South Africa dismantled Afghanistan for simply 56 on a tough pitch as they stormed into their first Males’s T20 World Cup ultimate with a nine-wicket win in Trinidad.
The Proteas had misplaced all seven of their earlier World Cup semi-finals throughout the T20 and 50-over occasions however are actually one victory away from a maiden trophy after an eighth win out of eight at this yr’s competitors.
Aiden Markram’s facet – who now face England or India in Barbados on Saturday – rolled Afghanistan in 11.5 overs on a floor providing excessive bounce and ample seam motion with Azmatullah Omarzai (10) the one batter to make double figures because the first-time semi-finalist had been demolished for his or her lowest T20I rating.
Pacemen Marco Jansen (3-16), Anrich Nortje (2-7) and Kagiso Rabada (2-14) razed the Afghanistan prime order – Rashid Khan’s facet had been 28-6 in 6.3 overs after electing to bat – earlier than spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3-6) polished off the decrease order.
South Africa reached their goal in 8.5 overs as Reeza Hendricks (29no off 25) adopted a hooked six off Azmatullah with the match-clinching 4 down the bottom as he took his stand with Markram (23no off 21) to an unbroken 55 off 43 deliveries.
Quinton de Kock (5), bowled by Afghanistan fast Fazalhaq Farooqi’s in-swinger within the second over after being struck on the physique by Naveen-ul-Haq within the first, was the one Proteas participant to be dismissed within the chase.
However Markram and Hendricks nonetheless needed to cope with deliveries flying by dangerously excessive in addition to scuttling by low earlier than securing South Africa’s landmark victory.
Markram’s males will now develop into the primary facet to win the T20 World Cup having come by the event unbeaten in the event that they see off England or India in Bridgetown this weekend, with the second semi-final in Guyana from 3.30pm on Thursday.
Afghanistan – who completed forward of Australia in Tremendous 8s Group 1 to succeed in the semi-finals – had been merely blown away by South Africa on the sketchy floor, dropping Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0) to the sixth ball of the match because the opener edged Jansen behind.
Jansen bowled Gulbadin Naib (9) with a nip-backer within the third over, whereas Rabada then castled Ibrahim Zadran (2) and Mohammad Nabi (0) within the fourth earlier than Jane struck once more within the fifth when Nangeyalia Kharote (2) gloved a brief ball down the leg-side.
High-scorer Azmatullah maintain out at deep cowl off Nortje within the seventh however South Africa needed to wait one other three overs for his or her subsequent breakthrough as Rashid (8) and Karim Janat (8) added 22 from 18 deliveries in partnership.
Nevertheless, Shamsi took two wickets in three balls within the tenth, eradicating Janat and Noor Ahmad (0) lbw, earlier than Nortje knocked Rashid’s off stump out of the bottom within the eleventh and Naveen (2) was then lbw to Shamsi on the sweep from the fifth ball of the twelfth.
South Africa’s males will now hope to go one higher than their girls’s group, who had been overwhelmed within the ultimate of the 2023 T20 World Cup by Australia.
‘Situations did not let Afghanistan do higher’
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan:
“It was a troublesome, robust match for us as a group. We would have performed a bit higher than that, however the circumstances did not allow us to. That is what T20 is about, you have to be prepared for any state of affairs. They bowled exceptionally nicely, we could not bat nicely.”
South Africa skipper Aiden Markram:
“It feels good. It is not likely the captain that will get you to this stage of the competitors, it is a large squad effort and folks behind the scenes. I am happy now we have another crack at profitable a trophy.”
Watch the second T20 World Cup semi-final between England and India, in Guyana, stay from 3pm on Sky Sports activities Cricket (first ball at 3.30pm). Then catch the ultimate in Barbados from 3pm on Saturday (3.30pm first ball).
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