Paceman Morne Morkel claimed three wickets in his first over and returned 4-20 as South Africa beat Afghanistan by 59 runs on Wednesday to advance to the Super Eights stage at the cricket Twenty20 World Cup.

The Afghanistan top order collapsed early at Kensington Oval before it was dismissed for a total of 80 runs from 16 overs in reply to South Africa’s 139-7.

South Africa join India in the Super Eights stage from Group C.

Paceman Dale Steyn dismissed Noor Ali for a duck and Mohammad Shahzad for two, both caught behind by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Morkel continued the rout. In his first over, he had Afghanistan captain Nowroz Mangal edged to first slip for 1, Karim Sadiq caught at backward point for 2 and Raees Ahmadzai caught behind off a top-edged for 4.

Morkel later claimed Mohammad Nabi for a duck, caught at second slip.

Tailender Miwais Ashraf top-scored for Afghanistan with an aggressive 23 off 25 balls, while Hassan struck 22 off 21 deliveries in a ninth-wicket stand of 33. Both batsmen stroked a boundary and two sixes before they were dismissed by Charl Langeveldt, who finished with figures of 3-12.

After slumping to 14-6, Afghanistan looked destined for the lowest ever Twenty20 international total when it slid to 32-8. This tournament was Afghanistan’s first taste of cricket at the elite level, having started the qualifying run through zonal competitions.

After South Africa was sent in to bat, Jacques Kallis top-scored with 34 off 33 balls. Captain Graeme Smith made 27, J.P. Duminy 25 and Albie Morkel 23.

Afghanistan fast bowler Hamid Hassan returned the best figures of 3-21, while legspinner Samiullah Shenwari conceded just 14 runs in four overs.

South Africa raced to 45-1 off four overs as Smith smacked four fours and a six off 14 balls before falling to offspinner Nabi.

AB de Villiers and Kallis added 32 before De Villiers was stumped for 17 off Mangal, and Kallis was caught by wicketkeeper Shahzad off Hassan.

The left-handers Morkel and Duminy shared a stand of 43 off 25 balls toward the end to lift the tempo. Duminy, who hit two sixes off 21 balls, was Hassan’s third wicket when he drove firmly to extra cover and was caught.

Morkel, whose 17-ball innings contained two fours and a six, fell to left-arm paceman Shapoor.