ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - South Africa vs Afghanistan : A Magical Show!

damithudaya (79)modAtlas Ambassador - LKin Steem Sri Lanka • 2 months ago

Hello, fellow Sports Enthusiasts,

Today, we witnessed one of the greatest and thrilling Cricket encounters of all time. Two of the competitive Cricket nation on a must-win match; the match was tied, and went to a double super over. It's not just the fact that the control of the match has been changing from one another until the last ball of the second Super over. It's just absolute cinema, and what more could a fan ask for?

Well played, Afghanistan, but tough luck once again! It was your game to lose!

1st inning from South Africa

Well, it was the 13th match of the tournament, and one of the most important matches in Group D. As only two teams could advance to the next round, the winner of this match would go through it most probably along with New Zealand.
Anyhow, with all the pressure and excitement, South Africa started batting first at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Markram didn't get his rhythm, and in the third over, Farroqi took him. Anyhow, from there, Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton took control.
SA just scored 43/1 at 7.16 RPO in the power play. But then accelerated, adding 81/0 at 13.5 RPO in the next 5 overs. De Kock scored 59 runs off 41 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes. Iickelton was the monster, adding 61 runs in 28 balls with 5 fours and 4 sixes.
Anyhow, Rashid Khan got both the set batters in the same over, and Afghanistan came back once again. They just gave 35/4 at 5.83 RPO in the next 5 overs. But with a good finish, SA managed 187/6 in their 20 overs.

Chase from Afghanistan

Afghanistan got a positive start, especially from Gurbaz's bat. In fact, they scored 50 runs in the first four overs of the powerplay, but then lost three quick wickets in the next overs for just 6 runs. Anyhow, Gurbaz carried the inning even with a little support from the other end, and he scoreda 26-ball fifty.
They reached 100 in 11 overs, and with 7 wickets remaining, they were on top. Anyway, in the 13th over, another 2 wickets fell, including Gurbaz. (84 off 42 balls, 4 fours, and 7 sixes.)
Rashid and Azmatullah Omarzai once again built the confidence, and they had just 30 runs in the last 3 overs with 4 wickets remaining. But once again match turned to SA as Lungi Ngidi balled a stunner in the 18th over, taking a wicket for 6 runs. In the next over, Marco got Rashid as well. When everyone thought the match was over, Noor Ahmad smashed a six and showed some hope.
13 runs off the last over from Rabada with just a wicket remaining. Kagiso Rabada vs Noor Ahmad🔥
19.1- Nb, 19.1 - Wd, 19.1 - 0, 19.2 - 6, 19.3 - 0, 19.3 - N2, 19.4 - W1

Balling wides, and no balls, Rabada tried his best to throw away the match, and Afghanistan almost grabbed it. But with a sloppy run from the Farooqi, the match was tied.

1st Super Over

Azmat and Gurbaz came to the middle with Nabi to follow. Ngidi got the ball. Azmat just did what they needed most, smashing two fours and a six. Afghanistan scored 17 runs.

Ball 1 – 4 runs, Ball 2 – 6 runs, Ball 3 – 1 run, Ball 4 – 1 run, Ball 5 – 4 runs, Ball 6 – 1 run

Miller and Brevis came up against Farooqi.

Ball 1 – 1 run, Ball 2 – 6 runs, Ball 3 – wicket, Ball 4 – 4 runs, Ball 5 – dot ball, Ball 6 – 6 runs

Bethel got out after hitting a six in the third ball. 11 needed off 3 balls. Then Stubbs scored a four on the fourth ball, missed out on the next. 7 needed of the last ball, and it wasn't over. Stubbs hit a six, and SA finished on 17/1, level with Afghanistan's score.

2nd Super Over

Miller and Stubbs were the batters, with the ball on Azmat.

Ball 1 – 6 runs, Ball 2 – 1 run, Ball 3 – 2 runs, Ball 4 – 6 runs, Ball 5 – 6 runs, Ball 6 – 2 runs

South Africa finished with 23 runs, becoming the favorite.

Nabi and Azmat came to bat against Mahraj.

Ball 1 – 0, Ball 2 – wicket, Ball 3 – 6 runs, Ball 4 – 6 runs, Ball 5 – 6 runs, Ball 6 – wide, Ball 7 – wicket

After the first 2 balls, everyone thought it was over as 4 sixes were needed in the last 4 balls with one wicket. Anyway, Gurbaz showed his class and smashed three sixes in a row. But unfortunately, he couldn't finish it. AFG 19/1, and SA won it.

This was one hell of a match, with the excitement until the end, with the chance of winning shared to open another. Two quality performances from two quality teams.