T20 World Cup 2024, 1st Semi-Final, South Africa vs Afghanistan: Early blows from Jansen and Rabada; Afghanistan 28/5 at the end of powerplay

In a high-stakes semi-final clash at the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan found themselves in deep trouble against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. With five wickets down inside the powerplay, the Proteas are well on their way to making their first major ICC final.

South Africa’s strong start

The match began with South Africa’s bowlers on fire. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada dominate within the first six overs, giving South Africa a dream start in their pursuit of a final berth.

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Afghanistan’s struggles

Afghanistan’s innings began on a shaky note, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals. The early breakthroughs by Jansen and Rabada left Afghanistan reeling, and the team struggled to find any momentum.

Marco Jansen’s performance

Marco Jansen was instrumental in South Africa’s strong start. He made early inroads, removing key Afghan batsmen and setting the tone for the rest of the innings. His precise bowling and ability to exploit the conditions were key factors in his success.

Kagiso Rabada’s double-wicket maiden

Kagiso Rabada’s spell was equally devastating. He bowled a double-wicket maiden that further deepened Afghanistan’s woes. Rabada’s pace and accuracy left the Afghan batsmen with no answers, and his over was a turning point in the match.

Afghanistan’s Resilience

Despite the early setbacks, Afghanistan tried to stabilize their innings. Omarzai provided some respite with a boundary and a few singles, but the team continued to struggle against the relentless South African attack.

Omarzai played a crucial role in trying to rebuild the innings. Mohammad Nabi’s wicket was another blow to Afghanistan. Rabada’s delivery nipped back sharply, knocking over Nabi’s stumps and leaving Afghanistan in deeper trouble. Nabi’s quick departure meant Afghanistan lost a key experienced player early on.

Ibrahim Zadran’s early exit was a significant setback. Rabada’s screamer of a delivery beat his inside edge and clipped the bail.

Gulbadin Naib showed some fight with a couple of boundaries, but his resistance was short-lived. Jansen bowled him with a fuller delivery that swung late, ending Naib’s brief stay at the crease.

South Africa’s dominance in powerplay

South Africa’s performance in the powerplay was dominant. They took five crucial wickets, stifling Afghanistan’s scoring opportunities and setting a solid foundation for the rest of the match. The first six overs saw Afghanistan score only 28 runs, highlighting South Africa’s control.