Unbeaten South Africa reaches T20 World Cup final
In the semifinal, Afghanistan set a modest target of 57 runs, which South Africa chased down in 8.5 overs, losing just one wicket.
KATHMANDU: South Africa has advanced to the ICC T20 World Cup final for the first time after defeating Afghanistan by 9 wickets in the first semifinal match held this morning.
In the semifinal, Afghanistan set a modest target of 57 runs, which South Africa chased down in 8.5 overs, losing just one wicket.
Reeza Hendricks remained unbeaten with 29 runs, and captain Aiden Markram scored 23 runs. Quinton de Kock contributed 5 runs. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the only Afghan bowler to take a wicket.
Earlier, Afghanistan, after winning the toss and opting to bat, was all out for 56 runs in 11.5 overs at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Azmatullah Omarzai top-scored for Afghanistan with 10 runs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0), Ibrahim Zadran (2), Gulbadin Naib (9), Mohammad Nabi (0), Nangyal Kharote (2), Karim Janat (8), Noor Ahmad (0), captain Rashid Khan (8), and Naveen-ul-Haq (2) failed to reach double figures.
South Africa reached the final undefeated. They advanced to the semifinals and Super 8 stage as group winners. In the group stage, South Africa defeated Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Netherlands, and Bangladesh. In the Super 8, they beat England, the West Indies, and the USA.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, defeated New Zealand, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the group stage, and Australia and Bangladesh in the Super 8. Afghanistan’s only losses in this World Cup were against the West Indies in the group stage and India in the Super 8.
