In a commanding display of cricketing prowess, South Africa dashed Afghanistan’s dreams with a resounding nine-wicket victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final clash on Wednesday. The Proteas, led by a stellar bowling performance, decimated Afghanistan’s batting lineup, restricting them to a paltry 56 runs.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and pacer Marco Jansen starred with the ball, claiming three wickets each to dismantle Afghanistan’s fragile batting order. The Proteas’ fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje supported with crucial wickets, maintaining relentless pressure throughout the innings.
Chasing a modest target, South Africa overcame the early loss of Quinton de Kock to cruise to victory with Reeza Hendricks (29*) and captain Aiden Markram (23*) guiding them to 60 for one in just 8.5 overs.
“We assessed pretty early that the wicket was giving us something to work with so it was just about sticking to our plans, keeping it simple and getting the results,” said Marco Jansen, who was named Man of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance.
With this victory, South Africa secures their first-ever final berth in a senior men’s T20 World Cup, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between England and India. The final is scheduled to take place in Barbados on Saturday.
Reflecting on the match, Afghan captain Rashid Khan acknowledged the tough challenge his team faced, stating, “It was a tough night for us as a team, but that’s how it goes in T20s.” Despite the defeat, Rashid expressed pride in Afghanistan’s journey in the tournament, highlighting their achievements and pledging to improve in future competitions.
South Africa’s journey to the final marks a significant milestone for the cricketing nation, with captain Aiden Markram emphasizing the collective effort behind their success. “It’s not really the captain who gets you to this stage of a competition. It’s a massive squad effort involving those behind the scenes and off the field,” Markram noted.
As South Africa prepares for their final showdown, the cricketing world eagerly awaits to see if they can seize their maiden ICC T20 World Cup title, adding another chapter to their cricketing legacy.
