T20 World Cup: South Africa beat Afghanistan to reach final

South Africa defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets to reach the first T20 World Cup final at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Ground in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday. South Africa won for the first time in eight short-format World Cup semi-finals since 1992. They will face the winner of Thursday’s second semi-final between India and holders England this Saturday in Barbados.

T20 World Cup: South Africa beat Afghanistan to reach final

The perennial underachievers stunned the Afghans by destroying their batting in under 12 overs and limiting them to their lowest T20 international score. Reeza Hendricks and skipper Aiden Markram guided South Africa to their target in nine overs after Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled Quinton de Kock early. After dismissing the cricket babes in 11.5 overs, Proteas reached the target with 67 balls to spare.

“Really chuffed for us to have one more crack at lifting a trophy,” he said.

Many of our games have been close, and we’ve given many people back at home early in the morning grey hairs.

“So hopefully this evening was a little bit more comforting for them.”

Afghanistan, playing their first semi-final after a thrilling Super Eight win over Bangladesh in St Vincent on Monday, won the toss and batted but were bowled out for 56 runs. The only batter in double figures was Azmatullah Omarzai (10).

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the tournament’s top run-scorer, and Ibrahim Zadran led the Afghan batting with three century opening partnerships on their fairytale run to the last four. Left-arm quick After Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck with four runs on the board in the first over, Marco Jansen (3-16) bowled Gulbadin Naib for nine in the third over.

In the fourth over, paceman Kagiso Rabada (2-14) bowled Zadran and Mohammad Nabi for two runs each. As Afghanistan became the first team to score less than 100 runs in a T20 World Cup semi-final, third quick Anrich Nortje (2-7). Hence, left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3-6) took wickets.

Poor prospects

Afghanistan was rewarded for never giving up despite their bleak prospects. So, their bowlers clarified that the South African batsmen had to earn their spot in the final. Also, De Kock became the tournament’s 17th victim when left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi smashed his stumps in the second over.

Hendricks (29 not out) and Markram (23 not out) were content to play through dot balls and wait for their chances as they approached their modest goal. South Africa extended their tournament winning streak to eight matches with opener Hendricks’ six off a free hit and four in successive balls.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan led his team to wins over New Zealand and Australia to reach the semi-finals, but they were disappointed.

“It was a tough night for us as a team … they bowled exceptionally well,” said. I think we would have accepted reaching the semi-finals and playing a top team at the start of the tournament.

“Our journey is just beginning. We have the confidence we want and believe we can beat anyone on one day.”

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