Durban, South Africa – South Africa’s dominant performance against Afghanistan in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024 showcased their prowess in quicks ravaging Afghanistan’s batting order early on.

With a clinical win, South Africa secured their first-ever berth in a men’s World Cup final, extending their unbeaten run in the tournament to eight matches. The margin of victory, by nine wickets and with 67 balls remaining, highlighted the control they exerted on the match from start to finish.

The Tarouba pitch provided conditions conducive to South Africa’s attack, with Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada capitalizing on the lateral movement and bounce. Jansen’s early breakthroughs, including the key wickets of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib, set the tone for Afghanistan’s collapse.

Rabada further dismantled Afghanistan’s top order with precise bowling, ultimately leading to a double-wicket maiden over. Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi then finished off the innings, showcasing South Africa’s depth in bowling talent.

Facing a modest target, South Africa’s Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks navigated the challenging pitch with composure, securing victory in the ninth over. Despite the testing conditions, the South African batters capitalized on loose deliveries, effectively chasing down the target.

The win marked a historic moment for South Africa, known for their nervy performances in knockout matches. By exhibiting strong bowling, solid fielding, and clinical batting, they demonstrated their readiness for the final showdown in the T20 World Cup 2024.