South Africa maintained their 100% record at the T20 World Cup after edging past Afghanistan in a dramatic second Super Over.
With the scores tied – both teams making 187 in their regulation innings – the game went to a Super Over which couldn’t separate them, meaning they required a second which South Africa won thanks to David Miller’s 16 not out from four balls.
It was a remarkable game in Ahmedabad but ended in heartbreak for Afghanistan, whose hopes of qualifying for the Super Eights from Group D are all but over.
Rickelton shines for South Africa
Having won the toss, Afghanistan restricted the Proteas to 187 for six from their 20 overs, Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton putting on 114 for the second wicket. De Kock made 59 from 41 balls and Rickelton a 28-ball 61.
Azmatullah Omarzai took three for 41 and Rashid Khan two for 28 to keep South Africa in check.
Afghanistan’s reply got off to a rattling start, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran reaching 50 in just 3.6 overs. But Zadran’s dismissal prompted a mini-collapse as pacemen Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada claimed three wickets between them.
Gurbaz hung around to make 84 but it seemed South Africa had done enough with Afghanistan requiring 13 runs from the final over and with just one wicket in hand.
Rabada promptly bowled two no-balls and a wide, enabling Noor Ahmad to put Afghanistan in control only for the momentum to swing again when he was caught short of his crease chasing an ill-advised winning run.
Super Over drama as South Africa edge it
The first Super Over was equally tense.
Omarzai took Ngidi for two fours and a six from five balls to set South Africa 18 to win. Again, the match was in Afghanistan’s hands with South Africa needing to clear the ropes to level the scores with the final ball. Tristan Stubbs duly obliged, drilling a low full toss from Fazalhaq Farooqi over long-off.
South Africa batted first in the second Super Over and put a solid score of 23 on the board with Miller punishing poor Omarzai, who deserved better after a brilliant all-round display.
Afghanistan failed to score from the first two balls off Keshav Maharaj, leaving Gurbaz requiring four successive sixes to see his team home.
He succeeded on the first three with some magnificent hitting. And when Maharaj bowled a wide with his final scheduled ball the equation was simple: six to win, four for another tie and a third Super Over.
Gurbaz made good contact but the ball flew straight to Miller at point. A yard either side and it would have raced to the boundary.
South Africa have now won both of their pool games while Afghanistan have played two and lost two.
