SA vs AFG, T20 World Cup Semi-Final Highlights: South Africa sealed their place in the finals with a dominant victory over Afghanistan in the semi-finals. Chasing a modest target of 57 runs, South Africa encountered an early hiccup with the dismissal of de Kock, but Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram ensured there were no further setbacks. Their composed partnership guided South Africa to a comfortable win, dispelling any lingering doubts about their ability under pressure.
Earlier in the match, Afghanistan’s batting faltered severely as they were bowled out for just 56 runs in 11.5 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai was the top scorer with 10 runs and Afghanistan struggled to form meaningful partnerships against South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack. Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi led the charge with three wickets each, while Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje provided crucial support with two wickets apiece. Their collective effort left Afghanistan with a daunting task of defending their paltry total.
ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2024
South Africa
60/1 (8.5)
Afghanistan
56 (11.5)
Match Ended ( Day – 1st Semi-Final )
South Africa beat Afghanistan by 9 wickets
South Africa’s clinical performance highlighted their strong form and determination in the tournament, contrasting sharply with Afghanistan’s struggle on the day. With this win, South Africa not only advanced to the finals but also reaffirmed their status as a formidable contender for the title, leaving fans eager for an exciting showdown in the upcoming championship match.
South Africa dominated Afghanistan, securing a commanding victory. Chasing a modest target of 57, South Africa reached their goal comfortably, losing only one wicket in the process. This win propels South Africa into the finals, showcasing their strong form and determination in the tournament.
Gulbadin to Markram, FOUR runs! Markram swats the ball away over midwicket for a one-bounce four. Taking advantage of a short ball outside off, there’s no excessive bounce, allowing Markram to dispatch it with ease.
South Africa is 43/1 after 8 overs.
Hendricks hits a boundary off the last four balls. South Africa has utilized the powerplay effectively, scoring 34 runs and losing just 1 wicket so far.
South Africa is 34/1 after 6 overs.
Four 1- Back of a length and wide of off, this delivery comes onto the bat, and Markram crunches it away to the left of cover-point.
Four 2- Once again, excessive bounce from Naveen. The ball rears up from a back-of-a-length delivery, darting in from outside off. Markram manages to squeeze an inside edge past the leg stump.
Farooqi delivers another slower ball, but this time he overpitches and gives too much width. Hendricks capitalizes on it, driving the ball elegantly between point and cover for a boundary.
South Africa is 13/1 after 4 overs.
South Africa is off to a slow start, but with the target set at just 57 runs, they have ample time to secure victory in this match.
Naveen-ul-Haq to Hendricks, 1 run. The delivery is short and wide, allowing Hendricks to carve it in the air towards deep third, where it falls just short. Omarzai fields it quickly and flat, but Rashid Khan appears displeased with the effort from his outfielder.
Farooqi Strikes in the Powerplay. The off stump is knocked out as Farooqi beats de Kock’s outside edge with one delivery and swings another back into him, breaching his defences.
Good start from Naveen-ul-Haq, conceding just 1 run in the over with consistent line and length bowling.
South Africa is 1/0 after 1 over.
South Africa‘s openers take the crease, needing 57 runs for victory against Afghanistan in the semi-final match.
Afghanistan collapsed spectacularly, getting bowled out for just 56 runs in 11.4 overs. It was a disastrous batting performance, with no batsman able to establish a significant partnership or resist the opposition’s bowling attack. The innings was marked by frequent dismissals and a lack of substantial contributions, leaving Afghanistan with a daunting challenge to defend such a low total.
Nortje dismisses Rashid Khan! The off stump is knocked out of the ground. It was a back-of-a-length delivery that didn’t rise much. Rashid shaped to angle it away but was far from making contact.
Shamsi to Noor Ahmad, OUT
Given lbw again! Another review follows. It was a quicker delivery, pushed through on the stumps, and the batsman was playing back. The review indicates it’s clipping leg stump once more.
