T20 World Cup 2026: South Africa held their composure in a breathtaking contest to defeat Afghanistan after an extraordinary double Super Over finish in their Group D clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.
The thrilling encounter witnessed momentum swing repeatedly before the Proteas ultimately secured victory in one of the most dramatic finishes of the tournament.
Opting to bat first, South Africa posted a competitive total of 187/6, powered by half-centuries from Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton. De Kock provided early impetus with a fluent knock, striking the ball cleanly and maintaining a brisk scoring rate during the powerplay.
Rickelton then carried forward the momentum with a well-constructed innings, ensuring South Africa maintained
pressure on Afghanistan's bowling attack through the middle overs. Late cameos helped the Proteas push towards a challenging total.
Afghanistan responded with remarkable resilience, led by a sensational innings from Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The aggressive opener played a fearless brand of cricket, finding boundaries consistently and keeping his side firmly in the chase. Gurbaz's commanding 84 anchored Afghanistan's innings as they matched South Africa's 187-run total, forcing the contest into a Super Over.
The first Super Over produced more high drama as Afghanistan piled up 17 runs with confident strokeplay under pressure. South Africa, however, refused to back down and matched the target, pushing the game into a rare second Super Over and sending the packed stadium into a frenzy.
In the decisive tie-breaker, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs showcased remarkable composure and power hitting. The duo launched a brutal assault on Afghanistan's bowlers, combining to score 23 runs and place South Africa firmly in control.
Afghanistan's response began in explosive fashion as Gurbaz smashed three consecutive sixes, threatening to pull off a sensational finish. However, South Africa's bowlers held their nerve in the closing deliveries to restrict Afghanistan, leaving them three runs short of the target.
The dramatic victory provided South Africa with crucial points in Group D while underlining Afghanistan's growing stature as a formidable T20 side. The contest will be remembered for its relentless intensity and unforgettable finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final ball.
