Proteas have to dig deep to take down Afghanistan

Afghanistan's hopes of a back-to-back Super 8 appearance at the T20 World Cup were dented as they suffered their second straight defeat. But it wasn't for the lack of effort.

The Asian side took South Africa to the brink, pushing them to two super overs before falling agonisingly short. The teams were tied for 187 in 20 overs, then for 17 in the first super over. The 2024 finalists hammered 23 in the second super over and held their nerve to restrict Afghanistan to 19/2, winning by four runs.

Put into bat, South Africa posted a commanding 187/6 Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Though captain Aiden Markram fell early, Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickleton joined forces and took the game to Afghanistan. Boundaries flowed freely as the left-handed duo built a 116-run partnership in just 61 balls.

De Kock brought up his fifty with a pull for four, scoring 59 runs in 41 balls. Rickleton was even more devastating, scoring 61 in just 28 balls, with the help of five fours and four sixes.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan stalled the South African progress temporarily as he sent back both De Kock and Rickleton in the space of three balls. Lower down the order, Dewald Brevis (23) and David Miller (20 not out) chipped in with cameos as South Africa finished at 187/6.

With Rahmanullah Gurbaz on song, Afghanistan made the perfect start to a challenging chase. Gurbaz struck two fours and three sixes as the Asian side brought up 50 in four overs.

South Africa checked the Afghan run chase with three quick wickets. After Lungi Ngidi castled Ibrahim Zadran, who was just starting to free his arms, he had Gulbadin Naib caught and bowled for zero. Kagiso Rabada then dismissed Sediqullah Atal in the next over, as Afghanistan crashed from 51/0 to 52/3.

However, Gurbaz continued to go for his shots. He made space and cracked a six over cover to bring up his fifty in 26 balls. With the wicketkeeper-bat leading the charge, Afghanistan scored 93/3 in 10 overs. Scoring at an incredible strike rate of 200, Gurbaz slammed seven sixes and four fours.

While Gurbaz's defiant knock ended at 84, Azmatullah Omarzai (22) and Khan (20) took on the torch and made sure they kept pace with South Africa. Going into the last over, Afghanistan needed 13 runs to win. Just when South Africa needed a disciplined performance from Rabada, the pacer bowled a wayward over, starting with a no ball and wide. Afghanistan chugged along to 187 but Farooqi's run out sent the match into the tournament's first super over.

Afghanistan walked into bat first and Omarzai hit a four and a six off the first two balls to take his side to 17/0. With South Africa matching the score, the match headed into another super over.

In the second super over, Miller and Tristan Stubbs combined to score 23/0. South Africa's Keshav Maharaj gave the team the perfect start, dismissing Mohammad Nabi on the second ball. Gurbaz yet again closed the gap with three sixes in a row but South Africa held their nerves and restricted Afghanistan to 19/2.

South Africa Men’s Squad - ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Aiden Markram (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Corbin Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Dewald Brevis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Quinton de Kock (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Momentum Multiply Titans), George Linde (World Sports Betting Western Province), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kwena Maphaka  (DP World Lions), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins) and Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors).

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Group D Fixtures

Monday, 9 February at 3.30pm SAST

South Africa v Canada - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad - SA won by 57 runs

Wednesday, 11 February at 7.30am SAST

South Africa v Afghanistan - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad - SA won in second Super Over

Saturday, 14 February at 3.30pm SAST

New Zealand v South Africa - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Tuesday, 18 February at 7.30am SAST

South Africa v United Arab Emirates - Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi