Hammid Hasan was the main reason why Afghanistan made it this far out of the WT20 qualifiers in Dubai. The USA had been shocked by his brilliant bowling especially.

Duminy here, inthe meanwhile, belies his bad form and continues to stay at the crease.

The fireworks are exploding out of Albie Morkel's bat at the moment though.

South Africa: 110/5 in 16.2 ov

COW for Afghanistan: 60% coming into over 16

After 16 overs, Afghanistan still hold the advantage according to COW, but that 17th must have boosted the Saffers chances to a great extent.

They now look set for a score over 150.

South Africa: 123/5 ... look at that ... it reads 1-2-3-4-5 ... in 17.3 ov.

Twice today, the more experienced team has made full use of that crucial 17th over with the bat. Must be a takeaway from the IPL.

This time around, Morkel and Duminy make the Afghans pay heavily in both the 17th and the 18th.

South Africa: 132/5 in 18 ov.

Mangal bowling Hassan non-stop from the 12th to the 18th.

He also gives him a wicket by catching a blinder in covers. That one brought an otherwise quiet Media Box at this point to a stir.

A great 19th over from Hammid Hassan. One of those balls was almost 90mph. Finishes with excellent spell of 3-0-21-3!

South Africa: 135/6 in 19 ov.

150 looks a bit of a stretch from here.

COW is nodding in favor of Afghanistan still.

Zadran comes back to finish in style ... or so the Afghans will hope.

And he is almost there ... a good ball forces a top-edge from Morkel, whose 20+ was a big impetus to his team, but is it enough? Should be.

Skipper Mangal takes another beauty ... this time with a little fumble.

South Africa: 138/7 in 19.5 ov.

South Africa have posted a target of 140 for the Afghans.

Who would have thought the Afghans might trouble the Africans this way.

The lights are taking effect here at Kensington Oval, in the meanwhile.

The Afghans struggled against Nehra's shorter ones. South Africa must be able to exploit that amply ... especially after they didn't do that against India and it came back to bite them.

This time, it is the fast Barbados pitch. They must surely be licking their lips

This pitch is a fascinating one.

Had gone down to snap a couple ground-level shots of the action. The media box glass window had reflections and smudges preventing a good shot.

By the time I went down and came back up, here we are:

Afghanistan: 16/6 in 5.4 ov.

Needless to say, COW thinks South Africa will win this 2:1. I am surprised it is only that skewed!

India will play Australia on this ground at the Kensington OVal.

In my jaunt downstairs, I met an experienced local photographer, Errol Nurse. Him and a local police officer agreed that this pitch is now "slowly returning to the ol' Kensington".

Afghanistan: 24/6 in 6.2 ov ... Charl  Langeveldt into his first behind Steyn.

Azghar Stanikzai perishes to a slightly slower short ball. Just manages to lob it up to square leg.

Waits for Ian Gould to signal a No Ball, but doesn't even get a nod of acknowledgment from him.

Charl Langeveldt, by the way, has a strange run up. He first runs away from the line of the stumps and then comes closer to the stumps. Can't see this on TV ... just seeing it since I am sitting right above and behind him!

Afghanistan: 28/7 in 7.1 ov

Morne More-kill!

4 wickets.

Smith ... goes for the jugular.

Only 2 fielders outside the circle still ... both behind the keeper, considering the bowler's length and the pitch's mood.

Afghanistan: 29/7 in 7.2 ov.

A free hit wasted.

A great pitch ... will be superb to watch a Test match played here.

We have seen spinners from Bangladesh trouble batsmen, then the extreme pace of the Proteas as well as the fastish bowling of the Afghans keep batsmen in check. Now, Roelof van der Merwe also getting some prodigious turn.

This is a great pitch! Kudos to the ground staff and to the West Indies.

Afghanistan: 33/8 in 9 ov.

They need to play and make sure their name doesn't go against the lowest international T20 score.

No need for COW now ... no matter what it says, South Africa will win this 100%

Hamid Hassan would want to avoid the ignominy of being at the crease while his team loses ... that too after scoring the least any team has in a T20I.

Ooooh ... he just strikes a brilliant 6 right over Morekel (the Ablie version)'s head. Sweet shot.

Hit out or get out!

Afghanistan: 40/8 in 9 ov.

I will leave you here.

Need to run to press conference.

Catch you tomorrow at the next match ... early in the AM.

Gokul.

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