In an extraordinary T20 World Cup encounter, South Africa narrowly prevailed against a determined Afghanistan side following two dramatic Super Overs that unfolded on Wednesday. Ryan Rickelton (61 from 28 deliveries) and Quinton de Kock (59 from 41 balls) established an exceptional century partnership through rapid-fire half-centuries, propelling South Africa to 187 for six. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (84 from 42 balls) subsequently carried Afghanistan’s pursuit almost single-handedly before aggressive striking from the tail-end batsmen enabled them to level the match within regular playing time. What ensued was a remarkable series of two Super Overs featuring momentum shifts following each delivery.
During the initial Super Over, Azmatullah Omarzai dispatched Lungi Ngidi for two boundaries and a maximum to establish Afghanistan’s total of 17 runs, though Tristan Stubbs responded with two sixes off Fazalhaq Farooqi, including the decisive final delivery, necessitating an additional Super Over.
When their turn arrived in the subsequent Super Over, Davis Miller and Tristan Stubbs combined to launch three maximums, accumulating 23 runs and setting a challenging target that Rahmanullah Gurbaz made appear achievable. The opener launched veteran left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for three straight sixes before his dismissal concluded this spectacular contest.
TOSS
Afghanistan secured the toss and elected to bowl first.
PLAYING XI
South Africa (Playing XI):
Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
Afghanistan (Playing XI):
Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan(c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
SOUTH AFRICA
During the opening innings, Farooqi had delivered an excellent bowling performance, employing his repertoire effectively to challenge the South African openers through movement. Aiden Markram, following initial difficulties, succumbed to a change of pace from the left-arm bowler, attempting a premature aerial shot that resulted in a catch to mid off.
Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton, nevertheless, ensured South Africa maintained their composure despite early setbacks. With enhanced batting depth available through Linde’s inclusion replacing Corbin Bosch, they sustained an aggressive approach. Mujeeb ur Rahman conceded several boundaries to de Kock’s attacking strokeplay, while Rickelton capitalized on Omarzai’s inconsistent length to secure two additional boundaries.
Basically, South Africa scored 43 runs in the PowerPlay and kept hitting boundaries the same way after that period ended. De Kock actually hit Rashid Khan’s wrong delivery over the long-off boundary, and Rickelton definitely swept Nabi’s full ball over long-on for six. The most dangerous attack was actually saved for Noor, who definitely got hammered for 23 runs in his first over.
The two left-handed batsmen surely completed their fifty runs each in the 11th over, and moreover, they achieved this milestone together. De Kock reached the mark in 34 deliveries with a boundary through mid wicket, and Rickelton further reached there in just 23 deliveries with a six over long on itself.
As per the match situation, the century partnership gave South Africa complete control, but regarding the 13th over, Rashid dismissed both batsmen and broke their strong stand. De Kock got out to the leg spinner’s trap. We are seeing that he only fell for the bowler’s trick. Even though the spinner had three fielders in the deep, we are seeing the veteran batsman trying to hit big shots only, but he pulled the ball straight to the fielder at deep mid wicket. Basically three balls later, Rickelton got out LBW to the same delivery that came from a wide angle.
As per the match situation, South Africa’s scoring stopped for some time regarding Dewald Brevis and David Miller trying to take their time in the middle. From Over 13-18, the scoring rate dropped to 5.83 runs per over, which was much lower than the previous six overs when South Africa scored at 13.50. This itself shows how the team’s batting performance went down further during this period. However, this did not work well for them as Omarzai took two wickets in the 18th over itself to further control their late scoring. Basically, Marco Jansen and Miller hit three boundaries and two sixes to help South Africa reach the same good total of 187 for 6.
AFGHANISTAN-
Earlier today, Gurbaz actually scored a blazing 84 runs in just 42 balls which definitely set up Afghanistan’s chase perfectly. The opener basically started well with two good boundaries in the first over and kept the same pace during PowerPlay, which was exactly what the Afghan head coach wanted to see improved. Jansen and Rabada were actually hit for one six each, while George Linde definitely got hammered for 17 runs.
Afghanistan were actually cruising with 50 runs scored in just four overs, but Lungi Ngidi definitely stopped them with two slow balls. Basically Ibrahim Zadran got bowled out and Gulbadin Naib hit the same easy catch back to the bowler. Moreover, after some balls, Rabada got out Sediqullah Atal and we are seeing Afghanistan at 52 for 3, with only four more runs added before PowerPlay finished.
We are seeing Darwish Rasooli having trouble keeping the run rate good, but Gurbaz was only hitting boundaries sometimes to keep Afghanistan’s speed going. Basically from the 12th over, Gurbaz started hitting big shots the same way again, smashing two sixes and one four in just three balls to move towards his hundred. However, South Africa surely came back to break that momentum once more. Moreover, they stopped the flow of the game again. We are seeing Maharaj getting Gurbaz out at short third only, and Rasooli was run out as the match started changing again.
We are seeing that Omarzai and Rashid Khan were hitting big shots at the end because they needed many runs, but only after losing many wickets quickly, the match became very close in the last over.
The match could surely have concluded in the final delivery of the first Super Over when South Africa required 7 runs from 18 to secure victory. Moreover, Tristan Stubbs struck Fazalhaq Farooqi’s ball straight down the ground for a six to achieve this target.
Basically, with four balls remaining in the second Super Over, the match looked the same as decided. Basically, Afghanistan needed 24 runs to win but they scored nothing from the first two balls and lost Mohammad Nabi the same time. South Africa actually needed just one dot ball. They definitely required only a single delivery without runs. But we are seeing it was not ending only.
Gurbaz actually hit a fast 84 runs earlier and definitely helped Afghanistan chase the target. He actually smashed three sixes in three balls and brought the game down to just 6 runs needed from the last ball. Also, basically, Maharaj tried to bowl away from Gurbaz’s hitting range but bowled a wide, giving the same chance for this close match to end in a tie and go to a third Super Over. Maharaj actually bowled the last ball away from Gurbaz’s hitting zone, and Gurbaz definitely hit it straight to David Miller at point.
Brief Scores:
South Africa surely scored 187 runs for 6 wickets in their complete 20 overs, with Ryan Rickleton making 61 runs and Quinton de Kock contributing 59 runs. Moreover, Afghanistan matched this total by scoring 187 runs in 19.4 overs, where Rahmanullah Gurbaz played excellently with 84 runs and Azmatullah Omarzai added 22 runs.
The first Super Over itself ended in a tie, which further led to another decisive match situation.
Afghanistan actually scored 17 runs without losing any wickets in 6 balls. They definitely had a strong start to their innings.
Basically, South Africa scored 17 runs and lost 1 wicket in the same 6 balls they played.
We are seeing South Africa winning the second Super Over by only 4 runs.
South Africa scored 23 runs without losing any wickets in 6 balls. The team’s performance regarding the opening overs shows a strong start.
Afghanistan actually scored 19 runs and lost 2 wickets in 6 balls.
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