Afghanistan left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi made history on Thursday, becoming the bowler with the most wickets taken in a single edition of the ICC T20 World Cup. Farooqi reached this milestone during his side’s semi-final match against South Africa at Tarouba in Trinidad.

During the game, Farooqi took the wicket of wicket keeper-batter Quinton de Kock and ended with figures of 1/11 in two overs. Now, in the ongoing tournament, Farooqi has taken 17 wickets in eight games at an average of 9.41 and an economy rate of 6.31, with the best bowling figures of 5/9. He is the leading wicket-taker in the competition as of now.

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Setting the Record

Farooqi’s record-breaking performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 is a testament to his skill and determination. He surpassed the previous record held by Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, who took 16 wickets in the 2021 edition held in the UAE. Farooqi’s achievement places him among the elite bowlers in T20 World Cup history, alongside legends like Ajantha Mendis and Arshdeep Singh.

From his early days as a promising young talent in domestic cricket to becoming a pivotal player for Afghanistan on the global stage, Farooqi’s journey is inspiring.

Match against South Africa

In the semi-final against South Africa, Farooqi’s performance was one of the few bright spots for Afghanistan. Despite their struggles, his ability to dismiss a key player like Quinton de Kock showcased his talent. The match, however, was dominated by South Africa’s bowlers, who quickly dismantled Afghanistan’s batting lineup.

The Semi-Final match

In the semi-final against South Africa, Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. However, pacers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen made the Asian side regret their decision, reducing them to 28/6. Though Karim Janat (8) and skipper Rashid Khan (8) tried to launch a counterattack with some boundaries, Afghanistan folded for just 56 runs in 11.5 overs.

South Africa’s bowling dominance

Tabraiz Shamsi (3/6) and Marco Jansen (3/16) were the top bowlers for the Proteas. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje also took two wickets each, showcasing South Africa’s bowling dominance. Their disciplined and aggressive bowling left Afghanistan’s batters struggling to find any momentum.

Afghanistan’s batting collapse

Afghanistan’s batting collapse was a result of both South Africa’s exceptional bowling and their own inability to handle the pressure. Key wickets fell quickly, and the middle and lower order could not mount a significant resistance. The team’s total of 56 was their lowest in the tournament.

South Africa’s chase

In the run-chase, South Africa lost Quinton de Kock early. However, Reeza Hendricks (29* in 25 balls, with three fours and a six) and skipper Aiden Markram (23* in 21 balls, with four boundaries) took South Africa to the winning score in 8.5 overs. Their calm and composed approach ensured there were no hiccups in achieving the modest target.