World Cup: Afghanistan loses four wickets for one run

Imran Tahir and Andile Phehlukwayo ran through the Afghanistan middle order in an eventful 10-ball period.

Imran Tahir took the wicket of Afghanistan opener Noor Ali Zadran in his first ball of the match.

Afghanistan lost four wickets for just one run in ten balls against South Africa at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff in match 21 of the 2019 ICC World Cup. The Asian side slumped to 70/6 from 69/2 as soon as the match restarted after a second rain delay. It was Imran Tahir and Andile Phehlukwayo who took two wickets each to cause the downfall.

The match, which was reduced to 48-overs-a-side after a stoppage which lasted more than an hour, saw Afghanistan lose its third wicket off just the fourth ball after the restart.

Hashmatullah Shahidi, who was the first of the four to take the long walk back to the pavilion, was caught by Faf du Plessis at slip off Phehlukwayo. Tahir found himself among wickets off his very first ball of the match when a googly took care of Noor Ali Zadran who looked to be in fine touch for most of the match.

Former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan was then caught and bowled by Tahir in the same over. Phehlukwayo finally bowled out experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi via an inside edge to reduce the Asian side to 70/6.

Afghanistan was all-out for 125 in 34.1 overs when Morris took the wicket of Hamid Hassan. Rashid Khan was the top-scorer for Afghanistan with a quick-fire 35 and Tahir ended the innings with four wickets in seven overs for South Africa.