South Africa 139 for 7 (Kallis 34, Hamid 3-21) beat Afghanistan 80 (M Morkel 4-20, Langeveldt 3-12) by 59 runs…

South Africa reached the Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20 as they brushed aside Afghanistan’s challenge in Barbados.

The Proteas triumphed by 59 runs after dismissing the minnows – playing in a major global competition for the first time – for just 80 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

It could have been worse for Afghanistan but for the intervention of Mirwais Ashraf and Hamid Hassan, who added a veneer of respectability to their total after they slipped to 32 for eight in pursuit of 140 to win.

Ashraf made 23 and Hassan 22, but both fell to Charl Langeveldt, who claimed 3-12 from four overs after Morne Morkel had destroyed the top and middle order with 4-20.

Afghanistan never looked likely to challenge South Africa’s total after losing a flurry of early wickets and for a long while appeared unlikely to better the lowest score in Twenty20 internationals, 67 made by Kenya against Ireland at Belfast in 2008.

That they did so was down almost exclusively to Ashraf and Hassan, but Afghanistan return home after suffering a chastening introduction to the top table of international cricket following two heavy defeats in as many games.

South Africa’s total of 139 for seven was built around Jacques Kallis’ measured 34, Graeme Smith having supplied the impetus at the top of the order with 27 off 14 balls.

JP Duminy and AB de Villiers weighted in 25 and 23 respectively, while Hassan enhanced his reputation with the ball by claiming 3-21.

Victory secured second place for South Africa in Group C, behind India. They face England, Pakistan and New Zealand in the Super Eights, with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the semi-finals.

Source: ECB