ICC2023: Splendid innings by Rassie and a late flourish from allrounder Phehlukwayo see South Africa win the game by five wickets

By Sport Reporter

South Africa earned a valuable win while chasing against Afghanistan in match number 42 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Friday in Ahmedabad. Azmatullah Omarzai’s brilliant unbeaten 97 helped the Afghans post 244/10 in 50 overs.

For SA, Gerald Coetzee claimed a four-fer. In response, SA lost wickets at key moments but got the job done. Opting to bat, Afghanistan were off to a decent start, scoring 41 runs. But the side lost three wickets in three overs and the scoring rate dipped significantly.

South Africa bowled well and tied the Afghans down, who continued to lose wickets and were reduced to 116/6 and then 160/7. Omarzai was solid and showed composure. He shared a couple of vital partnerships. SA saw openers Quinton de Kock and skipper Temba Bavuma added 64 runs before both players departed (66/2).

Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram added 50 runs after that. Afghanistan picked a few wickets, leaving SA at 182/5. However, Dussen went on to thwart the Afghans as his stay ensured a solid win for the Proteas. A rock-solid, unbeaten 76 from Rassie van der Dussen and a late flourish from allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo helped South Africa finish a nervy run-chase to beat Afghanistan by five-wickets with 15 balls to spare in the final World Cup group match for both teams.

A disciplined bowling performance from South Africa restricted Afghanistan to 244 all out and South Africa slipped to 139-4 before Phehlukwayo, having absorbed intense pressure, lashed three sixes and four to finish the match in a hurry with 39 not out from 37 balls. Van der Dussen’s 76 came from 95 balls (6×4, 1×6) as South Africa finished on 247-5 from 47.3 overs to confirm second position on the final group-stage log.

Coetzee claimed 4-44 from his 10 overs while there were two wickets a piece for Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj – Azmatullah Omarzai held the Afghan innings together with a resilient and highly skilful 97 not out from 107 balls with seven fours and three sixes.

The dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the only batter to score at better than a run-a-ball before edging the once-again excellent Maharaj to Heinrich Klaasen at slip and wickets fell at regular intervals thereafter.

Ngidi limped off the field with an Achilles problem after 15 balls but returned after treatment to finish with figures off of 8.3-0-69-2 while Maharaj appeared not to bowl a single loose delivery in a remarkable analysis of 10-1-25-2.

Phehlukwayo, playing his first game of the tournament, bowled tidily in the middle overs to finish with 1-36 from seven overs while the leader of the attack, Kagiso Rabada, went wicketless against a batting unit with that as a clear goal.

South Africa’s target of 245 for victory looked straightforward on an excellent batting surface but, given their recent record of struggling in run-chases, there were clearly some nerves in the middle of it. That they overcame them will be important in the remaining game, or games.

South Africa had already qualified for the semifinals where they will meet Australia at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday.

HOMA CLINCHES NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE

LIFE CHANGING: The American played like a lion to win Africa’s Major at Sun City on Sunday

By Sports Reporter

SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 12: Max Homa of the United States holds the trophy as he celebrates victory after winning the tournament during Day Four of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Gary Player CC on November 12, 2023 in Sun City, South Africa. Picture: Warren Little, Getty Images

WHEN the sun rises in Africa, you want to be the lion rather than the impala. That’s what Max Homa kept telling himself in the final round of a Nedbank Golf Challenge, where he played like a lion to win ‘Africa’s Major’ at Sun City yesterday.

Homa closed with a 66 at the Gary Player Country Club that included a memorable eagle on the ninth to win by four shots on 19-under par. It was the first victory by an American in this tournament since Jim Furyk in 2006, and it capped what Homa described as a life-changing first visit to Africa.

“Back home, I’m fortunate to get a lot of great support,” said Homa.

“I just can’t really get over that I can come across the world to people I’ve never met and they can be this kind and welcoming. I had these kids following me all day and they kept boosting me whenever it got tight and they kept cheering my name.

“I also had the mantra of rather be the lion than the impala in my head and walking up 18 and that ovation was extra special. I just have to give so much credit to this country and the quality of the people.”

Homa started strong and was three under through eight holes. Despite this he still had to withstand a strong charge from Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen, and the key moment came on the iconic par-five ninth hole.

“The shot of the tournament for me was on nine. If you’d told me I was three-under through eight I would’ve thought I’d be leading and I was rather surprised to be tied for the lead with Thorbjorn on the ninth fairway.

“My swing felt good and I wanted to make a statement to myself, so I hit a beautiful three-iron onto that green and made a relatively easy putt. It was a good time to hit a great shot.”

Olesen couldn’t sustain his charge and finished third on 14- under with a 69, while Nicolai Hojgaard pushed through with a 68 to finish second on 15-under par. Justin Thomas came up with a strong final round of 66 to take fourth place on 12-under par, while Hennie du Plessis finished as the leading South African in sixth place on 10-under par and on his debut in this tournament.

But on yet another memorable Sunday afternoon at Sun City, it was Homa who birdied two of his final four holes to add his name to the long list of great champions of this tournament.

Said the 32-year-old: “I walked down that walkway to the ninth green again and I pictured a plaque with my name on it, alongside all the other greats there.

“It’s awesome to add my name to that. This is one of the more memorable weeks I’ve ever had.

“The safari we had last weekend – I just can’t put it into words. Then to come out here and put the cherry on top is fantastic.

“I’m excited to get home and see my son. I left when he had two teeth and now he’s got six.”

As he flies home with a cheque for just over $1 million, that’s the tooth fairy taken care of as well.