Watch, SA vs AFG | Rabada holds nerve under pressure to keep South Africa in game after below-par final over

‌South Africa complicated an easily winnable position against Afghanistan in their T20 World Cup 2026 Group D game before squeezing out two points with a victory in the second Super Over in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. After being put into bat, the Proteas managed to put on 187/6, with Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickelton (61) scoring contrasting half-centuries at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

But Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s onslaught, which saw him smack seven sixes and four boundaries in his 42-ball 84, took the Asian side to level terms before they narrowly fell short in the second one-over eliminator. However, it was not before some nerve-wracking drama played out in the final over of the regulation period, courtesy of Kagiso Rabada, that the game entered Super Over mode.

With 12 runs to defend, the experienced pacer nailed his yorker to price out Noor Ahmad with a very low full-toss after the batter scooped straight to Aiden Markram at extra cover. But to his horror, Rabada had overstepped, and to add insult to injury, the left-arm wrist spinner smashed a six a ball later to get the equation to two runs from three balls.

With the pacer once again bowling the perfect yorker, Noor could only guide the ball to wide long off, where Marco Jansen had some work to do before letting off a wayward throw. Just when it looked like Afghanistan would create history with their first win over the Proteas in the marquee event, Rabada kept his composure to stretch and collect the ball before once again reaching back to the stumps to dislodge the bails with his left hand.

And as the replays showed Fazalhaq Farooqi short by the barest of margins, the pacer breathed a sigh of relief. The South African showed nerves of steel to quickly turn around what would have been an embarrassing day, as the rainbow nation prevailed in the second Super Over.

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