Afghanistan won the toss and opt to bat
We are hearing that it’s the first time a team has been bowled out under 100 in the semi-final of a T20 World Cup. Oh, Afghanistan! Not too long ago, they displayed great grit to script history and unfortunately for them, it’s been absolute shambles today. After winning the toss, Afghanistan needed to counter the moving ball and play safe in the powerplay.
56 all-out is the lowest total by a team in a T20 World Cup semi-final match.
Lowest total for Afghanistan in T20Is
56 vs SA, Tarouba, 2024*
72 vs BAN, Mirpur, 2014
80 vs SA, Bridgetown, 2010
80 vs ENG, Colombo, 2012
– all the above four have come in a WC match.
Lowest totals vs South Africa in T20Is
56 – AFG, Tarouba, 2024*
77 – SL, New York, 2024
80 – AFG, Bridgetown, 2010
81 – SCO, The Oval, 2009
The semi-final jinx has finally been broken! South Africa are through to an ICC final and they get there with a brutal display of dominance and fiery fast bowling. Afghanistan were perhaps overawed by the occasion, and two emotionally draining wins over Australia and Bangladesh clearly took a toll on them. A fiery spell of fast bowling from Rabada and Jansen blew them away in the powerplay, as the innings never got going. Shamsi and Nortje joined the party post the powerplay to skittle out Afghanistan for just 56 runs – the lowest ever score in a World Cup semi-final.
Marco Jansen | Player of the Match: Awesome feeling. The guys played really well, we executed perfectly. We just wanted to stick to our plan, bowl good lengths and see how the wicket reacts. The wicket was getting a bit open, and it was about keeping it simple. He is awesome to have as a captain. We’ll enjoy tonight and be on our way again.
Most consecutive wins in T20 WCs
8* – SA (2024)
8 – AUS (2022-2024)
7 – ENG (2010-2012)
7 – IND (2012-2014)
South Africa’s longest winning streaks in T20Is
8* – in 2024
7 – in 2009
7 – in 2021
Biggest win for SA in T20 WCs (by Wkts)
10 wkts vs ZIM, Hambantota, 2012
9 wkts vs AFG, Tarouba, 2024
– 67 balls is the biggest win margin for South Africa in terms of balls remaining in T20Is, bettering 51 balls against Pakistan in Jo’burg in 2007. This is also the biggest defeat margin for Afghanistan in terms of balls remaining in T20Is.
Rashid Khan | Afghanistan Captain: It was tough, tough for us as a team. We might have done better but the conditions didn’t allow us to do what we wanted. That’s how T20 cricket is, you need to be ready for all conditions. I think they bowled really well. I think we got good success in this tournament because the seamers bowled really well, you need good starts. I think we were unlucky with Mujeeb’s injury, but our seamers and even Nabi bowled brilliantly with the new ball. That made our job easier as spinners. We have enjoyed this tournament. We will accept playing a semi-final and losing to a top side like Africa. It is just the beginning for us, we have the confidence and belief to beat any side.
Aiden Markram | South Africa Captain: Feels good. It’s not only the captain that gets you here, it is a massive squad effort. Plenty of guys behind the scenes as well. Fortunate to have lost the toss, we would have batted too. We were brilliant with the ball, got it in the right areas and kept it really simple. The bowlers have been incredible for us. It was challenging with the bat; no batter is going to lie and tell you it was easy out there. We had a bit of luck and then got a bit of a partnership. We have had a few close games and a few people back home would have woken up early with more grey hairs. Glad today was a bit more comforting. It is one more step for us, it is an opportunity we have never had, nothing to be scared of. This win means a lot, we have some world class players in the side but like I said, it takes a whole squad to be able to deliver such a performance.