T20 World Cup, Trinidad
Match Summary:
- 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)
- Result: South Africa won by nine wickets
South Africa's Triumph
South Africa broke their semi-final curse with a commanding victory over Afghanistan, securing their first-ever spot in the men’s T20 World Cup final. Historically struggling in semi-finals, the Proteas dismissed Afghanistan for 56 runs in just 11.5 overs on a challenging pitch, paving the way for a nine-wicket win in Trinidad.
Marco Jansen set the tone by removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the tournament's leading run-scorer, early in the match. With the score soon at 28-6, spinner Tabraiz Shamsi cleaned up the tail with figures of 3-6, while Jansen ended with 3-16. The state of the pitch, offering excessive seam movement and bounce, raised questions about its suitability for such a crucial event. South Africa also found the chase difficult, with Quinton de Kock being bowled after being hit on the body. However, the Proteas, under little pressure, completed their chase in 8.5 overs.
South Africa remains unbeaten and will head to Saturday’s final in Barbados, aiming for their first World Cup win. They await the winner of the second semi-final between England and India, set to take place on Thursday in Guyana at 15:30 BST.
History and Road to the Final
South Africa’s past semi-final exits have been marked by heartbreaks, such as the rain-affected 1992 match, the dramatic tie with Australia in 1999, and the last-over defeat by New Zealand in 2015. However, any nerves in the Caribbean quickly dissipated this time around.
Jansen’s early strikes, coupled with Kagiso Rabada’s two wickets in his first four balls, decimated Afghanistan’s top order. Afghanistan, known for their strong opening partnerships, crumbled with Azmatullah Omarzai’s 10 being the highest score as the rest fell cheaply.
Pitch Conditions and Strategic Decisions
Afghanistan’s decision to bat first on a tricky pitch proved costly. Jansen utilised his height to extract significant bounce, causing discomfort among the Afghan batsmen. Rabada’s sharp movement and accurate deliveries further compounded Afghanistan’s woes, as Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi fell quickly.
Anrich Nortje also made an impact, taking a wicket in his first over and later bowling Rashid Khan, who had struggled with the pitch’s inconsistent bounce.
South Africa’s chase was not without its challenges. The pitch continued to misbehave, with the first ball staying low and the second hitting De Kock on the body. Despite these difficulties, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram managed to steer South Africa to victory with measured innings of 29 and 23, respectively.
Reactions and Reflections
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan acknowledged the tough conditions, stating that while the team could have performed better, the pitch played a significant role in their struggles. Former England bowler Steven Finn expressed sympathy for Afghanistan, suggesting that South Africa would likely have won on a more favourable surface regardless.
South Africa captain Aiden Markram praised the collective effort of the squad, pinpointing that their progression to the final was a result of contributions from the entire team and support staff.
With the final just days away, South Africa stands on the brink of their first World Cup triumph, hoping to capitalise on this opportunity to end their long wait for a major tournament victory.