SA Vs AFG: The Proteas are the first finalists of the T20 World Cup 2024. The semi-final one was played between the teams of South Africa and Afghanistan at Brain Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad. Afghanistan had reached the semi-final stage of an ICC mega event of the shortest format for the first ever. But this joy for Rashid Khan and his men was short-lived.
SA Vs AFG: South Africa Bundled Out Afghans For Just 56 Runs
The Proteas have successfully put the Chokers tag away with this performance. Even though South Africa had lost the toss, they did well to be in the game. Rashid and Co won the toss and opted to bowl first in this all-important match. However, their batters had a disappointing outing as none of them could not even score more than 11 runs.
Afghanistan defended a low score against Bangladesh to reach the semi-finals of this edition of the T20 World Cup 2024. But in the semi-final one, it was only Azmatullah Omzai, who top scored with just ten runs and the next highest in the semi-final one match was just nine runs which was scored by Gulbadin Naib.
The highest run-getter of Afghanistan in this T20 World Cup 2024, Rahmatullah Gurbaz was out on a golden duck and Ibrahim Zadran, who is the second run-getter for his country was also dismissed for just two runs. South Africa made full use of the conditions which suited their bowlers the most. Maybe, Rashid Khan and Co didn’t read the pitch properly and that’s why they opted to bowl first in this game.
With the ball, the Proteas have been good since the start of this edition of the shortest format. They also bundled out Sri Lanka for a low score earlier in the tournament and even defended a modest total against the Bangla Tigers in the league stage of this edition of the T20 World Cup 2024. Marco Jansen was the bowler who started the procession of wickets for the men of Afghanistan in this crucial match.
Jansen was also the pick of the South African bowlers. He picked up three wickets to his name and with him, the left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi also picked up a three fer in this semi-final encounter. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje also picked two wickets each. This collective effort with the white cherry in hand allowed South Africa to bundle out Afghanistan for just 56 runs in 11.5 overs.
SA Vs AFG: South Africa Has Reached Their First Ever Finals Of A T20 World Cup
The Proteas have always been the favourites in each tournament of the ICC. But they have always disappointed their fans when they haven’t stepped up in a crucial match like the semi-finals. However, today was a different outing for Aiden Markram and his men. Their all-round performance in the match of semi-final one has given them a chance to end the drought for the ICC trophy.
After bowling extremely well, South Africa also chased down the score of 57 runs as a target with ease. They had lost the wicket of Quinton De Kock for just 5 runs, Fazalhaq Farooqi, the highest wicket-taker of the Afghanistan side picked up the wicket of the South African wicketkeeper batter in the 1.5th over.
But after that, the Proteas didn’t lose any more wickets and chased that small total with ease in 8.5 overs. South Africa won the semi-final one match by nine wickets and reached their maiden finals in the T20 World Cup history. Marco Jansen was named as the player of the match for his excellent bowling spell.
Now the Proteas will be awaiting the result of today’s semi-final two match, which will be played between the defending champions, England and India at Providence Stadium in Guyana. The winner of this encounter will take on South Africa in the finals of the T20 World Cup 2024, which will be played on Saturday, 29th June 2024 in Barbados.
