South Africa Super Over Sensation
South Africa and Afghanistan created T20 World Cup history as their clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium required two Super Overs before the Proteas prevailed to claim their second win in the tournament.
South Africa was looking for their second win after Canada, while their opponents were still searching for their opening win after falling to the Black Caps. The Afghans won the toss and elected to field first. Skipper Aiden Markram (5) was first to depart in the 3rd over. The pair of Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickelton (61) steadied the ship until both batsmen fell to the lethal Rashid Khan in the 13th over. However, Dewald brevis (23), David Miller (20*) and Marco Jansen (16) chipped in to ensure the Proteas put up a strong total of 187.
Afghanistan had a solid start to their chase through opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (84) and Ibrahim Zadran (12), but their partnership was broken in the 5th over when Lungi Ngidi struck twice to remove Zadran and Naib (0). Gurbaz was instrumental with his knock of 84, and it looked like the Proteas were going to have a close win, but Kagiso Rabada’s dreadful final over gave the Afghans a lifeline. Rabada inexplicably overstepped with his first delivery and followed it up with a legside wide before Noor Ahmad heaved a six over square leg.
Rabada’s second no-ball left the requirement at two runs from three balls, but Mujeeb-ur-Rahman was run out attempting the second, which would have won the game, and it was time for a Super Over. Afghanistan made 17 in their super over, and it was the impressive Tristan Stubbs who stepped to plunder a six of the last ball to level the scores, sending the game to a second Super Over.
There was even greater drama in the second Super Over. Stubbs hit Azmatullah Omarzai for six, and David Miller plundered two more to take 23 from the over. Keshhav Maharaj was given the duty to bowl the 2nd super over and had a brilliant start with a dot ball that was followed by a wicket. However, the impossible looked like reality as the phenomenal Gurbaz smashed three sixes over the legside boundary. Maharaj then went on to bowl a wide delivery, which meant Gurbaz needed a six to win or a four to tie of that last ball and go to a mental 3rd Super Over. Keshav was cool and bowled his wide yorker that flew straight to David Miller’s hands at backward point, and South Africa, finally, had their second victory of the tournament.
Next on the menu will be the toughest opponent for South Africa – New Zealand.