Afghanistan is 50/8 after 9.5 overs.
Shamsi to Karim Janat, OUT
Shamsi dismisses Karim Janat with a vigorous lbw appeal swiftly granted by Illingworth. A rapid review follows. The delivery was full and straight; Janat missed as he played around it. The question: Did it turn excessively? It clips leg stump, and the umpire’s decision stands.
Nortje to Karim Janat, 1 run. A full delivery outside off, Janat gets nicely onto the front foot and drives it firmly to mid-off. A direct hit at the striker’s end could have made it close.
Afghanistan is 49/6 after 8.3 overs.
Rashid Khan takes on Rabada. He hits him for two consecutive fours.
Afghanistan is 44/6 after 8.3 overs.
Nortje dismisses Azmatullah! Azmatullah tries to be aggressive, steps forward, and lofts it over the off side, but he couldn’t have picked out the deep cover fielder any better.
Jansen gets Nangeyalia Kharote out! It was a short delivery down the leg side, and Kharote gloves it. The delivery wasn’t ideal, well wide of the body, but Kharote went after it and ended up getting a faint touch on the glove.
Afghanistan is 23/5 after 5 overs.
Rabada dismisses M Nabi! Another wicket falls in quick succession. Rabada bowls a good length delivery that moves sharply off the seam, sneaking through the gap between bat and pad. It’s a brilliant delivery, showcasing Rabada’s bowling prowess.
Afghanistan is 20/4 after 3.4 overs.
Rabada dismisses Ibrahim Zadran first ball! It was a short of a length delivery that nipped back sharply, beating the bat and crashing into the top of leg stump. Zadran showed little foot movement, contributing to his dismissal.
Afghanistan is 20/3 after 3.1 overs.
Jansen to Azmatullah, FOUR runs! The ball narrowly evades leg slip, with Klassen nearly making a spectacular catch. It was a short delivery aimed at the ribs, and Azmatullah fended it down the leg side, almost executing a well-laid plan perfectly.
Jansen gets Gulbadin out! His second wicket. Bowling back of a length at middle off, Naib plays from the crease, but the ball nips back slightly, evades the inside edge, and clips the off stump. A superb delivery indeed.
Jansen bowls short on off stump, Gulbadin pulls it through straight mid-on for a powerful boundary, showcasing Naib’s strength in the shot.
Afghanistan is 16/1 after 2.2 overs.
Jansen bowls short on off stump, Gulbadin pulls it through straight mid-on for a powerful boundary, showcasing Naib’s strength in the shot.
Afghanistan is 16/1 after 2.2 over.
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Jansen dismisses Gurbaz, caught at slip! A pivotal moment in the match. Jansen pitches it outside off, fuller this time, inducing the drive which results in a comfortable edge at knee height to the slip fielder.
Afghanistan is 4/1 after 1 over.
What a start of over by Marco Yansen. He is bowling at perfect line and length
Afghanistan is 1/0 after 0.3 overs.
The wind is blowing at 17 km/h. The cricket ground measures 63 meters square on either side of the wicket and 75 meters straight down. The wicket is new, showing seam, swing, and spin. It features numerous cracks and patchy grass, leading to uneven bounce. Of the 51 wickets taken at this venue this World Cup, seamers have claimed 38. It’s advantageous to bat first, and I believe a score of 140-150 would be competitive on this pitch.
Captain Rashid Khan will be crucial for Afghanistan in unfamiliar territory, not just for his bowling and batting prowess, but also for his leadership skills that have lifted the Asian side from obscurity into the spotlight.
South Africa 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Aiden Markram (capt), 4 David Miller, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi
Afghanistan 1 Ibrahim Zadran, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Azmatullah Omarzai, 4 Gulbadin Naib, 5 Mohammad Nabi, 6 Karim Janat, 7 Rashid Khan (capt), 8 Nangeyalia Kharote, 9 Naveen-ul-Haq, 10 Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
