Watch, SA vs AFG | Street-smart Gurbaz shreds Jansen’s short-ball ploy to pieces with stunning six

‌South Africa and Afghanistan were involved in an engrossing game in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. There was nothing to separate both sides even after a round of Super Over, with the Proteas finally prevailing in the second iteration of the one-over eliminator at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

After being put into bat, the rainbow nation managed 187/6, courtesy of boundary-laden half-centuries from opener Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickelton (61). But Rahmanullah Gurbaz came up with a fitting riposte, smashing 84 off just 42 balls, including seven sixes and four boundaries, to level the Proteas total before falling short in the second Super Over.

But the Afghanistan opener’s blistering start sent shock waves across the South African camp. After two boundaries in the first over, Gurbaz showed great anticipation to punish Marco Jansen’s short-ball ploy. With the left-arm pacer trying to aim the batter’s ribs with a rising delivery off only his third ball, the wicketkeeper-batter had an instant response.

He moved away from the stumps before using Jansen’s pace to upper cut the ball over the third-man fence for his first six of the innings. That shot was a clear-cut message from Gurbaz that he was ready for the chin music from the tall and lanky pacer, who looked clueless while walking back to his mark.

That was some shot!