South Africa seek to big win against Afghanistan

Mumbai: South Africa will be gunning to get their bid for a first international trophy back on track when they take on Afghanistan Sunday after a dramatic last-over loss to England.

The Proteas are desperate to shed their chokers' tag but on Friday they showed scant evidence of the mettle required to win a major tournament as England successfully chased their imposing total.

South Africa looked in the driving seat after posting 229-4 but slack bowling and a commanding 83 by Joe Root helped England set the record for the highest run-chase in World Twenty20 history.

Faf du Plessis's side gave away 26 extras, while fast bowler Dale Steyn conceded 23 runs in just the second over, as Eoin Morgan's England reached 230-8 with only two balls to spare at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.

JP Duminy and Quinton de Kock also made half-centuries as the Proteas' top-order batsmen did their jobs.

Afghanistan, the only non-Test side left in the competition, will be looking to be no pushovers during Sunday's clash.

Skipper Asghar Stanikzai's team, who have to play all their matches away from their war-torn home, defied the odds to cruise through the preliminary round before losing by six wickets to Sri Lanka.

Destructive opener Mohammad Shahzad is their best chance of doing some damage to South Africa's fragile bowling attack when they meet in the day match at the Wankhede.

South Africa have never won a world cup in T20 and 50-over cricket but were one of the favourites coming into this tournament due to their formidable batting line-up and third spot in the world rankings.

Since their readmission in 1991 after the apartheid-era ban, the Proteas have been the nearly men of world tournament cricket, falling agonisingly short of finals on several occasions.

All-rounder Duminy 31, admitted Friday's Super 10 Group One defeat meant South Africa were now under the cosh.

Teams from

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, David Miller, Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien,  Imran Tahir, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn and David Wiese

Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (captain), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Noor Ali Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari, Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Karim Sadiq, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Shafiqullah Shafiq, Shapoor Zadran and Usman Ghani

Match facts
Sunday March 20, 2016 (day/night)
Start time 1500 local (0930 GMT)