- South Africa are via to their first males’s World Cup remaining with the win
- Hopes had been excessive that Afghanistan, bouyed by a win over Australia
South Africa are via to their first males’s World Cup remaining after blowing away Afghanistan by 9 wickets on a desperately one-sided evening in Trinidad.
After bowling out the Afghans on a poor floor for 56 in 11.3 overs – the bottom complete within the historical past of T20 knockout matches – South Africa raced to 60 for one off 8.5, to finish a 32-year look forward to a remaining. They are going to play both England or India at Bridgetown’s Kensington Oval on Saturday.
Hopes had been excessive that Afghanistan, bouyed by stirring Tremendous Eight wins over Australia and Bangladesh, would make it an evening to recollect in opposition to a South African facet famend for faltering on the massive event.
However, after Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan had chosen to bowl on a pitch providing loads of assist to the seamers, the meltdown started as early because the sixth ball, when Rahmanullah Gurbaz – the match’s main run-scorer – poked left-arm fast Marcos Jansen low to Reeza Hendricks at slip for a duck.
Gulbadin Naib, who had prompted headlines by collapsing in a heap at slip as Afghanistan tried to waste time in the course of the win over Bangladesh in St Vincent on Monday, was bowled by Jansen for 9 within the third over, earlier than opener Ibrahim Zadran was knocked over by Kagiso Rabada for 2.
Tabraiz Shamsi of South Africa celebrates after dismissing Karim Janat of Afghanistan
Reeza Hendricks, left, embraces teammate Aiden Markram after defeating Afghanistan
When Rabada bowled Mohammad Nabi via the gate for a duck three balls later, Afghanistan had been 20 for 4, and beginning to look shellshocked.
Jansen picked up a 3rd when Nangeyalia Kharote was caught behind for 2, and it was 28 for six when Azmatullah Omarzai – the one Afghan to achieve double figures – skewed quick bowler Anrich Nortje to deep cowl.
Karim Janat and Rashid, who had hurled his bat in frustration at Janat when he failed to return again for a second run in direction of the top of Afghanistan’s innings in opposition to Bangladesh, incomes a reprimand from the ICC, placed on 22 for the seventh wicket – comfortably his facet’s highest stand.
However Janat grew to become the primary of three lbw victims for left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, and in between Rashid was bowled by Nortje, backing away.
It was a dismal effort from a workforce who lit up the match with wins over New Zealand and Australia, however who – on this proof – appear to have expended all their vitality and emotion in the course of the tense victory over Bangladesh. Their top-scorer, with 13, was extras, whereas wides alone outscored seven Afghans.
On a disappointing evening on the Brian Lara Academy Stadium in Tarouba, a cracked floor got here in for criticism from former gamers within the commentary field.
Hopes had been excessive that Afghanistan, bouyed by wins over Australia and Bangladesh
‘That’s not a T20 pitch,’ mentioned the previous New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith. ‘Effectively, it’s – however it shouldn’t be.’ In the meantime, ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting expressed shock on the determination to make use of a contemporary wicket for a World Cup semi-final.
The bounce was variable, the motion lavish. Towards a seam assault as high-class as South Africa’s, and with Shamsi too good for the tail, Afghanistan’s batsmen had been merely unable to manage.
Defending such a low complete – Afghanistan’s worst, undercutting 72 in opposition to Bangladesh a decade in the past – was by no means a practical prospect, though Fazalhaq Farooqi picked up his seventeenth wicket of the World Cup, a report, when he bowled Quinton de Kock for 5 with the eleventh ball of the chase.
Had Afghanistan reviewed a muted caught-behind enchantment within the subsequent over, from Naveen-ul-Haq, South African captain Aiden Markram would have been out for a duck, and his facet six for 2.
However that was nearly as good because it received for Afghanistan on an evening when South Africa received one giant monkey off their backs. If they’ll shake off one other in Barbados on Saturday, they are going to be world champions.
