South Africa cruised to a dominant nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, played at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad.
The win marks a historic moment for the Proteas, securing their first-ever berth in a T20 World Cup final.
Afghanistan’s woes began at the toss, as their decision to bat first backfired spectacularly. South Africa’s potent pace attack, led by the fiery Marco Jansen (3/16) and the experienced Kagiso Rabada (2/14), ripped through the Afghan batting lineup. The powerplay was a nightmare for the Asian side, as they were skittled for a mere 28 runs – the lowest score by any team after the initial six overs in a T20 World Cup semi-final.
The carnage continued as Anrich Nortje (2/7) and Tabraiz Shamsi (3/6) cleaned up the tail, restricting Afghanistan to a paltry 56 runs – the lowest total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup semi-final and the lowest score ever posted against South Africa in T20 Internationals.
South Africa’s chase began on a shaky note as well. Naveen-ul-Haq’s fiery opening spell resulted in the dismissal of the dangerous Quinton de Kock in the second over, with the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, Fazalhaq Farooqi, claiming the prized scalp. However, Aiden Markram (23*) and Reeza Hendricks (29*) steadied the ship with a crucial 55-run partnership, ensuring a comfortable victory for the Proteas and a berth in their maiden T20 World Cup final.
Marco Jansen’s unplayable spell in the powerplay, where he claimed three wickets for just 16 runs, was instrumental in dismantling the Afghan batting order and setting the tone for a one-sided contest. This exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
Scorecard:
Afghanistan: 56, Overs 11.5, Azmatullah Omarzai 10, Tabraiz Shamsi 3/6
South Africa: 60/1, Overs 8.5, Reeza Hendricks 29*, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1/11