Semi-final match of the Twenty20 World Cup South Africa dominated Afghanistan with an outstanding display of bowling, restricting them to a meager 56 runs, their lowest ever T20 international score.
Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi were the heroes for South Africa, each claiming three wickets to dismantle Afghanistan’s batting lineup.
South Africa’s victory was historic, marking their first win in eight short-format World Cup semi-finals dating back to 1992.
They chased down the target of 57 runs comfortably, with Reeza Hendricks (29 not out) and skipper Aiden Markram (23 not out) guiding them to victory in less than nine overs.
The match began with Afghanistan winning the toss and opting to bat, but they faltered early as Jansen removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the opening over.
The South African bowlers maintained relentless pressure throughout, with Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje also contributing crucial breakthroughs.
Despite Afghanistan’s spirited bowling effort, especially by Fazalhaq Farooqi who dismissed Quinton de Kock early on, South Africa’s batsmen navigated through the innings calmly. Hendricks sealed the victory with a six and a four off consecutive deliveries, securing South Africa’s place in their first-ever T20 World Cup final.
This comprehensive win not only showcased South Africa’s bowling prowess but also highlighted their determination to break their semi-final jinx in ICC tournaments.
They now await the winner of the second semi-final between India and England for a chance to claim the T20 World Cup title.
