South Africa has survived Kagiso Rabada’s final-over meltdown against Afghanistan and double super over drama before prevailing in a heart-stopping Twenty20 World Cup group clash.
In a remarkable match of fluctuating fortunes, the African team appeared to be in the box seat after half-centuries from Ryan Rickelton (61) and Quinton de Kock (59) powered them to a commanding 6-187.
Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed 84 off 42 balls in Afghanistan’s spirited reply before his side were all out for 187 with two deliveries left in their innings.
Afghanistan milked 17 runs from the first super over sent down by Proteas seamer Lungi Ngidi.
This time, South Africa tied the score with Tristan Stubbs hitting the final delivery from Azmatullah Omarzai for a six.
In the second super over, Afghanistan scored 19 before losing both wickets in reply to South Africa’s 23, thanks to David Miller and Stubbs.
“I’ve lost so much weight today. Never been that stressed in my life in a cricket game,” player of the match Ngidi said afterwards.
New Zealand and South Africa remain on course to advance to the Super Eight from this group after winning two in two. Afghanistan, having lost to both of them, is staring at elimination from the tournament.
On a day of relentless drama, South Africa appeared to be in control heading into the final over of the chase with Afghanistan needing 13 runs with just one wicket in hand.
But Rabada bowled two no-balls and a wide before managing to run out Fazalhaq Farooqi, with the scores level.
There was no dearth of drama even in the second super over.
Chasing 24 for victory, Afghanistan lost Mohammad Nabi to the second ball without a run being scored.
Gurbaz walked in and smacked spinner Keshav Maharaj for three sixes in a row to inject fresh excitement into a contest that already had the crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium on the edge of their seats.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored for the match but could not get his team over the line in the second super over. (Getty Images: Surjeet Yadav/ICC)
The fourth sixth did not materialise, though, and Gurbaz was caught at point to end a lion-hearted display in a must-win contest.
“So, so unlucky to end on the losing side,” Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan said.
“We gave everything on the ground, but we did not get the right result.
“We had our opportunity, even in the last super over as well, but I think there are a lot of things to learn from here, and we’ll only get better.”
South Africa captain Aiden Markram was visibly drained after a drama-filled day.
“It’s quite hard to sum all that up,” he said.
“It’s a tough competition, and teams put you under immense pressure.
“A couple of lessons that we can learn. We were not at our best in a few areas; there’s room for improvement.”
Reuters
