For South Africa, 27th June will be a day to remember as they make their way to their maiden final in an ICC World Cup. Aiden Markram’s men hammered Rashid Khan’s Afghanistan by nine wickets at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, advancing to the T20 World Cup 2024 final.

South Africa bowled Afghanistan out for 56 runs in 11.5 overs and chased down the target with more than 10 overs left in their innings. They entered the final match of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 as the only unbeaten team with already eight wins to their name. This convincing win over Afghanistan in the semi-final also brought an end to South Africa’s 32-year-long wait, breaking their semifinal jinx and setting the stage for a historic final.

South Africa in ICC WC Semi-Finals
Mats: 8
Won: 1 (today)
Lost: 6
Tied: 1 (vs AUS, 1999)

Aiden Markram’s captaincy

Aiden Markram’s journey as captain has been remarkable. Stepping in for an injured Temba Bavuma, Markram has led the team with poise and determination. His leadership style, characterized by calmness, and strategic acumen, has been pivotal in South Africa’s success in the tournament so far.

See Also: “It is an opportunity we have never had,” Aiden Markram after beating Afghanistan in 1st Semi-final of T20 World Cup 2024

Markram has led his team to the World Cup final unbeaten throughout the tournament. South Africa have won all their eight matches so far, from the group stages to the Super Eight and then their win against Afghanistan during the semi-finals. They also beat the semi-finalists, England, during the Super Eight stage.

This is an impressive record as a captain of a team that has struggled to get past the knockout stage at the international level. He will be leading the South African team in the World Cup final on June 29, 2024.

The unwavering leadership

In March 2023, he was appointed as the captain of the South Africa cricket team in T20Is, ahead of their home series against the West Indies.

The dream many of his predecessors chased, only to fall short when it mattered most, is now within reach for the South African men’s team. Captain Aiden Markram has excelled in his decision-making, even though he has maintained a low profile.

Strategic mastery against the West Indies

Markram’s strategic brilliance was on full display in the must-win clash against the West Indies. He boldly used 12 overs of spin, including bowling himself. Markram did just that, securing a crucial win to advance to the semifinals at the expense of the co-hosts.

An unbeaten skipper

Markram is the only skipper in the world currently to win all the matches he has led across the U19 World Cup, ODI World Cup, and T20 World Cup.

In 2014, he led South Africa to their only U19 World Cup win, a year when the senior Proteas reached the T20 World Cup semifinal. Markram guided the team to six unbeaten wins to claim the U19 title. He has also led the Proteas to victory in two ODI World Cup games.

In the ongoing T20 World Cup, the Proteas have won eight matches in a row, equaling the record for most consecutive wins in the tournament’s history, alongside Australia.

Markram has now gone 10 matches unbeaten as captain in senior global events, joining Sune Luus as South African skippers to reach World Cup finals, with the latter doing so at the Women’s T20 World Cup last year on home soil.

Breaking the semifinal jinx

South Africa’s journey to the final is historic considering their past semifinal woes. Since their World Cup debut in 1992, the Proteas have been tagged as “chokers” due to their inability to progress beyond the semifinals despite having strong teams.

Every South African skipper, Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronje, Shaun Pollock, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, and Temba Bavuma, tried to break the jinx of the semi-final but didn’t succeed. Aiden Markram broke this jinx in the first try of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Aiden Markram’s leadership has been a revelation. From leading the U19 team to World Cup glory in 2014 to his unbeaten streak in senior global events, Markram has consistently proven his mettle as a leader. His success in domestic leagues and international tournaments underscores his tactical brilliance and ability to inspire his team.

Trophies Won as captain by Aiden Markram

1. ICC U19 World Cup 2014 for South Africa
2. SA20 2023 tournament for Sunrisers Eastern Cape
3. SA20 2024 tournament for Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Matches Won by Aiden Markram in ICC tournaments:

South Africa have finally broken their semi-final jinx, advancing to an ICC final with a brutal display of dominance and fiery fast bowling. In a match that saw Afghanistan overawed by the occasion and fatigued by emotionally draining wins over Australia and Bangladesh, South Africa’s bowlers made short work of their opponents, marking a historic day for South African cricket.

Rabada and Jansen set the tone

The victory was set in motion by a fierce spell of fast bowling from Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. The duo dismantled Afghanistan’s top order in the powerplay, leaving their innings in tatters. Jansen started the onslaught by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over, and Afghanistan never recovered from this early blow. Jansen delivered perfect lengths to send back two more batters, while Rabada also struck twice in his first over, leaving Afghanistan reeling at 23/5 in five overs.

