De Villiers, Morris spur South Africa past Afghanistan in World T20

Columnist Sunday 20/March/2016 19:13 PM
By: Times News Service
De Villiers, Morris spur South Africa past Afghanistan in World T20

AB de Villiers announced himself at the World Twenty20 with a swashbuckling 64 and made Afghanistan pay heavily for dropping him twice as South Africa revived their campaign with a 37-run victory at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Unable to defend a target of 230 runs against England two days ago at the same ground, South Africa chose to bat first after winning the toss and racked up a total of 209 for five in their 20 overs. The plucky Afghans came out all guns blazing in their assault on the target with the diminutive Mohammed Shahzad leading the charge with 44 off 19 balls. Shahzad, who hit five sixes and three fours, tore into paceman Kyle Abbott in the second over and took 22 runs off him as Afghanistan made a strong start. The right-hander took Afghanistan to 47-0 in three overs, reminding South Africa of the onslaught by the English batsmen on Friday, before paceman Chris Morris uprooted his stumps.