South Africa’s quick bowlers decimated Afghanistan’s top order, taking five wickets within the first five overs and setting the stage for a dominant victory in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024. Afghanistan crumbled to a mere 56 all out, a total South Africa chased down with ease despite the early loss of Quinton de Kock. Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks ensured a smooth finish on a challenging Tarouba pitch.

Known for their inconsistent performances in knockout stages, South Africa delivered a clinical performance, excelling in all aspects of the game. Their bowling was particularly impressive, with Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada exploiting the pitch’s lateral movement and bounce. Jansen’s early strikes, including the crucial wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, set the tone. Rabada followed with a devastating over, taking out Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi.

With Afghanistan reeling, Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi cleaned up the lower order. Shamsi’s clever bowling resulted in three lbw decisions, while Nortje’s pace proved too much for the Afghan batters.

South Africa 60 for 1 (Hendricks 29, Farooqi 1-11) Beat Afghanistan 56 (Omarzai 10, Shamsi 3-6, Jansen 3-16) by Nine Wickets*

Despite Farooqi’s early dismissal of de Kock, South Africa’s batters remained composed. Markram and Hendricks capitalized on loose deliveries, quickly reducing the target. The nine-wicket victory, achieved with 67 balls to spare, highlighted South Africa’s dominance and earned them a place in their first-ever men’s World Cup final.

This victory extends South Africa’s unbeaten run in the tournament to eight matches and sets the stage for a historic final appearance. The team’s celebration was muted but significant, reflecting the importance of this milestone in their cricketing history.