In a sensational semi-final clash at Tarouba’s Brian Lara Cricket Academy, South Africa’s quicks dismantled Afghanistan’s batting lineup, rolling them out for a mere 56 runs. This match has sparked controversy and conversation, not just for the on-field action but also for the revelations made off the field.

Controversial Lead-Up

During the match, former English cricketer and renowned commentator Michael Vaughan made a sensational revelation. He tweeted, “So Afghanistan qualify for the WC semi-final by winning in St. Vincent on Monday night. They then face a 4-hour flight delay on Tuesday to Trinidad, leaving no time to practice or get accustomed to the new venue. Utter lack of respect to players, I’m afraid.”

After winning the last Super Eight clash against Bangladesh, the Afghanistan team had to travel to a different venue for the semi-final. However, their flight was delayed by 4 hours, which meant they didn’t get the chance to practice. This disruption likely contributed to their poor performance. This raises serious issues regarding the ICC’s scheduling and logistics. This tweet highlighted the logistical nightmare Afghanistan faced, potentially affecting their performance.

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Michael Vaughan’s revelation about Afghanistan’s disrupted preparation has raised questions about the ICC’s scheduling and logistical arrangements. This controversy has added another layer to the narrative of the semi-final and might prompt the ICC to review its processes.

Match Overview

Captain Rashid Khan won the toss and chose to bat first, hoping to set a challenging target for South Africa. However, Afghanistan’s innings quickly turned into a nightmare. By the seventh over, they were reeling at 28/6, thanks to the relentless pace attack from Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada.

South Africa’s dominant bowling performance

Jansen’s spell was nothing short of extraordinary. He started the demolition job by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the very first over.

Rabada complemented Jansen perfectly, taking two crucial wickets in his first over. His pace and accuracy were too much for the Afghan top order, leaving them in tatters at the end of the powerplay.

Middle overs struggles

Amidst the chaos, Karim Janat and Rashid Khan tried to steady the ship with a 22-run partnership for the seventh wicket. However, their resistance was short-lived as Tabraiz Shamsi and Anrich Nortje quickly dismantled the lower order.

Shamsi’s spin and Nortje’s pace proved to be the final nails in the coffin for Afghanistan. Shamsi picked up three wickets, exploiting the turn and bounce on the pitch, while Nortje’s express pace cleaned up the tail.

Lowest Total in T20 World Cup Semifinals

Afghanistan’s total of 56 is the lowest ever in T20 World Cup semi-finals. This performance overshadowed the previous lowest, which was 128/6 by Sri Lanka against England in 2010. The collapse was a stark reminder of the pressures of high-stakes cricket.