South Africa vs Afghanistan, Semi Final 1, T20 World Cup, 2024
South Africa has finally secured a spot in a men’s World Cup final by dominating Afghanistan with a commanding nine-wicket victory in the T20 Cup semi-final at Tarouba, Trinidad. This win marks a significant milestone as the Proteas their historical semi-final misfortunes into a triumphant entry into their first-ever final, where they will face either India or England.
At the coin toss, both team captains expressed a preference to bat first; however, it was Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan who won the toss. This decision quickly seemed regrettable as Afghanistan’s batsmen struggled against South Africa’s fierce bowling, which showcased varied bounce, seam movement, and relentless pace.
Teams Line Up:
South Africa (PLAYING XI):
Quinton de Kock (w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi
Afghanistan (PLAYING XI):
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
AFGHANISTAN-
In the initial stage of their innings, Afghanistan faltered dramatically, managing a meager 28/5. Afghanistan’s strategy, reliant on solid starts from their openers, crumbled as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran departed early. Marco Jansen exploited the conditions effectively by dismissing several top-order batsmen, quickly reducing Afghanistan to five wickets for minimal runs.
During the middle overs, Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi rapidly cleaned up the remaining batsmen, with Shamsi’s effective leg-spin claiming three LBW verdicts, bringing his tournament total to 11 wickets in only four matches.
SOUTH AFRICA-
Chasing a small target, South Africa’s initial phase featured a steady rise to 34/1. Despite the challenging pitch, which occasionally produced uneven bounce, the South African batsmen adapted and mitigated these conditions. Quinton de Kock faced some tough balls but managed to set a solid foundation. Unaffected by a near dismissal, Aiden Markram, alongside Reeza Hendricks, effectively chased down the modest total.
In the concluding overs, Hendricks, together with Markram, comfortably steered South Africa to its historic final berth, utilizing just 17 deliveries to wrap up the game. The South African team displayed resilience, skillful adaptation to the pitch conditions, and a strong psychological advantage.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan posted 56 runs in 11.5 overs, with notable performances from Tabraiz Shamsi (3-6), Marco Jansen (3-16), Anrich Nortje (2-7), and Kagiso Rabada (2-14). In response, South Africa achieved 60/1 in 8.5 overs, led by Reeza Hendricks (29*), Aiden Markram (23*), and a lone wicket taken by Fazalhaq Farooqi (1-11). Ultimately, South Africa clinched the match by nine wickets, marking a significant victory that propels them into the final round of the tournament.
