South Africa qualified for the T20 World Cup final for the first time
South Africa registered a comfortable 9-wicket win over Afghanistan in the 1st semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 at Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan won the toss and opted to bat first.
After winning the toss, Afghanistan were off to a horrible start, and they lost half of their side inside the power play. Azmatullah Omarzai was the only batsman to reach the double-figure mark and scored 10 runs. Other than that, no one was able to pass the double-figure mark. Gulbadin Naib scored 9 runs. Karim Janat and Rashid Khan contributed with 8 runs each. Eventually Afghanistan bowled out for 56 runs in 11.5 overs. It’s rated as the lowest score in the T20 World Cup and also Afghanistan’s lowest T20I score. For South Africa, Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi claimed 3 wickets each.
In reply to that, South Africa chased down the target successfully and scored 60 runs for loss of 1 wicket in 8.5 overs. After the dismissal of Quinton de Kock for 5 runs, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram made an unbroken 55-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Reeza Hendricks scored an unbeaten 29 runs, and Aiden Markram scored 23 runs not out.
With that win, South Africa qualified for the T20 World Cup finals, and they will meet the winner of the 2nd semi-final on 29 June at Kensington Oval in Barbados.
