In a stunning display of fast bowling, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen delivered a masterclass that left Afghanistan reeling in the first semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup. Held at Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, the match saw Afghanistan crumble under pressure, being bowled out for a meager 56 runs.
Afghanistan’s Nightmarish Begins
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan’s inexperience in high-stakes matches was evident from the get-go. Marco Jansen struck early, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, for a three-ball duck. Reeza Hendricks’ sharp catch in the slips set the tone for what was to follow. At 4/1 in the first over, Afghanistan’s shaky start spiraled into a full-blown collapse.
Gulbadin Naib attempted to stabilize the innings with two exquisite boundaries, but his efforts were short-lived. Jansen’s precision sent Naib’s off stump cartwheeling, reducing Afghanistan to 16/2. The South African pacers smelled blood and Rabada soon joined the fray, exploiting the gap between bat and pad to castle Ibrahim Zadran for 2 and then Mohammed Nabi for a duck. The scoreline read 20/4 within 3.4 overs, and Afghanistan’s innings was in tatters.
Rabada and Jansen’s Ruthless Spell
Jansen continued his devastating spell, forcing Nangeyalia Kharote to edge one to Quinton de Kock, leaving Afghanistan at 23/5 after five overs. The powerplay ended with Afghanistan at 28/5, an indication of the relentless pressure exerted by the South African bowlers.
Azmatullah Omarzai and Karim Janat attempted to salvage the innings, but their partnership was short-lived. Omarzai fell to Anrich Nortje, who found him with a well-directed short ball that was caught by Tristan Stubbs at sweeper cover. At 29/6 in 6.3 overs, Afghanistan’s hopes were fading fast.
A Brief Respite and Final Collapse
Rashid Khan provided a fleeting moment of relief, striking a couple of boundaries off Rabada. However, this brief resistance was insufficient to steer Afghanistan towards a respectable total. Shamsi trapped Karim Janat leg-before-wicket, followed by the dismissal of Noor Ahmed for a duck in the same over. Afghanistan was now staring down the barrel at 50/8.
Rashid Khan’s fight came to an end at the hands of Nortje, who cleaned him up for 8. Shamsi then wrapped up the innings, removing Naveen-ul-Haq for 2. Afghanistan’s innings came to an end at a dismal 56 in 11.5 overs.
South Africa’s Clinical Bowling Performance
Marco Jansen emerged as the chief destroyer, finishing with figures of 3/16. Shamsi matched his haul with 3/6, showcasing his guile and accuracy. Rabada and Nortje complemented their efforts with two wickets each, Rabada ending with 2/14 and Nortje with a miserly 2/7.
Analysis: A Lesson in High-Pressure Matches
Afghanistan’s inability to cope with the pressure of a World Cup semifinal was starkly exposed by the disciplined and aggressive South African bowling attack. The early loss of key batsmen, combined with the lack of substantial partnerships, left Afghanistan with an insurmountable task. South Africa, on the other hand, displayed a clinical approach, with their bowlers executing their plans to perfection.
This match serves as a reminder of the importance of handling pressure and the need for experience in navigating the high-stakes environment of a World Cup knockout game. For South Africa, the win was a testament to their formidable bowling lineup and their readiness to challenge for the title.