Afghanistan made only 56 runs earlier than being bowled out within the first semi-final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, marking the bottom team total in the tournament’s semi-final records. Choosing to bat after triumphing the toss at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad on Wednesday, Afghanistan struggled in opposition to a strong South African bowling assault, revealing weaknesses in their batting lineup.
South Africa’s entry right into a World Cup final has been long awaited, taking approximately 25 years. The Proteas subsequently ended their streak of semi-final defeats today when Aiden Markram and his team dismantled Afghanistan to secure a nine-wicket victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final.
South Africa’s win appeared possibly even earlier than the match, given their unbeaten run of 7 wins inside the tournament. However, they also faced a haunting streak: their poor performance in World Cup semi-finals. Before this semi-final, South Africa had lost all seven of their preceding semi-finals, the most current being a 3-wicket defeat to Australia inside the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi each took 3 wickets, at the same time pacers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje claimed 2 wickets each, in the end bowling out Afghanistan for a disastrous 56 runs within 12 overs.
The innings began disastrously when Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck on the final ball of the first over, caught by Reeza Hendricks off Marco Jansen. This early setback set the tone for Afghanistan’s batting collapse. Ibrahim Zadran managed just 2 runs before Kagiso Rabada bowled him, and Gulbadin Naib was out for 9, also to Jansen.
With the scoreboard showing 20-3, Mohammad Nabi fell for a duck to Rabada, quickly followed by Nangeyalia Kharote’s dismissal to Jansen, leaving Afghanistan struggling at 23-5. The procession of wickets continued as the South African bowlers maintained relentless pressure.
A bowling performance never before seen in Men's #T20WorldCup knockout action 😲
More as South Africa bowl out Afghanistan inside 12 overs 👇#SAvAFGhttps://t.co/zWydMftiYg
— ICC (@ICC) June 27, 2024
South Africa have bowled Afghanistan out on 56 – the lowest score in T20 World Cup semifinals history 🇦🇫 #SAvsAFG #SAvAFG #Prabhas #Indian2 #EURO2024 #T20WorldCup #ICCWorldCup
— Azam Kazi (@Azamkzi) June 27, 2024
It's a huge achievement for us
We played at smfinalThanks Dear Ihtisam for the sweet Complaint
Love you from Afghanistan 🇦🇫— Muhamad Ajan (@MuhamadAjan3) June 27, 2024
Afghanistan batting order 🙂#SAvAFG #T20WC2024 pic.twitter.com/cAPefG9M7N
— Shreyas Srinivasan (@ShreyasS_) June 27, 2024
Australia : 10x World champions (Men), 14 time World champions (Women).
Afghanistan : We trolled Aussies on twitter 🏆 https://t.co/mBxFzZw8hg
— Sanket D. Patil (@sankulyaa) June 27, 2024
32 Years In Cricket 18 World Cups, 1st Ever Final For South Africa 🇿🇦. Well Done Boys.😍❤️👏🏻👏🏻👌🏻🏏🔥🔥
South Africa beat Afghanistan in the semis and will play in the World Cup final for the first time ever. Congratulations to South African cricket fans! ❤️#AFGvSA #SAvAFG… pic.twitter.com/Uj8poQxzAY— Fizza Khan (@fizza7453) June 27, 2024
#AFGvsSA
Pakistan, who were kicked out of the World Cup before the Super 8, are trolling Semi-Finalists Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/Da6jiQNbYW— Ashley (Molly) (@_meAshMolly) June 27, 2024
Journey ends for team Afghanistan! 🇦🇫
– A T20 World Cup Semis for the first time by defeating the likes of New Zealand and Australia. Only onwards and upwards from here for Rashid Khan and his boys. 🌟#SAvAFG #T20WorldCup #Afghan pic.twitter.com/O9RN5HXLOo
— SPORTSBUZZINFO (@Sportsbuzinfo) June 27, 2024
Australia looking at Afghanistan all out for 56 #T20WorldCup2024
#SAvAFG #ras pic.twitter.com/hRIquPYg3P— Pikkkk (@Pikkkkkss) June 27, 2024
Afghanistan's only aim was to eliminate Australia and take Glenn Maxwell's revenge.😳 pic.twitter.com/EtQZSR7BKG
— Satish Mishra 🇮🇳 (@SATISHMISH78) June 27, 2024
Azmatullah Omarzai displayed some resistance with a brave 10 runs from 12 balls, however, he too was removed while trying a lofted shot, stuck through Tristan Stubbs off Anrich Nortje. The lower order collapsed towards the spin of Tabraiz Shamsi, who took 3 wickets for six runs, brushing off Karim Janat, Noor Ahmad, and Naveen-ul-Haq lbw in short succession.
Afghanistan’s lowest score in T20 International matches
56 against SA, Tarouba, 2024
72 against BAN, Mirpur, 2014
80 against SA, Bridgetown, 2010
80 against ENG, Colombo, 2012
Rashid Khan, the captain of Afghanistan, scored only 8 runs before being bowled by Nortje. Fazalhaq Farooqi remained unbeaten on 2 runs as Afghanistan’s innings concluded in just 11.5 overs with a total of 56 runs.
Lowest scores against South Africa in T20 International matches
56 – Afghanistan, Tarouba, 2024
77 – Sri Lanka, New York, 2024
80 – Afghanistan, Bridgetown, 2010
81 – Scotland, The Oval, 2009
Marco Jansen stood out amongst South Africa’s bowlers, completing with figures of 3-16. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje claimed two wickets each, at the same time as Shamsi’s 3-6 performed a crucial function in brushing off Afghanistan’s lower-order batsmen.
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