South Africa defeats Afghanistan to go to the 2024 T20 World Cup final

In the inaugural semifinal of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, South Africa stunned Afghanistan with a dominant display, earning their first-ever trip to the championship match on Wednesday.

With one wicket lost, South Africa easily finished the 8.5-over chase, well ahead of the pitiful 57-run goal.

Because of Fazalhaq Farooqi’s clean bowling of Quinton de Kock (5) in the second over, the Proteas did not have the ideal start to their chase.

But captain Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks made sure his team easily chased down the low total.

They completed the game in the ninth over, having put up an undefeated 55-run stand for the second wicket.

Markram scored a career-high 23 off of 21 balls, containing four boundaries, while Hendricks top-scored with 29 runs from 25 balls, including three fours and one six.

Afghanistan was bowled out for a pitiful total in 11.5 overs, failing to capitalise on captain Rashid Khan’s decision to bat first against South Africa on a challenging pitch.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the Asian team’s top opener, was out of the game with four runs scored when he was dismissed on the final ball of the first over, giving them an awkward start.

After getting rid of Gurbaz, Marco Jansen took Gulbadin Naib (2009) for a wicket in the following over, bringing his total to nine.

Afghanistan then collapsed to 28-6 in 6.3 overs after losing four wickets in rapid succession, including Azmatullah Omarzai, the only batter to reach multiple digits with 10 off 12.

An impressive 22-run partnership for the seventh wicket was then shown by captain Rashid Khan (8) and all-rounder Karim Janat (8).

Noor Ahmed (0) was dismissed in the same over by Tabraiz Shamsi, who also ended the partnership by eliminating Janat.

Khan was bowled by Anrich Nortje, and Afghanistan’s innings was ended when Shamsi removed last man Naveen-ul-Haq (2).

Jansen bowled 3-6, shamesi came back with impressive numbers.