South Africa escaped a shocking upset against Afghanistan in a stunning match that saw them play two super overs for the first time in T20 World Cup history.
Afghanistan miraculously took the match to a super over after Kagiso Rabada’s disastrous final over (including three extras) allowed the inferior side to equal South Africa’s total of 187 on the last ball of the match.
After one super over, the inferior team’s total of 17 looked strong, but South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs’ last six balls incredibly brought the match to a historic second super over.
After Proteas scored 24 runs, opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit a three-six and almost made a save, but spinner Keshav Maharaj sealed the match with his last-ball wicket and won the game.
The defeat means Jonathan Trott’s side have lost both of their first two Group D matches, but South Africa remains in a good position to remain second and qualify for the Super 8 stage.
How Afghanistan led South Africa to first double super over in T20 World Cup history
Afghanistan was largely spared a major shock.
Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock both bowled 50 balls, with 23 and 34 balls respectively, giving South Africa an innings lead of 111-1, but some confusion in the second half of Afghanistan’s bowling slowed the scores, as they lost four wickets for just 35 runs, leaving South Africa at 187-6 at the end of 20 overs.
However, the underdogs shocked Lungi Ngidi with 13 runs in the first over and got off to a good start with fifty in the first four overs, putting South Africa under pressure.
Gurbaz scored an impressive 84 out of 41 points, but was caught after cutting an edge on a drive, swinging the momentum back in favor of the championship favorite. Moments later, a wicket-to-wicket mismatch led to a disastrous run-out, and Afghanistan looked set to win 121-5.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Manager Sam Curran said England were in a good position following their dramatic opening win against Nepal. England face West Indies on Wednesday. The match can be streamed for free on the Sky Sports app.
Afghanistan fought back to 13 runs until the final over to keep the match as their run rate increased in the latter stages, but the subsequent wicket of dangerous Noor Ahmad was ruled out as Rabada crossed the line with a no-ball. The bowler followed that disastrous mistake with a wide, leaving Afghanistan with just two off three balls for their third run in the final over.
Noor’s cover drive gave them a chance to take the lead, but the third umpire ruled that Fazalhaq Farooqi’s bat missed the line by a millimeter, resulting in a run-out on the final wicket and, unbelievably, the first super over of the tournament.
Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi watches as South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada holds the ball.
Afghanistan’s heroics soon followed, with star Azmat Omarzai scoring 10 off Ngidi’s first two balls to put the underdogs in control, before Rabada hit a third mega-drive to the boundary to give the Afghanistan all-rounder 16 points, a mammoth super over for a total of 17.
In South Africa’s Super Over, Dewald Brevis gave life to his team by scoring 7 runs from the first two, but Farooqi brought South Africa into the game with a nice slow ball. However, substitute Tristan Stubbs scored a miraculous six, taking the match to the second Super Over for the first time in T20 World Cup history.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
On the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton and T20 analyst Freddie Wilde discuss how England will fare in the upcoming T20 World Cup following their successful series against Sri Lanka.
Stubbs picked up where he left off to top score, while David Miller matched his compatriot with two huge sixes off as many balls, giving South Africa a commanding score of 24 after the second super over.
Afghanistan faltered as Miller took an early catch from Mohammad Nabi, needing up to four from four balls.
Gulbaz, in an incredible feat, hit three consecutive sixes leaving him with just the four needed to take the match to the third Super Over, but spinner Keshav Maharaj’s last-ball wicket sealed South Africa’s victory after a mind-boggling display.
