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Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Afghanistan dismissed for 125 as South Africa set easy target

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - South Africa v Afghanistan - Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - June 15, 2019 South Africa's Imran Tahir celebrates taking the wicket of Afghanistan's Noor Ali Zadran Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

CARDIFF (Reuters) - Spinner Imran Tahir took four wickets as South Africa dismissed Afghanistan for 125 in 34.1 overs in their rain-affected on Saturday, giving Faf du Plessis' team a good chance of securing their first win at this year's World Cup.

Tahir took two wickets in his first over and finished with figures of 4-29 off seven overs as Afghanistan collapsed after a second rain break at Sophia Gardens.

Andile Phehlukwayo also helped engineer the downfall with two wickets in his first two overs after a 75-minute break as the Afghans slipped from 69-2 to 77-7.

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - South Africa v Afghanistan - Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - June 15, 2019 South Africa's Imran Tahir celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of Afghanistan's Asghar Afghan Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

A cameo of 35 from Rashid Khan took them into three figures before he became Tahir’s fourth victim. Chris Morris then finished off the tail with figures of 3-13.

Afghanistan took advantage of some sloppy bowling from the South Africans to make a positive start before Hazratullah Zazai was caught in the ninth over when Rassie van der Dussen took a low catch sliding in from deep midwicket off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada.

At 69-2 after 20 overs, when rain stopped play, the Afghanis looked to have the potential to post a decent 200-plus score against a South African side lacking in confidence but failed to build on the promising start.

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - South Africa v Afghanistan - Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - June 15, 2019 South Africa's Imran Tahir celebrates taking the wicket of Afghanistan's Rashid Khan Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

South Africa have lost three of their opening four games, with the other one called off due to rain.

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - South Africa v Afghanistan - Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - June 15, 2019 South Africa's Faf du Plessis takes the catch to dismiss Afghanistan's Hamid Hassan Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup - South Africa v Afghanistan - Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - June 15, 2019 South Africa's Andile Phehlukwayo celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of Afghanistan's Hashmatullah Shahidi Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
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