South Africa and Afghanistan played out one of the most memorable matches in the T20 World Cup history with the Proteas edging past their opponents after two super overs in Ahmedabad.
After the first super over was tied, David Miller’s 16 from four balls helped South Africa post 23-0 in the second one before Afghanistan fell four runs short in a remarkable game, which was decided by the finest of margins.
South Africa posted 187‑6 after half-centuries from Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton but Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 84 from 42 and cameos from Azmatullah Omarzai and Rashid Khan, who added 22 and 20, kept a resolute Afghanistan in the chase.
Needing 13 runs from the final over with one wicket in hand, the Afghans were handed a lifeline through two no‑balls from Kagiso Rabada, but Fazalhaq Farooqi was run out looking to scamper two for victory, forcing the match to go to a super over.
There was no winner after the first super over as South Africa matched Afghanistan’s 17-run effort, despite losing Dewald Brevis, but they came out on top in the second attempt.
It is the third time a men’s T20 international has required multiple super overs to be settled after India beat Afghanistan following two super overs in January 2024, while Netherlands beat Nepal after three super overs in June last year.
– Agencies
