid show continues! Their unbroken partnership is now worth 135 runs, and the run rate has improved to more than five an over as well. The Afghan duo has done really well and with so much batting to come, the Proteas are no doubt on the backfoot.

What a turnaround from South Africa! The magic of quick wickets in full display as the Proteas put the pressure right back on Afghanistan. Bayanda Majola breaks the big Khalid-Faisal partnership and that leads to a middle-order collapse as the Afghans go from 183 for 1 to 186 for 5.

In a crucial concurrent U19 World Cup encounter in Harare, Pakistan are keeping England honest with wickets at regular intervals. The Young Lions are batting at 189 for 7 after 40 overs, with Ahmed Hussain claiming three wickets for the Green Shirts.

Uzairullah Niazai plays an invaluable hand at the death, finishing with an unbeaten 51 off as many balls, as Afghanistan post a 266-run total in 50 overs. South Africa kept chipping away with wickets, and stopped the Afghans from posting what appeared like a 300-plus total at one stage. Let's see how their chase goes.

Right-arm seamer Abdul Aziz takes the new ball for Afghanistan and Adnaan Lagadien, Jorich van Schalkwyk open the batting for the Proteas. Lagadien strokes a classy square drive to the fence off the third ball to signal his intent. He then lifts another wide delivery to sweetly timed six over deep point. South Africa are up and running.

Abdul Aziz bounces back in style to Adnaan Lagadien's lusty hitting, taking out the opener's middle stump with a brilliant delivery that seams back in. That brings South Africa captain Muhammad Bulbulia to the crease, and he along with Jorich van Schalkwyk is looking to keep the Proteas ahead of the DLS par score, with rain seemingly in the air.

Afghanistan are cock a hoop! They have eked out two more wickets, by way of run-outs, exhibiting excellent presence of mind in the field. They are ahead on the DLS par score now and are rushing through the overs, knowing that 20 overs are needed to constitute a full match. Rain and South Africa, no love lost there...

You cannot keep this Afghanistan side down! Just when Armaan Manack (15) and Jason Rowles (44 not out) were looking to take the game away with a crucial partnership, the Afghans strike again. Uzairullah Niazai follows up his fifty and superb run out with a fine running catch, and the Proteas go four down.

Jason Rowles is battling on for South Africa, unbeaten on 77 off as many balls while his partner Paul James (2 not out off 21) is struggling to score. What this means is that Afghanistan are still in control, and an asking rate of 8.13 could prove to be hard to manage if James does not get a move on.

Lethabo Phahlamohlaka is out for 22 and it's a huge blow to South Africa's winning chances as they are now 7 down with both new lower order batters on strike. Afghanistan are well on top in this game now as SA still need 73 runs off just 42 balls.

South Africa lose their last wicket in the form of run-out as Afghanistan win the match by 28 runs. Proteas enter the competition as one of the favourites to reach the top four but a spirited Afghanistan side showed why they are the giant killers as they dismantle SA for 238 to win the opening match of the tournament by 28 runs.

In the other Group B match of the Under 19 World Cup England thump Pakistan by 37 runs. PAK U19 restricted England for 210 in the first innings but in reply, they were skittled by ENG for just 173 thus losing the match by 37 runs. Check out the highlights of the match here.

That's a wrap from our end, we'll meet soon with another blog, until then bye bye.