South Africa Survives Afghanistan Thriller in T20 World Cup Classic
South Africa Survives Afghanistan Thriller in T20 World Cup Classic
In an exciting ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match filled with suspense, South Africa defeated Afghanistan by 5 runs to win one of the most thrilling games of the tournament, which consisted of both a tie in regulation time and a double Super Over.
South Africa, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, scored a total of 187 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs, led by an aggressive opening pair of Quinton De Kock and Ryan Rickelton, who both scored faster than 50 runs and set up a commanding foundation for South Africa to build on. However, Afghanistan’s bowlers came through with key bowling performances in the last few overs.
In reply to South Africa’s total, Afghanistan made 187 runs for 8 wickets in just 19.4 overs, thanks to Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored 84 runs from only 42 balls, giving Afghanistan a chance to tie the match and force a Super Over.
Key Performers
Quinton de Kock & Ryan Rickelton – provided explosive starts for South Africa.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz – match-defining innings for Afghanistan.
David Miller & Tristan Stubbs – decisive Super Over contributions.
The excitement didn’t end there as the first Super Over also resulted in a tie; however, South Africa won the second Super Over with the batters Tristan Stubbs and David Miller batting under pressure and getting the job done.
“We knew it would come down to who held their nerve,” said South Africa captain Aiden Markram. “The boys showed incredible character in the Super Over.”
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan praised his team’s fighting spirit: “We pushed a top side all the way. Gurbaz was outstanding, and this shows we belong at this level.”
What It Means
The victory strengthens South Africa’s position in Group D, while Afghanistan’s narrow loss leaves them needing wins to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Cricket fans worldwide hailed the match as a modern classic, proving once again why T20 cricket remains one of the most thrilling formats in sport.
