South Africa’s Triumph Over Afghanistan Secures First T20 World Cup Final Berth
T20 World Cup, Trinidad
– Afghanistan 56 (11.5 overs): Omarzai 10 (12); Shamsi 3-6, Jansen 3-16
– South Africa 60-1 (8.5 overs): Hendricks 29 (25), Markram 23 (21)
– South Africa won by nine wickets
South Africa shattered their semi-final jinx by thrashing Afghanistan to reach their first-ever men’s T20 World Cup final. The Proteas, notorious for their semi-final struggles, dismissed Afghanistan for a mere 56 runs in 11.5 overs on a tricky pitch, cruising to a nine-wicket victory in Trinidad.
Marco Jansen struck early, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, and Afghanistan’s batting lineup quickly crumbled to 28-6. Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi cleaned up the tail with 3-6, while Jansen finished with 3-16. However, the pitch’s unpredictable seam movement and bounce raised questions about its suitability for such a significant event.
South Africa also faced challenges during their chase. Quinton de Kock was bowled after being hit on the body, but the Proteas, under no pressure to score quickly, completed their chase in just 8.5 overs. Unbeaten in the tournament, South Africa now advance to Saturday’s final in Barbados, eyeing their first World Cup title.
Semi-Final Struggles Finally Overcome
South Africa’s history in World Cup semi-finals has been filled with heartbreak. From the rain-affected loss in 1992 to the dramatic tie against Australia in 1999, and the last-over defeat by New Zealand in 2015, the Proteas have endured it all. This time, however, they showed nerves of steel.
Jansen set the tone with a wicket in his first over, and Kagiso Rabada followed with two wickets in his first four balls, leaving Afghanistan reeling. The opening partnership between Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, which had been Afghanistan’s strength, fell apart, and the rest of the lineup offered little resistance.
Despite the challenging conditions, South Africa capitalized on Afghanistan’s mistakes, progressing to the final with their tournament hopes alive. Afghanistan, having celebrated their historic semi-final berth just 48 hours earlier, struggled on the difficult pitch and faced a four-hour flight delay.
A Pitch Battle Lost
Afghanistan’s decision to bat first on a challenging pitch backfired. Jansen, using his height advantage, extracted excessive bounce, while Rabada’s sharp seam movement caused further damage. Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan admitted that batting first was a mistake, given the conditions.
The Proteas’ bowlers exploited the pitch’s unpredictability, with Jansen and Rabada dismantling Afghanistan’s top order. Anrich Nortje also contributed by dismissing key players, ensuring Afghanistan never recovered.
During South Africa’s chase, the pitch continued to play tricks. The first ball kept low, the second hit De Kock on the body, and several deliveries rose to throat height. Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram managed to survive and guide South Africa to victory with 29 and 23 runs respectively, though it wasn’t pretty.
What They Said
Afghanistan Captain Rashid Khan: “It was a tough match for us. We might have done better, but the conditions didn’t allow it. That’s T20 cricket—you have to be ready for any situation. South Africa bowled exceptionally well, and we couldn’t bat well.”
Former England Bowler Steven Finn on Test Match Special: “I feel sorry for Afghanistan going out under these circumstances. It doesn’t seem fair. But I do think South Africa would have prevailed even on a flat surface. They deserve to be in the final.”
South Africa Captain Aiden Markram: “It feels good. It’s not just the captain that gets you to this stage, it’s a massive squad effort and the people behind the scenes. I’m thrilled we have one more chance to win a trophy.”
With this dominant performance, South Africa looks forward to the final, ready to face either England or India, who clash in the second semi-final on Thursday in Guyana. Will the Proteas finally lift their first World Cup trophy? The cricket world will be watching.
