South Africa Reaches T20 WC Final Thrashing Afghanistan by 9 Wickets

Ending their semi-final jinx, South Africa thrashed Afghanistan in the semifinal match played in Trinidad to reach their first men’s T20 World Cup final.

The Proteas had failed to win in all seven of their previous World Cup semi-finals across formats. South Africa dismissed Afghanistan for 56 in 11.5 overs on a difficult pitch. Later they finished the match with a nine-wicket win.

When Marco Jansen took the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the tournament’s leading run-scorer for Afghanistan, the score was soon 28-6.

Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi mopped up the tail with 3-6 and Jansen finished with 3-16. Cricket experts questioned the state of the surface of the pitch for such a showpiece event.

The pitch was at times dangerous and South Africa also struggled in their chase. Quinton de Kock was bowled having been hit on the body. But the Proteas were able to reach their target in 8.5 overs.

They will now play Saturday’s final in Barbados. They will play England or India, who meet in the second semi-final on Thursday in Guyana at 15:30 BST.

Scorecard

Afghanistan 56 (11.5 overs): Omarzai 10 (12); Shamsi 3-6, Jansen 3-16

South Africa 60-1 (8.5 overs): Hendricks 29 (25), Markram 23 (21)

South Africa won by nine wickets