5 signature moments from the SA-Afghanistan match that don't fade away

Afghanistan succumb to pressureSouth Africa got off the mark in the 2016 ICC World T20 as they beat Afghanistan by 37 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. After winning the toss and electing to bat, South Africa posted 209 thanks to AB de Villiers' fifty and a couple of forties from Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock.Although Afghanistan got off to a brilliant start thanks to Mohammad Shahzad, they couldn't keep themomentum going as they lost wickets at regular intervals. They were eventually bowled out on the finalball of the innings, 37 runs short of the target.There were several unforgettable moments in the match that dont fade away, quite like the Axe Signature line of body perfumes. Here are the 5 most memorable ones:

#1 Nabi\'s brilliance in the field

On a flat pitch, a fielding unit needs to take every chance that comes their way. Whether it is a difficult catch or a tough run-out chance, you need to take everything to have a chance. Thanks to Mohammad Nabi's brilliance at cover, Afghanistan took one of their early chances and sent the Proteas’ captain back to the pavilion.

Faf du Plessis used his feet and jabbed the ball to cover, setting off for a run that was never there. But he was too late to turn back and Nabi swooped and threw the ball perfectly to the keeper, who whipped the bails off in a flash.

Faf was short despite a full-length dive, and he had to depart in the 10th over. Nabi had well and truly made his mark on the match with that moment of brilliance.

#2 Shenwari makes the costliest mistake imaginable - dropping AB!

Arguably the most commonly used cricket cliche is that catches win matches. But one that you don't hear nearly as much is that they cost matches as well, especially when you drop them. And when you drop a batsman like AB de Villiers, then it should come as little surprise if it proves to be extravagantly costly.

That is exactly what happened in the 15th over, when Samiullah Shenwari dropped a relatively straightforward return catch off AB with the South African batsman on 26. The ball looked to have stopped on the batsman who punched it back to the bowler, but Shenwari let it burst through his hands.

That cost the Afghans dearly as De Villiers finished with 64 off just 29 balls, and it was his innings that helped South Africa cross 200.

#3 AB lays into Rashid

In cricket, much like in life, you don't get too many second chances, and so it is crucial to make them count when you do get one. De Villiers did just that after he was dropped on 26, and he showed no mercy on the 17-year-old leg spinner Rashid Khan two overs later.

Although not all the deliveries in the 17th over were particularly bad, such was the brutal striking of AB that four of the first five balls went for a six. Three of the maximums came in successive balls, all on the leg side but with varying degree of power. There was the slog over cow corner, the walk down the track and the whack over the bowler's head, and even one that went out of the ground and onto the street.

This was De Villiers at his best, and the spectators in the ground were lucky to have witnessed his signature hitting taken to such memorable levels.

#4 Shahzad launches a counter-attack

If Afghanistan were to have any chance of chasing down 210, they needed a good start from Mohammad Shahzad. And that is exactly what the wicketkeeper batsman provided.

Although he scored 10 runs off the first over, those were mostly off mis-hits and didn't exactly inspire too much confidence. But that start showed that his intent was in place, and sometimes that’s all you need.

It was the second over that Kyle Abbott bowled that showed what Shahzad was really about. The first ball disappeared over cow corner, the second was a dot, and the third was punched over long-on and with a classic pose following the shot.

There was another dot followed by a pull over midwicket that established his skills firmly. And he didn't end there; the over finished with a delightful cut shot off the slower ball that was worked perfectly through backward point.

#5 Morris gives Shahzad a fitting send-off

Given no side has lost more matches after posting in excess of 200 on the board than South Africa, their hearts must have been in their mouths when Shahzad started belting the bowlers all around the park.

With Chris Morris being given the ball in the third over, Afghanistan already had 47 on the board and seemed to be on their way towards another upset victory.

But Morris' over changed the complexion of the game. Not only did he concede just three runs, but he also picked up the all-important wicket of Shahzad with a cracker of a ball that was speared in straight at the stumps.

After getting Shahzad out for a 19-ball 44, Morris gave him a proper send-off too. That’s something you don't see too often in T20Is.