Set as a target of 245, South Africa, who are already assured of a semi-final berth, accomplished the task with Van der Dussen remaining unbeaten on 76 from 95 balls. Andile Phehlukwayo also made an unbeaten 37-ball 39 after a match-winning 65-run partnership with Van der Dussen.
Earlier, pacer Coetzee took 4 for 44 as Afghanistan were restricted to 244 despite Azmatullah Omarzai’s impressive 97. Omarzai’s knock, however, helped the Afghans recover to 116 for six.
HOW IT HAPPENED: SA v AFG
With this victory, the Proteas are gearing up for their semi-final against Australia next week.
New Zealand also look set to face hosts India in the other semi-final unless Pakistan pull off a huge win over England on Saturday.
Playing for pride, Afghan spinners halted South Africa’s 64-0 run after Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed skipper Temba Bavuma for 23 and compatriot Mohammad Nabi trapped Quinton de Kock lbw on 41 .
Bavuma’s hamstring troubled him throughout the match as he fielded and hit an ominous sign ahead of their semi-final.
De Kock, who will quit one-day internationals at the end of this World Cup, overtook New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra (565) to regain his top spot in the tournament’s batting charts with 591 runs, including four centuries .
The Proteas got their chase back on track in a third-wicket stand of 50, but leg-spinner Rashid Khan broke through with the wicket of Aiden Markram for 25.
South Africa looked in trouble when Rashid bowled Heinrich Klaasen for 10, but Van der Dussen stood firm to establish partnerships, including an unbeaten 65 with Andile Phehlukwayo, who hit the winning six from an unbeaten 39.
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Earlier, Afghanistan slipped to 116-6 before Azmatullah hit his ODI best to take the team to a competitive total.
South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee took four wickets while spinner Keshav Maharaj returned impressive figures of 2-25.
De Kock played a key role with his six wicketkeeping dismissals to equal a World Cup record of Australia’s Adam Gilchrist (vs Namibia – Potchefstroom, 2003) and Pakistan’s Sarfaraz Ahmed (vs South Africa – Auckland, 2015).
Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran started aggressively before Maharaj struck with his first ball to have Gurbaz caught behind for 25.
Coetzee dismissed Ibrahim in the next over to check the batting thrust and Afghanistan slipped from 41-0 to 45-3 when Maharaj caught skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi for two.
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Afghanistan lost three more wickets to risk being bowled out in less than their quota of 50 overs, but Azmatullah stood firm to play the innings.
Hashmatullah Shahidi-led Afghanistan ended a strong campaign after beating defending champions England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Netherlands.
(With the participation of AFP)