Shamsi and Nortje continue the assault

After the early burst, there was no let-off. Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi continued the assault, sharing five wickets between them. Afghanistan’s batters came and went, playing poor shots against some superb bowling. Shamsi wrapped up the innings with three lbws, exploiting Afghanistan’s vulnerabilities and ensuring they were bowled out for just 56 runs. This score was not only Afghanistan’s lowest in T20Is but also the lowest total against South Africa by any team in the shortest format of the game.

Afghanistan’s historic low total

Rashid Khan’s side was bowled out for 56, their lowest total in 142 T20Is. This score set a new floor for the lowest total in a men’s T20I knockout game, with extras (13) being the top scorer. Despite their struggles, Afghanistan’s left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi made history by becoming the bowler with the most wickets taken in a single edition of the ICC T20 World Cup.

Farooqi’s record-breaking performance

Farooqi’s performance was one of the few bright spots for Afghanistan. He dismissed Quinton de Kock with a ball that nipped back in and ended with figures of 1/11 in two overs. 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 surpassed the previous record held by Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, who took 16 wickets in the 2021 edition held in the UAE.

South Africa’s chase

In reply, South Africa’s new bowlers bowled valiantly, and Fazalhaq Farooqi got the wicket of Quinton de Kock early. However, the target was too small, and after playing out the first few overs, Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks found their hitting zone. Markram played some classy strokes, while Hendricks finished off the game with a six and a four. The target was chased down in under nine overs, marking a historic day for South Africa and a day to forget for Afghanistan after an otherwise impressive campaign.

Markram and Hendricks shine

South African skipper Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks ensured there were no hiccups in achieving the modest target. Hendricks scored 29* in 25 balls with three fours and a six, while Markram contributed 23* in 21 balls with four boundaries. Their calm and composed approach took South Africa to the winning score in 8.5 overs.

See Also: “It is an opportunity we have never had,” Aiden Markram after beating Afghanistan in 1st Semi-final of T20 World Cup 2024 – Cricket Winner

South Africa have roared into their maiden World Cup final after dominating Afghanistan in Trinidad. The Proteas made short work of the paltry total in reply, reaching their target with nine wickets still intact and inside nine overs, confirming an emphatic victory. Afghanistan’s campaign, though ending on a low, featured some standout performances, particularly from Fazalhaq Farooqi, whose record-breaking feats will be remembered in T20 World Cup history.

Following the nine-wicket defeat to South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup semi-final, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan expressed disappointment with the loss but happiness with the team’s overall campaign, pointing to the success of pacers and spinners in this “great learning experience.”

The big match inexperience of Afghanistan was visible as their batting line-up folded for just 56 runs, thanks to fiery spells from pacers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen in the powerplay and Tabraiz Shamsi’s spin.

See Also: “It is an opportunity we have never had,” Aiden Markram after beating Afghanistan in 1st Semi-final of T20 World Cup 2024

Rashid Khan’s leadership

Rashid Khan’s journey as captain has been nothing short of inspirational. Leading a young and relatively inexperienced side, Rashid has been the cornerstone of Afghanistan’s cricketing resurgence. His tactical acumen, combined with his ability to motivate and lead by example, has had a profound impact on the team’s performance throughout the tournament.

Semi-Final match against South Africa

In the semi-final clash against South Africa, Afghanistan faced a stern test. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Afghanistan struggled against South Africa’s fierce bowling attack. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada quickly dismantled the top order, reducing Afghanistan to 28/6.

Despite a brief counterattack by Karim Janat and skipper Rashid Khan, Afghanistan was bowled out for a paltry 56 runs in 11.5 overs. The Proteas chased down the target with ease, losing only one wicket in the process.

Post-Match reactions

In the post-match presentation ceremony, Rashid Khan highlighted the challenging conditions and praised the South African bowlers for their exceptional performance.

“It was tough, tough for us as a team. We might have done better but the conditions did not allow us to do what we wanted. That is how T20 cricket is, you need to be ready for all conditions,” Rashid remarked.

Despite the loss, he expressed satisfaction with the team’s overall performance and the valuable lessons learned.

Bowling success

Afghanistan’s campaign saw standout performances from their seamers and spinners. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi were instrumental in providing early breakthroughs, while Rashid Khan himself was a consistent threat with the ball.

