S.Africa survive double Super Over drama against Afghanistan in T20 World Cup

South Africa survived Kagiso Rabada's final-over meltdown against Afghanistan and then ‌a double Super Over drama before prevailing in a heart-stopping Group D match of the Twenty20 World ​Cup on Wednesday.

It was one of the tightest, most seesawing matches in elite cricket's shortest international format.

In ⁠a remarkable match of fluctuating fortunes, South Africa appeared to be in the ‌box seat after half-centuries from ‌Ryan Rickelton (61) and Quinton de Kock (59) powered them to a commanding 187-6.

Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed 84 off 42 balls in Afghanistan's spirited reply before they were all out for 187 with two deliveries left in their innings.

Afghanistan milked 17 ‌runs from the first Super Over sent down by South African pace bowler Lungi Ngidi.

This time South Africa ⁠tied the score with Tristan Stubbs hitting the final delivery from Azmatullah Omarzai for a six.

In the second Super Over, Afghanistan scored 19 before losing both the wickets in reply to South Africa's 23.

"I've lost so much weight today. Never been that stressed in my life in a cricket game," player of the match Ngidi said afterwards. New Zealand and South Africa remain on course to advance to Super Eight from this group after ​winning two in two. Afghanistan, having lost to both of them, are staring at elimination from ‌the tournament.

Fazalhaq Farooqi’s runout ended Afghanistan’s chance to win it in regulation with two balls to spare, with his team finishing all out for 187 after 19.4 overs chasing South Africa's 187 for six.

Afghanistan's wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz (third right) celebrates with teammates after taking a catch to dismiss South Africa's Dewald Brevis during the super over at the 2026 ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Afghanistan and South Africa in the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday. AFP

Lungi Ngidi, who took 3-26 during the match and then bowled the first of the Super Overs for South Africa, was voted player of the match.

"I’ve lost so much weight today. I’ve never been that stressed in my life in a cricket game,” he said. "Being able to win two Super Overs with our hitters hitting like that … very happy.”

South Africa is 2-0 after winning its opening game over Canada. Afghanistan is now 0-2 after an opening loss to New Zealand and unlikely to progress to the Super Eights from a group containing three highly-ranked teams. Only the top two teams in each of the four groups will advance.

Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickelton (61) combined in a 114-run second-wicket partnership to set South Africa on course for 187-6 after being sent in by Afghanistan.

The South Africans were 98-1 at the halfway point of the innings, with 23 runs coming off the 10th over from Noor Ahmad.

But Rashid Khan’s double-wicket strike in the 13th over, removing both established batters, stemmed the flow of runs.

South Africa's Marco Jansen drops a catch off Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai during the T20 World Cup cricket match. AP

The South Africans added 60 in the last seven overs, and Azmatullah Omarzai returned 3-41 for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan lost wickets in clumps, racing to 51 in 4.1 overs before losing three wickets within seven deliveries.

Ngidi took a pair of wickets within three deliveries with clever slower balls and Kagiso Rabada chimed in with a wicket in the sixth over as Afghanistan slipped to 52-3.
Gurbaz then combined in a 69-run fourth-wicket stand with Darwish Rasooli (15) until both batters were dismissed in the 13th over with the total at 121.

Gurbaz was brilliantly caught by George Linde, diving at short third man off Maharaj’s bowling. Rasooli was run out two balls later.

Azmatullah (22), Rashid (20) and Noor Ahmad (15 not out) somehow combined in the lower order to get Afghanistan into a winning position, needing just two off three deliveries.

South Africa's David Miller takes a catch to dismiss Afghanistan's captain Rashid Khan. AFP

In a tense final over of regulation, Rabada bowled two no-balls and a wide but was saved when No. 11 Farooqi was run out attempting a second run.

In the second game Wednesday, an injury-depleted Australia won the toss and elected to bat in its tournament opener against Ireland. Travis Head was standing in as captain after Mitch Marsh was ruled out of the game. Marsh was hit in the groin in practice earlier in the week and Cricket Australia issued a statement just before the game saying scans showed internal testicular bleeding.

In the last game of the day, England is due to take on West Indies in Group C.

Agencies