T20 World Cup 2024, Semi-Final 1, SA vs AFG: South Africa beat Afghanistan and reach their maiden World Cup finals.
Brief Scores: AFG - 56 (Azmatullah Omarzai 10, Tabraiz Shamsi 3/6, Marco Jansen 3/16) lost to SA - 60/1 (Reeza Hendricks 29, Aiden Markram 23, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1/11) by 9 wickets.
Player of the Match: Marco Jansen (3/16)
A dominant performance with the ball saw South Africa trump Afghanistan in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024. Courtesy of their win, the Proteas also reached their maiden World Cup final.
Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. It was utter destruction as South Africa bowled out Afghanistan for 56 runs in 11.5 overs. Tabraiz Shamsi and Marco Jansen’s 3-wicket hauls helped South Africa completely destroy the Afghanistan batting line-up. Jansen struck three times in the powerplay before Shamsi went through the Afghanistan tail to put the Proteas on top. Apart from them, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje bagged two wickets each.
Chasing a below-par target of 57, the Proteas dashed the way to the final in 8.5 overs. Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissed Quinton de Kock early before Afghanistan crumbled. However, cameos from Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram took South Africa to a nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan. The Proteas will make their first-ever appearance at a T20 World Cup final on Saturday in Barbados.
South Africa’s exceptional bowling display
The cricket world witnessed another masterclass in bowling tactics and execution, with the South Africa bowlers putting up a stellar performance to dismantle Afghanistan's batting lineup. Their lethal bowling display set the tone for South Africa's dominance in the match. Their exceptional bowling display throughout the T20 World Cup 2024 led them to their first final in the T20 WC history.
With a formidable lineup of bowlers leading the charge, South Africa's campaign was marked by strategic brilliance and skilful execution on the field. Their bowling attack was spearheaded by a group of exceptional bowlers who left a mark on the tournament with their outstanding performances. The Proteas have been unbeaten, winning several close matches, finding contributions from everyone in their XI. From fiery pacers to crafty spinners, each bowler brought their unique strengths to the table.
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Afghanistan fails to put on a competitive total
Afghanistan faced a challenging situation as they failed to put on a competitive total after losing key players -Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran - early in their innings. The pressure to rebuild and accelerate the innings intensified with every early dismissal. The batting lineup suffered a blow with Gurbaz's exit on a duck, putting pressure on the team's middle order to stabilise the innings. Zadran's inability to anchor the innings after Gurbaz's departure further compounded Afghanistan's early struggles.
The other batters encountered the daunting task of stabilising the innings and accelerating the run rate amidst the pressure. The target set for the opposition after Afghanistan's early losses was below par, leaving the bowlers with a challenging task of defending a modest total.
Statistical Highlights from SA vs AFG, Semi-Final 2
Anrich Nortje completed 50 T20I wickets.
56 is the lowest ever total by a team in a T20 World Cup semi-final.
Afghanistan registered their lowest ever T20I total.
South Africa have reached their first final in World Cup (ODI & T20I combined)
What’s Next
With the comprehensive victory in the first semi-final, South Africa are set to play their first-ever T20 World Cup final on Saturday, June 29, at Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Next up, India will face off against England in the second semi-final at Providence Stadium, Guyana.
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