The new comers did well to restrict South Africa to a modest 139 for seven after opting to bowl but were skittled out for a lowly 80 by their formidable opponents.
The Protean pace battery of Morkel (4/20), Dale Steyn (2/6) and Charl Langeveldt (3/12) proved too hot to handle for the players of the strife-torn country.
Mirwais Ashraf (23) and Hamid Hassan (22) put on a 33-run partnership for the ninth wicket to save Afghanistan blushes as they were tottering at 32 for eight at one stage. Afghanistan were staring at the worst defeat in a T20 match at that stage but Ashraf and Hassan batted with patience and determination.
Their chase began on a disastrous note and soon half of the team was back in the dug out with scorecard reading a scary eight runs for the loss of four wickets.
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