South Africa storms into their first T20 World Cup final with a dominant win over Afghanistan. © Twitter (@Cricket_World)
South Africa defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets in the opening semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, displaying a fantastic pace and accuracy. This landmark victory at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba propelled South Africa to their maiden World Cup final and highlighted their dominance throughout the tournament.
Match Summary
Afghanistan 56 (11.5) | |
| Azmatullah Omarzai 10 (12) | Tabraiz Shamsi |
| Gulbadin Naib 9 (8) | Marco Jansen |
| Rashid Khan 8 (8) | Anrich Nortje |
South Africa 60/1 (8.5) | |
| Reeza Hendricks 29 (25) | Fazalhaq Farooqi |
| Aiden Markram 23 (21) | Rashid Khan |
| Quinton de Kock 5 (8) | Gulbadin Naib |
Toss: Afghanistan chose to bat after winning the toss.
Stadium: Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba.
Result: South Africa won by nine wickets.
Man of the Match: Marco Jansen (SA) – 3/16 (3)
South Africa’s Bowlers Decimate Afghanistan
Having chosen to bat after triumphing the toss, Afghanistan found themselves in immediate trouble against South Africa’s fearsome pace attack. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada set the tone early, exploiting the Tarouba pitch’s bounce and lateral movement. Jansen struck in the first over, removing Afghanistan’s key batsman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, for a duck. He followed this up by dismantling Gulbadin Naib’s stumps, leaving Afghanistan reeling.
Rabada, not to be outdone, delivered a double-wicket maiden in his first over. He clean-bowled Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi with consecutive deliveries, sending Afghanistan into a nosedive. With the top order back in the pavilion, Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi took over, ensuring no lower-order resistance. Shamsi’s leg-spin was particularly lethal, claiming three wickets for just six runs in 1.5 overs, while Nortje chipped in with two wickets for seven runs in his three-over spell. Afghanistan were bundled out for a paltry 56 runs in just 11.5 overs, their lowest total in T20 internationals.
South Africa’s Clinical Chase
Chasing a modest target of 57, South Africa encountered some early jitters as they lost Quinton de Kock for 5 in the second over, bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi. However, Afghanistan’s hopes of a miraculous comeback were quickly dashed by the composed partnership between Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram.
Hendricks, the top scorer with 29 not out off 25 balls, and Markram, who remained unbeaten on 23 from 21 balls, steered South Africa to victory in just 8.5 overs. Their calm and calculated approach ensured no further hiccups, with both batsmen capitalizing on the loose deliveries to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Key Performances and Highlights
- Marco Jansen: Named Player of the Match for his devastating spell of 3 for 16 in 3 overs. Jansen’s height and ability to extract bounce made him unplayable on the Tarouba pitch.
- Tabraiz Shamsi: The left-arm wrist spinner wrapped up the innings with figures of 3 for 6, using his variations to bamboozle the Afghan lower order.
- Kagiso Rabada: His double-wicket maiden put Afghanistan on the back foot early in the innings.
- Reeza Hendricks: Anchored the chase with a composed 29 not out, ensuring there were no nervous moments for South Africa.
South Africa’s Road to the Final
This victory extends South Africa’s unbeaten run in the tournament to eight matches. Their journey to the final has been marked by dominant performances, both with the bat and ball. The Proteas have shown remarkable consistency and resilience, shaking off their historical reputation for underperforming in knockout matches.
Last Moment
South Africa’s emphatic win over Afghanistan has set the stage for a thrilling finale to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Their bowlers, who routinely turn in performances that win games, have been the foundation of their success. As they prepare for the final, the Proteas will carry the momentum and confidence of this landmark victory, eager to clinch their first-ever World Cup title.
