Reliving the Action: South Africa vs Afghanistan 1st Semi-Final Highlights

 

Introduction

The cricketing scene was nervous as SA vs AFG in the first Semi-Last of the competition. This match certainly lived up to its promise of being a thrilling encounter. This semi-final will be remembered for years to come thanks to a combination of individual heroics, tactical brilliance, and edge-of-the-seat moments.

Highlights of the First Semi-Final: SA vs AFG

Welcome to the highlights of our coverage of the first semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. On Thursday, June 27, in Trinidad, South Africa defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets in a comprehensive victory. The team's lowest score in T20 internationals was 56 runs when the Proteas first defeated Rashid Khan and co. They then, at that point, completed the pursuit in 8.5 overs to zoom into their maiden World Cup last. Meanwhile, the Afghan dream was marred by heartbreak. Here, you can watch the highlights of the game between AFG and SA.

SA Team Squads

Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Bjorn Fortuin, Ryan Rickelton.

AFG Team Squad

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Najibullah Zadran, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Ishaq.

SA vs AFG Head-To-Head Record 

The two groups have gone head to head two times before in T20 internationals, and South Africa have arisen victors on the two events.

SA vs AFG Semi-Final Weather Report

The Afghanistan vs. South Africa matchup in Trinidad will be pleasant, with temperatures in the late 20s Celsius. Play may be halted during the second half of the game if there is a small chance of rain, but a washout is highly unlikely.

SA vs AFG Semi-Final Updates

During the first semi-final at Tarouba's Brian Lara Cricket Academy, South Africa's quicks wrecked Afghanistan's T20 World Cup hopes.

In a one-sided match on Thursday AEST, the undefeated Proteas defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets, chasing a measly 57-run target with 67 balls remaining.

Before that, after captain Rashid Khan won the toss and chose to bowl first, Afghanistan fell to 6-28 in the seventh over. Quicks from South Africa, Marco Jansen (3-16) and Kagiso Rabada (2-14), ripped through the top order on a volatile deck.

Before spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3-6) and speedster Anrich Nortje (2-7) cleaned up the tail, Karim Janat and Khan briefly stabilized the ship with a partnership of 22 runs for the seventh wicket.

In just 11.5 overs, Afghanistan was bowled out for 56, the nation's lowest T20I team total.

When wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock was bowled for 5 by Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi in the second over, South Africa's run chase got off to a rocky start.

But Afghanistan didn't look at a caught-behind chance in the next over from Naveen-ul-Haq's bowling, giving Aiden Markram, captain of the Proteas, a huge reprieve on zero.

With opener Reeza Hendricks (29 not out) and Markram (23 not out), South Africa won its first World Cup semi-final victory in eight attempts with a 55-run partnership for the second wicket.

"It was an intense night for us," Khan said during the post-match show.

"Prior to the competition, assuming we had been informed we'd be in the semi-last, we would have acknowledged that.

"It's just the beginning for us; we believe we can defeat any team on our day,"

SA vs AFG Semi-Final Scoreboard 

South Africa versus Afghanistan, Semi-last 1 T20 World Cup 2024: South Africa whipped Afghanistan by nine wickets to arrive at the last of the T20 Cricket World Cup, interestingly.

At Trinidad's Brian Lara Stadium, the Proteas breezed to their target of a 60-1 victory after defeating Afghanistan for 56 runs.

South Africa's left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3 for 6) and pacer Marco Jansen (3-16) led the demolition of an unreliable Afghanistan batting lineup for 56 runs in 11.5 overs after they elected to bat.

Quick bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje kept up with the tireless strain with two wickets each.

South Africa lost Quinton de Kock early in their response for Fazalhaq Farooqi's tournament-leading 17th wicket on a surface that encouraged all bowlers but left Afghanistan with too little to defend.

Be that as it may, Reeza Hendricks (29 not out) and chief Aiden Markram (23 not out) saw South Africa to triumph at 60 for one off 8.5 overs.

The Proteas will face the winner of Thursday's second semi-final between title-holder England and undefeated India in Guyana at the showpiece event in Barbados.

Lowest team score in Men’s T20 World Cup knockouts

56 – Afghanistan vs RSA, 2024

101 – West Indies vs SL, 2009

101 – Sri Lanka vs WI, 2012

7-123 – Pakistan vs SL, 2012

6-128 – Sri Lanka vs ENG, 2010

Conclusion

The first Semi-Final SA vs AFG was a feature of top-level cricket. Ultimately, South Africa prevailed due to their experience and resilience under pressure, but Afghanistan's spirited performance won them many admirers. This semi-final will be remembered as a classic illustration of the excitement and unpredictability of cricket as we look forward to the final.