The skipper praised his bowlers, stating, “I think we got good success in this tournament because the seamers bowled really well, you need good starts. I think they bowled really well. I think we got good success in this tournament because the seamers bowled really well, you need good starts. I think we were unlucky with Mujeeb’s injury, but our seamers and even Nabi bowled brilliantly with the new ball. That made our job easier as spinners.”

Batting struggles

The semi-final highlighted Afghanistan’s struggles with the bat, particularly on challenging pitches. The top-order collapse against South Africa underscored the need for greater resilience and adaptability in difficult conditions. Rashid acknowledged this, pointing out the need for improvement in the middle-order to take the innings deep and handle pressure situations better.

“We know we have the skills, it is just about managing tough situations, pressure situations. There is some work to be done, especially in the middle, in order to take the innings deep. As I said, it is always learning for our team, and we have achieved good results so far, but we come back doing more hard work, especially in the batting department,” he added.

Team belief and confidence

Despite the semi-final loss, Rashid Khan emphasized the belief and confidence gained from their performances. Reaching the semifinals for the first time is a significant achievement for Afghanistan cricket, and it has instilled a sense of belief that they can compete with the best teams in the world.

“We have enjoyed this tournament. We will accept playing a semi-final and losing to a top side like Africa. It is just the beginning for us, we have the confidence and belief to beat any side. We just need to keep our processes going.” Rashid Khan added.

After guiding South Africa to their maiden T20 World Cup final, skipper Aiden Markram urged his players to stay calm and it’s an best opportunity to win ICC title. South Africa demolished Afghanistan by nine wickets in the first semi-final and now await the winners of the second last-four clash between India and England.

Aiden Markram’s journey as Captain

Aiden Markram’s rise to captaincy has been a journey marked by consistent performances and a clear vision for the team. His leadership style, characterized by calmness and strategic acumen, has instilled confidence in the squad. Markram’s impact as a captain has been profound, driving the team to new heights and fostering a cohesive unit ready to tackle any challenge.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024, 1st Semi-Final, South Africa vs Afghanistan: “No time to practice” Michael Vaughan’s sensational revelation about Afghanistan

Semi-Final match against Afghanistan

In the semi-final against Afghanistan, South Africa delivered a dominant performance. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Afghanistan struggled against South Africa’s fierce bowling attack.

Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada quickly dismantled the top order, reducing Afghanistan to 28/6. Despite a brief counterattack by Karim Janat and skipper Rashid Khan, Afghanistan was bowled out for 56 runs in 11.5 overs.

Markram’s post-match comments

In the post-match presentation ceremony, Markram emphasized the importance of staying calm and embracing the opportunity to compete in their first T20 World Cup final.

“It is one more step for us, it is an opportunity we have never had, nothing to be scared of,” Markram stated, highlighting the significance of this achievement for the team.

Bowlers’ brilliant performance

South Africa’s bowlers were exceptional, with Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada setting the tone early in the innings. Jansen, who took three wickets in his opening spell, and Rabada, who contributed with crucial breakthroughs, played pivotal roles. Wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi also chipped in with three wickets, further dismantling the Afghan batting lineup.

“We were brilliant with the ball, got it in the right areas and kept it really simple. The bowlers have been incredible for us.”

Batting challenges on a tricky pitch

The pitch at Tarouba offered pronounced seam movement, making batting challenging. Despite the conditions, Markram and Reeza Hendricks navigated the chase effectively. Markram acknowledged the difficulty of batting on such a pitch, emphasizing the importance of partnerships and adapting to the conditions.

“It was challenging with the bat, as no batter is going to lie and tell you it was easy out there. We had a bit of luck and then got a bit of a partnership.”

Team effort and squad depth

Markram praised the collective effort of the entire squad, noting that world-class performances stem from a united team effort.

“We have some world-class players in the side, but like I said, it takes a whole squad to be able to deliver such a performance,” he remarked. This unity and depth in the squad have been crucial to South Africa’s success in the tournament.

Preparing for the final

As South Africa prepares for the final, Markram and the team will focus on both mental and physical readiness. Whether facing India or England, the team will need to devise strategies to counter their opponents’ strengths while leveraging their own. Markram’s calm and composed leadership will be vital in maintaining the team’s focus and confidence.

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.

See Also: “I was almost in tears laughing,” Mitchell Marsh’s reaction on Gulbadin Naib’s injury incident against Bangladesh

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.

