In a stunning display of dominance, South Africa demolished Afghanistan by nine wickets in the first semi-final of the 2024 T20 World Cup at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. The Proteas bowled out Afghanistan for a paltry 56 runs—the lowest total ever in a T20 World Cup semi-final—before chasing down the target with ease to book their spot in their first-ever World Cup final.
Bowling Masterclass Sets Up an Easy Win
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Afghanistan's innings got off to a disastrous start as Marco Jansen removed the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the very first over. What followed was a procession of Afghan batsmen back to the pavilion as South Africa's pacers ran riot on a pitch offering assistance.
- Kagiso Rabada (3/18) and Anrich Nortje (2/9) complemented Jansen's opening burst perfectly, while spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3/11) cleaned up the tail.
- Only three Afghan batsmen reached double figures, with Azmatullah Omarzai top-scoring with 10.
The innings lasted just 11.5 overs as Afghanistan crumbled to 56 all out—their lowest ever T20I total.
Nortje's performance was particularly noteworthy, as he broke the record for most wickets by a South African in a T20 World Cup tournament. The pace trio of Jansen, Rabada, and Nortje shared seven wickets between them, exposing Afghanistan's vulnerability against high-quality fast bowling.
Comfortable Chase Seals the Deal
Chasing a meagre 57 for victory, South Africa lost Quinton de Kock early to Fazalhaq Farooqi. However, Reeza Hendricks (29*) and Aiden Markram (23*) steadied the ship and guided their team home in just 8.5 overs. Hendricks fittingly hit the winning runs—a six followed by a four off Azmatullah Omarzai—to spark jubilant celebrations in the Proteas camp.
Marco Jansen was adjudged Player of the Match for his figures of 3/13, which set the tone for South Africa's dominance. "Awesome feeling. The guys played really well, and we executed perfectly. We just wanted to stick to our plan, bowl good lengths, and see how the wicket reacts," said Jansen after the game.
South Africa's Journey to the Final
The comprehensive win saw South Africa maintain their unbeaten record in the tournament. They have displayed remarkable resilience throughout, finding ways to win close matches and stepping up in crucial moments.
"You don't have confidence if you manage to win games the way that we have," said South African coach Rob Walter before the semi-final.
"We're working through that continuum the whole time and being real about the things that we need to do better, being real about where we are in certain aspects of our game, and celebrating the stuff that we've been getting right."
South African spinner Keshav Maharaj echoed those sentiments, saying: "If you look at previous World Cups, the small moments, we haven't really won. It's good to see that all the games have come really close, and we've found a way, so it's building character within the team."
The Proteas' batting lineup, led by the likes of Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen, has been formidable throughout the tournament. Klaasen, in particular, has been exceptional against spin bowling, boasting a strike rate of 182.12 against spinners in T20 cricket since the beginning of 2023—the best among batsmen who have played at least 40 innings against spin in this period.
Afghanistan's fairytale run ends
While the semi-final turned out to be a one-sided affair, Afghanistan's journey to the last four was nothing short of remarkable. Having played their first official fixture only in 2004, the team has made rapid strides in international cricket over the past two decades.
Former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan praised current skipper Rashid Khan's leadership throughout the tournament. "I feel Rashid has been the captain of the tournament. He has led by example. He has been an inspirational captain, a match-winner with the ball, and very effective with the bat,"
Afghanistan's success in the tournament was built on strong performances from their bowlers, particularly Fazalhaq Farooqi, who ended the tournament as the leading wicket-taker. The spin duo of Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad also played crucial roles in their team's journey to the semi-finals.
Rashid Khan himself remained upbeat despite the crushing loss.
"It was tough for us as a team. We might have done better, but the conditions didn't allow us to do what we wanted," he said after the match. "This has been a great learning experience for us. What we take from the competition is our belief. We know we have the skills; it is just about managing tough situations and pressure situations."
Looking Ahead
South Africa will now await the winner of the second semi-final between India and England to know their opponents for Saturday's final. No team has ever won the T20 World Cup undefeated, giving both South Africa and India (should they make it) a chance to create history.
For more on this, read : India Vs England : T20 World Cup 2024 Semi-Final 2
The final will be played at the same venue, the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. The pitch has generally favored bowlers throughout the tournament, with an average first-inning score of 137.5 in the eight T20Is played there. The highest score at the venue was England's 267/3 against the West Indies in 2023, while the lowest was Uganda's 40 all out against New Zealand earlier in this World Cup.
For Afghanistan, the tournament marks another step forward in their cricketing journey. As Rashid Khan put it, "It is just the beginning for us; we have the confidence and belief to beat any side. We just need to keep our processes going."
The stage is now set for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the 2024 T20 World Cup. Can South Africa shake off their 'chokers' tag and clinch their maiden world title? Or will we see a new champion crowned on Saturday? Cricket fans around the world will be eagerly waiting to find out.
Key Statistics:
- Lowest T20 World Cup semi-final total: Afghanistan's 56 all out
- Most wickets in the T20 World Cup 2024: Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan)
- Most runs in the T20 World Cup 2024: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan) with 281 runs
- South Africa's T20 World Cup knockout record before this match: Played 2, Lost 2
The 2024 T20 World Cup has already produced several memorable moments, and with the final yet to come, more cricketing history is set to be written in the coming days.
Inputs by Agencies
Image Source: Multiple Sources
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