00:00 After the heartbreak defeat against Australia, Afghanistan now meets South Africa.
00:07 South Africa have already qualified for the semi-finals.
00:10 Whether Afghanistan can still make it to the semis is contingent on several other factors.
00:16 There is a sliver of hope of course, which is that they score a resounding, thumping win over Afghanistan
00:24 which betters the net run rate of New Zealand and Pakistan in case both these teams are also tied on 10 points each.
00:33 Remember, Australia are through to the semi-finals, so are India.
00:37 Australia and South Africa are occupying now the number 2 and number 3 spots,
00:42 which means they'll play each other in the semi-finals.
00:45 Who India will play will be known over the next 3 or 4 days.
00:48 By Sunday it should be all known.
00:51 So, Afghanistan, what do they need to do? First, they need to regroup.
00:54 It was a demoralizing defeat because victory was theirs for the taking. It didn't happen.
01:00 But it can happen in sport. And remember, Australia was a favoured team.
01:04 So, it's not been a disgrace for Afghanistan, it's just been despair that from a really strong position, they lost the match.
01:14 But then you have to give credit to Glenn Maxwell who played perhaps the most astonishing ODI innings ever.
01:20 Now, Afghanistan need to regroup. They need to make sure that their batting stands up to the pace and fury of Aguilo Rabada.
01:27 Remember, the Afghanistan batting has come up brilliantly in this tournament.
01:31 And of course, their fast bowlers again have to bowl well, like they did against Australia, at least in the first half.
01:36 Because South Africa's batting, the top order is power-packed.
01:39 Then the spinners come into play. So, Afghanistan, as has been their tactic so far,
01:44 they will aim to, if they are bowling first, they will aim to restrict South Africa to 275-280 because that's where they feel their batting can help win a match.
01:55 But if they are batting first, they will aim for getting about 300 because they know that their bowlers can defend that score.
02:01 Now, all of this is, you know, we have to wait and see how it transpires in the field of play.
02:06 Remember, South Africa suffered a very, very bad defeat against India.
02:11 They also have some issues. They are not all pumped up as they were a couple of matches ago.
02:19 A good chance for Afghanistan, whatever happens, whether they make it to the semis or not,
02:24 a good chance for them to leave a very strong and big impact in this tournament, whatever the result.
