Cricket Highlights, June 26: WC 2024 (Semi-Final 1) – Afghanistan vs South Africa

Afghanistan vs South Africa (Semi-Final 1) – Highlights

In this article, we will discuss South Africa’s dominant performance in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024, where their fast bowlers dismantled Afghanistan’s top order, leading to a comprehensive victory.

We’ll explore the match’s defining moments: exceptional bowling by Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, complemented by composed batting from Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks on a challenging Tarouba pitch.

In the opening T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final, South Africa’s fast bowlers wreaked havoc on Afghanistan’s top order, taking five wickets in the first five overs. This sent their opponents into a tailspin, resulting in a pitiful 56 all out.

Known for their struggles in knockout stages, South Africa delivered a commanding and meticulous performance in this match. Their bowling was exceptional, fielding sharp, and they managed early pressure while capitalizing on scoring opportunities.

The Tarouba surface provided significant lateral movement and bounce early on, perfectly suiting the skills of Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada. Jansen removed Afghanistan’s key batsman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, at the end of the first over, with Gurbaz edging a ball to Hendricks at slip. Jansen then bowled Gulbadin Naib with a delivery that sharply cut back into him in his following over.

Rabada’s first over further deepened Afghanistan’s woes. He delivered two inswingers that both uprooted the stumps. His dismissal of Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan’s best hope for a competitive total, was crucial. Two balls later, he bowled Mohammad Nabi with another impressive delivery, completing a double-wicket maiden over.

With half of their batting lineup back in the pavilion, and a weak middle order, Afghanistan’s innings fell apart. Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi mopped up the remaining wickets. Nortje dismissed Azmatullah Omarzai, the only Afghan to reach double digits, and later bowled Rashid Khan. Shamsi trapped three batters lbw, with all reviews confirming the on-field umpire’s decisions.

Despite losing Quinton de Kock early in their chase, Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks skillfully steered their team through a modest target on a challenging Tarouba pitch.

Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq, with 29 wickets between them in the tournament, were Afghanistan’s only hope to defend their meager score. Farooqi added to his tally by bowling de Kock in his first over with an inswinger after setting him up with outswingers. Naveen nearly dismissed Markram in the next over, but a thin edge went undetected, and Rashid Khan was unsure enough to request a review.

Despite the tricky pitch, South Africa’s batters seized on any poor deliveries. The fifth over produced 13 runs, a significant portion of the small target. South Africa reached the target in the ninth over, leading to restrained yet historic celebrations as they secured a landmark victory.

This victory secured their first-ever place in a men’s World Cup final, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the tournament, which now extends to eight matches. Winning by nine wickets with 67 balls to spare highlighted their dominance from start to finish.

Afghanistan vs South Africa Scoreboard

Afghanistan – 56 (11.5)

South Africa – 60/1 (8.5)

Result –   South Africa won by 9 wickets (with 67 balls remaining)

Player of the match – Marco Jansen

Marco Jansen

Afghanistan vs South Africa Playing XIs

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