South Africa have finally broken their semi-final jinx, advancing to an ICC final with a brutal display of dominance and fiery fast bowling. In a match that saw Afghanistan overawed by the occasion and fatigued by emotionally draining wins over Australia and Bangladesh, South Africa’s bowlers made short work of their opponents.

This marks the first time in eight World Cup semi-finals across the one-day and T20 formats that South Africa have managed a victory. Now, they are just one potential victory away from a maiden World Cup title.

Toss and initial moments

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan won the toss and opted to bat first, hoping to put runs on the board and apply pressure on South Africa. However, everything went South Africa’s way from the very beginning.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024, 1st Semi-Final, South Africa vs Afghanistan: “No time to practice” Michael Vaughan’s sensational revelation about Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s top order collapse

The opening pair that had carried Afghanistan so well during the tournament crumbled under the pressure. Rahmanullah Gurbaz faced only three balls before edging to slip off Jansen’s bowling in the first over.

Ibrahim Zadran, another key player, was bowled by a Rabada inswinger on the first ball of the third over. The early losses left Afghanistan’s middle and lower order exposed to a rampaging South African attack.

Kagiso Rabada followed with a double-wicket maiden, further destabilizing Afghanistan’s innings and reducing them to 20-4 after just 3.4 overs.

Middle and lower order struggles

Afghanistan’s middle and lower order struggled to cope with the relentless South African bowling. Wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi took three wickets in just 11 deliveries, all lbw decisions to balls keeping low, to finish off Afghanistan for a paltry 56 in 11.5 overs. Azmattullah Omarzai was the only Afghan batter to reach double figures, top-scoring with 10.

Record low total

Being bowled out for 56 was a significant blow to Afghanistan, highlighting their struggle against high-quality pace and spin. The South African bowlers executed their plans perfectly, exploiting the conditions and maintaining relentless pressure.

South Africa’s chase

Despite losing Quinton de Kock early in the chase, South Africa remained unperturbed. Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks formed a steady partnership, navigating the small target with calm and precision. Their composed approach on an exceedingly tricky Tarouba pitch was commendable.

Clinical and dominant victory

For a team infamous for playing jittery cricket in knockouts, this win was both clinical and dominant. South Africa left nothing to chance, bowling beautifully, fielding sharply, and batting sensibly. The margin of victory, by nine wickets with 67 balls remaining, underscores the control they exerted over the match from start to finish.

Reactions from the cricketing world

Twitter erupted with reactions to South Africa’s performance. Fans and experts alike lauded their dominance and clinical execution. Former players and cricket analysts praised the team’s all-round performance and resilience. The victory sparked celebrations among South African fans, who have waited long for such a moment.

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.

See Also: “No more Australia in this competition,” Rohit Sharma’s cheeky remark on Australia’s exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup

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.

The 1st semi-final match of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be played between South Africa vs Afghanistan at the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba in Trinidad on June 27 at 8:30 PM local. However, Afghanistan have won the toss and have opted to bat.

South Africa’s Team Journey

South Africa are on a 7-match winning streak in the 2024 T20 World Cup. But, their journey haven’t been as easy as it seems! Barring their opening game against Sri Lanka which they won quite convincingly, the other opponents have given them a run for their money. Nepal came astonishingly close to topple them and that should tell you the story!

See Also: Suryakumar Yadav drops from No 1 spot in ICC T20I rankings

The Proteas have stuttered and stumbled but have found ways to come out on top. Considering South Africa’s shambolic history in knockout games, the experience of having played nervy contests might just turn the tide in their favour this time around.

Afghanistan’s Team Journey

Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh in a nail-biting contest a couple of nights back, the streets of Kabul to Kandahar overflowed with people brimming with joy! Their tight win against New Zealand in the group stage was a confidence-booster. Though they suffered big losses against West Indies and India, they didn’t lose self-belief! After that, the win against Australia in the Super Eight truly revealed their calibre.

South Africa vs Afghanistan: Who said what at the toss?

Rashid Khan: We would like to bat first, it’s a fresh wicket and we will like to have a good total on the board. The middle-order hasn’t got much time in the middle, they have to come out in the 15-16th over and it’s not easy. It’s good that the top-order has taken responsibility and they have batted very well. When you have a 4-hour delay flight, it’s not easy. Doesn’t matter if you sleep 1 hour, you have to be at your best. We are going with the same lineup.

Aiden Markram: We would have probably batted first as well but it’s a fresh wicket. We haven’t nailed it quite with the bat yet, conditions have been tough. Hopefully, we will do well with the bat and ball and step up in the semi-final. Same team for us.

