South Africa and Afghanistan produced one of the wildest games the T20 World Cup has ever seen on Wednesday in Ahmedabad, a match that went to a Super Over, then another, before South Africa finally scraped home in a second sudden-death finish.
Rashid Khan won the toss and chose to field, trusting early movement and tight lines. Fazalhaq Farooqi struck immediately, removing Aiden Markram and keeping South Africa quiet early.
Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickleton tore that plan apart. They attacked the hard lengths, pulled with authority and forced Afghanistan’s field to scatter during a blistering 116-run partnership.
De Kock compiled 59 from 41 with calm control. Rickleton went harder, smashing 61 from just 28 to push South Africa towards a statement total.
Rashid dragged Afghanistan back with two strikes in three balls. Dewald Brevis and David Miller added sharp cameos as South Africa closed on 187/6, a score that felt strong but not safe.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz ensured it never felt safe. He attacked from ball one, clearing the ropes and turning the chase into a shootout inside the powerplay.
Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada clawed momentum back with three wickets in quick succession. Afghanistan slipped from 51 without loss to 52 for three, yet Gurbaz kept swinging.
He smashed his fifty in 26 balls and raced to 84 at a strike rate close to 200. George Linde finally deceived him with a slower ball, but Afghanistan refused to fade.
The final overs descended into pure chaos. Marco Jansen removed Rashid Khan thanks to a full-stretch David Miller catch, a moment that screamed tournament pressure.
Rabada then unravelled. No-balls, a dropped chance and a monstrous six from Noor Ahmad dragged Afghanistan level when defeat looked certain.
South Africa celebrated, then froze. Another siren signalled a no-ball, the scores stayed level and regulation time ended with the match tied at 187.
Afghanistan batted first in the Super Over and struck immediately. Azmatullah Omarzai launched a four and a six, powering his side to 17 without loss off Lungi Ngidi.
South Africa matched it. David Miller and Dewald Brevis went hard, and Tristan Stubbs sealed it with a last-ball six, tying the Super Over and sending the game into uncharted territory.
The second Super Over felt cruel. South Africa batted first again and exploded to 23 without loss, Miller and Stubbs clearing the ropes with ruthless clarity.
Afghanistan stared at 24 to win. Gurbaz refused to surrender, hammering three consecutive sixes and dragging belief back from nowhere.
Keshav Maharaj held his nerve. He fired in a yorker and forced Gurbaz to pick out the fielder, sealing the match at last.
Gurbaz stood with his hands on his head, unable to watch. South Africa celebrated relief more than joy, knowing they had survived something truly extraordinary.
