SA vs AFG | Blockbuster Proteas break semis curse as Afghan fairytale comes to grinding halt

Opting to bat first, Afghanistan's innings got off to an ominous start with Marco Jansen scalping the tournament's top run-getter Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a three-ball duck in the very first over. The tall left-arm quick dealt further damage by crashing into the promoted Gulbadin Naib's stumps in his ensuing over before an unplayable Kagiso Rabada double-wicket maiden left the Asian contingent reeling at 20/4. Jansen kept his streak going by having Nangeyalia Kharote caught behind with his third over in the powerplay, setting the stage for Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi to finish the job. The former opened his tally when Azmatullah Omarzai inexplicably holed out for 10 and doubled his account by sending Rashid Khan's stumps cartwheeling in the 11th over. Meanwhile, Shamsi extracted prodigious turn off the deck, and took less than two overs to clean up the tail. Afghanistan were thus bowled out for their lowest-ever T20I total of 56, with just one batter crossing into double digits.

Afghan's all-star new-ball duo of Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq inspired hopes of a miraculous triumph with unplayable spells up-top, including the former castling Quinton de Kock after a brilliant set-up. However, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram held their nerves to expertly navigate the challenging conditions early on before stepping on the accelerator to get the job done within nine overs and script history for the Proteas.

pic.twitter.com/irJGJrUtFy

— Johnson (@Johnson427427) June 27, 2024

LOL

Highest scorer for Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/gWedOCVfp3

— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) June 27, 2024

Disappointed

While the emotions have centred around Afghanistan in this game, South Africa have shown why they have been the team to watch under a fine captain in Markram. First time in the final and much credit to them.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 27, 2024

OUT

Afghanistan cricket board team needs to add better batters, after gurbaz and Ibrahim get out, that’s where they barley get any runs. #SAvsAFG

— Bro (@nnapdark) June 27, 2024