The Sports Buff ⚽️ ⚾️ 🏈

The 2024 World T20 runners-up, South Africa, produced one of the games of the tournament and arguably one of the best ever games in this T20 World Cup. Batting first, The Proteas, who are seen as the side most likely to challenge India for the World T20 title, were given an almighty challenge here.

South Africa scored 187-6, which appeared to be a good competitive total. Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickleton (61) put on 114 for the second wicket. After the dismissal of the former skipper, de Kock (59), a collapse ensued. Five wickets fell for 61 runs.

As good a total as that was, considering the position Aiden Markram’s men were in, Afghanistan were let off the hook a little bit. In reply, the former semi-finalists knew they needed to win to definitely stay in the tournament.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who would play a part later in the match (more on that shortly), top-scored for Rashid Khan’s side (84 off 42-balls). Khan (22 off 12) did offer some support as Afghanistan, against the odds, forced the game into a tie.

So a super over followed. Azmatullah (16) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (1) were unbeaten as they set South Africa a challenging 17 to win. In response, South Africa lost Dewald Brevis (6).

Some clean-hitting from Tristan Stubbs (10 off 3-balls) saw South Africa scramble to 17-1, from their completed over. The match was tied, and both sides couldn’t be separated after the first over, which meant a second Super Over.

David Miller (16) and Tristan Stubbs (7) helped The Porteas, second time round, get to 23 from their completed over; Azmatullah Omarzai was on the end of some brutal treatment.

A superb game was going to one over. Afghanistan sent out Mohammed Nabi, who looked a bit laboured, and was soon dismissed by Keshav Maharaj. That brought Gurbaz to the crease. The Afghans seemed down and out, but Gurbaz Rahmanullah astonishingly hit three sixes in a row to add to the drama.

Under-pressure at this point, Maharaj tried to disturb the flow of scoring and opted to bowl the ball wide on the off-stump. The ball was too wide and a wide was called.

This left the match scenario finely poised. Afghanistan needed five to win from one ball. A six wins the game, and a four would take the match to another super over.

Sadly for Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s stroke off the next ball would fall into the grateful and relieved hands of captain Aiden Markram, which helped seal a thrilling four-run victory in the Super Over.

South Africa’s hopes of progression are high, but the same can’t be said of South Africa Afghanistan, who are all but out of the tournament.