T20 WC: South Africa in final; Afghanistan suffer crushing defeat

Tarouba [Trinidad and Tobago]: South Africa's all-round performance took them to victory against Afghanistan inside 9 overs and their first-ever finals of the Cricket World Cup.

The Proteas chased down the target of 57 in just 8.5 overs with nine wickets in hand in the first semifinal of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Now, the Aiden Markram-led side will lock horns against the winner of the second semifinal, either India or England in the final on Saturday which will take place at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

While chasing a mere total of 57 runs, the Proteas didn't have the start they wanted as wicketkeeper-batter Quinton De Kock was sent back to the pavilion in the second over when the team score was 5.

Following De Kock's dismissal, South Africa skipper Aiden Markram came out to bat with opener Reeza Hendricks.

After the end of the powerplay (6 overs), the Proteas were 34/1 with Markram (12) and Hendricks (15) unbeaten on the crease.

The South African side completed fifty in 8.4 overs and went on to win the game in 8.5 overs with both batters unbeaten on the crease. Hendricks slammed 29 runs off 25 balls with the help of three fours and a six while Markram hit 23 runs from 21 balls, which was laced with four boundaries. For Afghanistan, one wicket was grabbed by left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi in his spell of two overs where he conceded 11 runs.

Earlier, electing to bat first, Afghanistan was off to a poor start as pacer Marco Jansen got the big wicket of the tournament's leading run-scorer, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, with a fine catch from Reeza Hendricks at slips. Gurbaz was gone for a three-ball duck, and Afghanistan was 4/1 in one over.

The Proteas continued their good bowling, though Gulbadin Naib tried to take down the pacer with two classy boundaries. His off stump was knocked over by a Jansen delivery, removing him for nine in eight balls. Afghanistan was 16/2 in 2.3 overs.

Kagiso Rabada also joined the fun and made the most of the bat and pad gap of Afghan batters to castle Ibrahim Zadran (2) and experienced all-rounder Mohammed Nabi (0). Afghanistan fell like a pack of cards, at 20/4 in 3.4 overs.

Afghanistan reached the 50-run mark in 9.2 overs.

Brief Score: South Africa 60/1 in 8.5 overs (Reeza Hendricks 29*, Aiden Markram 23*, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1/11) vs Afghanistan 56 (Azmatullah Omarzai 10, Gulbadin Naib 9, Marco Jansen 3/16).

(ANI)