In a stunning display of cricket, South Africa triumphed over Afghanistan in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, securing their first-ever spot in the tournament’s final. The match, held on Wednesday, saw South Africa deliver a masterclass in both bowling and fielding, dismantling Afghanistan for a meager total in just 11.5 overs.
Afghanistan’s captain, Rashid Khan, won the toss and opted to bat first on a challenging pitch. However, this decision quickly backfired. The innings got off to a disastrous start with the in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz falling for a duck on the last ball of the first over, courtesy of Marco Jansen. Jansen struck again in the next over, dismissing Gulbadin Naib for 9 runs, leaving Afghanistan at 11-2.
The middle-order collapse that followed was catastrophic for Afghanistan. Azmatullah Omarzai, the only player to reach double digits with 10 runs off 12 balls, could not anchor the innings. The Afghan team slumped to 28-6 within 6.3 overs, with wickets falling rapidly.
A brief resistance came from Rashid Khan and Karim Janat, who managed a 22-run partnership for the seventh wicket. However, this effort was short-lived as Tabraiz Shamsi removed Janat for 8 runs and then Noor Ahmed for a duck in the same over. Anrich Nortje added to Afghanistan’s woes by bowling Rashid Khan for 8 runs, and Shamsi sealed the innings by dismissing Naveen-ul-Haq for 2 runs, bringing Afghanistan’s innings to a close at 56 runs.
South Africa’s bowling was exceptional, with Shamsi leading the attack with figures of 3-6. Jansen supported with 3-16, while Nortje and Kagiso Rabada each took two wickets, showcasing a well-rounded bowling performance.
The decisive victory highlights South Africa’s dominance in the tournament, setting a high benchmark for the upcoming final. The Proteas’ formidable bowling attack and strategic gameplay have been pivotal in their journey to their maiden final appearance.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
With this victory, South Africa looks ahead to the final, bringing momentum and confidence into their next match as they aim to clinch their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title.