Playing XIs:

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan(c), Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi

Afghanistan would have been cursing their missed chances in the last week. They were victims of one of the greatest knocks of all time with Glenn Maxwell pulling off a brilliant heist. Had Afghanistan got past Maxwell though, they would now be fighting for 12 points and guaranteed spot in the top four.

After a loss and with New Zealand beating Sri Lanka, Afghanistan now need to win by an unimaginable margin to get to the top four. They had a good run though and will now know that they still need to do the little things right as they close a campaign that has gone really well. They now gear up for their last World Cup game and a game which could see them bid farewell to Mohammad Nabi and Naveen Ul Haq, who has already confirmed retirement from ODIs.

SA vs AFG Match Details

Date: November 10th, 2023

Time:  2:00 PM IST

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

SA vs AFG Weather Report

The weather looks pretty clear for the upcoming fixture.

SA vs AFG Pitch Report

The Ahmedabad track has been decent for both batting and bowling. It is pretty balanced and batting first could be a better option especially with both sides doing better in the first innings.

SA vs AFG Head-to-Head

SA vs AFG Predicted Playing XI

AFG Playing XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen Ul Haq, Noor Ahmed

SA Playing XI

Quinton De Kock, Temba Bavuma, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Aiden Markaram, David Miller, Henrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee/ Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

SA vs AFG Key Players

Marco Jansen

Marco Jansen has been a special talent to watch in the tournament. He is contributing with both bat and ball, and doing a fine job with the new-ball. His new-ball success has allowed South Africa to spread Kagiso Rabada across the innings and he will be eager to bounce back after a really tough game against India.

Mohammad Nabi

No player has seen the highs and lows of Afghanistan Cricket like Mohammad Nabi. He saw them grow from an associate nation making numbers in big tournaments to a side that can compete for Semi-Final spots. At 38 though, Mohammad Nabi may not be around for much more with the T20 World Cup next year likely his final outing. In ODIs though he will be hoping to go out with a bang soon.

SA vs AFG Match Tips

South Africa are likely to rest some players and experiment with their spot confirmed. Afghanistan will be interesting to watch considering how they went in the last game. With Afghanistan’s confidence likely to have taken a hit, South Africa will remain favorites.

Match Prediction: South Africa Will Win The Match

SA vs AFG Match Preview

South Africa and Afghanistan will face off in match 42 of the 2023 Cricket World Cup on Friday in Ahmedabad. South Africa has already qualified for the competition’s semi-finals, while Afghanistan is currently in sixth place but could still finish in the top four with a win in this match. They have now suffered two defeats in the competition, but their 243-run loss to India in their most recent game may be more difficult to overcome than the defeat to the Netherlands. On Tuesday, Afghanistan was on the verge of a thrashing of Australia until Glenn Maxwell produced one of the greatest ODI innings of all time. It will be interesting to see how Afghanistan’s bowlers respond when put under pressure by talented attacking players in this match.

SA vs AFG Match Details

South Africa vs Afghanistan – 42th Match

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium – Ahmedabad

Date & Time: 10th November 2023 at 02:00 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar

SA vs AFG Venue Stats

SA vs AFG Pitch Report

The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium provides significant assistance to bowlers due to the lack of pace in the wicket. A first-innings score of 300 or higher should be enough to win the match.

SA vs AFG Weather Report

Humidity will not be an issue in this game because the level will not rise above 30% during either innings. There will be no rain and the temperature will be above 30 degrees.

SA vs AFG Last Five Matches

SA vs AFG Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Australia vs Netherlands, 24th Match – Toss Update, Playing XIs

SA vs AFG Probable Playing XIs:

South Africa Probable Playing XIs

Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi

Afghanistan Probable Playing XIs

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Fazalahaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq

Topmost Picks for SA vs AFG Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – South Africa

• Quinton de Kock – The left-handed keeper-batter remains the leading run scorer in the Cricket World Cup 2023 with 550 runs at an average of 68.75.
• Keshav Maharaj – The left arm spinner picked up the big wicket of Shubman Gill and produced excellent figures of 1/30 in spite of the big loss against India.

Top Picks – Afghanistan

• Ibrahim Zadran – The 21 year old right-handed opener had been criticised for not producing runs against the stronger teams but he hit 87 against AFGistan and struck 11 boundaries against Australia.
• Naveen-ul-Haq – The right-arm pace bowler bowls fast and gets late swing. With the new ball he dismissed the dangerous Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head in Match 39.