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By defeating first New Zealand, Australia and then Bangladesh, the Afghanistan team has reached the semi-finals for the first time. For the first time, Afghanistan made it not only to the semi-finals but also to the Super 8.
Captain Rashid Khan has said that cricket is the only source of happiness for Afghanistan. Not only Rashid, the entire team is saying, this is just the beginning, the destination is yet to be reached. This means that nothing less than victory is acceptable to anyone.
On the other side is South Africa, who look undefeated in the league stage, but the team has a stain on its name in the knockouts, that of chokers. It remains to be seen whether Afghanistan writes a new history or South Africa washes away the stain of chokers on its name.
First match details…
First semi-final- South Africa Vs Afghanistan
27 June 2024, Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad & Tobago
toss- 5:30 am Match start- 6:00 AM.
Why is South Africa called chokers?
Chokers means those who disintegrate under pressure on big occasions. This dark shadow has been accompanying the capability of South Africa for 32 years. This team, which has made its mark in every format of cricket, be it ODI, Test or T-20, has never played the World Cup final. Has played semi-finals 13 times, but lost every time. Sometimes the rain cheated, sometimes luck cheated. Victory was never achieved.
Know the story of some such matches
1. Starting with the semi-finals of the 1992 ODI World Cup: Unlucky rain
South Africa made a comeback in international cricket after 22 years. He was banned for discriminating against black players. After this, South Africa entered the World Cup for the first time in 1992. The team had reached the semi-finals in the first World Cup itself. His competition was with England. The team was chasing the target of 252 runs.
In the end South Africa needed 22 runs from 13 balls. At this time rain came and the match was stopped. According to the rain rules of that time, South Africa got the target of 22 runs in one ball. This was impossible. The team lost and was out of the tournament.
Due to rain, South Africa got a revised target of 22 runs in 1 ball.
2. 1999 ODI World Cup semi-final loss to Australia: Donald run out
In 1999, South Africa was considered the biggest contender for the World Cup. South Africa’s luck cheated again in the semi-finals. Australia batted first and scored 213 runs. South Africa also scored 213 runs in the run chase.
After all, South Africa needed 9 runs to win in the over. Klusener leveled the score by hitting 2 fours on the first 2 balls. Now Africa needed 1 run on 4 balls. Klusener played a shot on the fourth ball of the over. He called Allan Donald, standing at the non-striker’s end, to take a run, but did not run himself. Donald was run out and the match was tied. Australia defeated Africa in the Super 6 stage. On this basis, Australia was declared the winner in the semi-finals.
Australian players celebrating after the run out of Allan Donald.
Now let’s look at South Africa’s ICC tournament records.
Why Afghanistan is dangerous, 2 reasons
1. Defeated New Zealand and Bangladesh
In the 14th match of T-20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan defeated New Zealand by 84 runs. No one had even thought that Afghanistan would make such a start in this World Cup. After this, the Afghanistan team created history under the captaincy of Rashid Khan at the St. Vicente Stadium in West Indies.
Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh and made it to the semi-finals for the first time in World Cup history. With Afghanistan’s victory, Australia was out of the World Cup. Afghanistan gave Bangladesh a target of 116 runs. The wickets of Bangladesh team which was chasing kept falling continuously. Afghanistan’s pacer Naveen Ul Haq won the match for Afghanistan by taking 2 consecutive wickets in the 18th over.
Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 8 runs.
2. Created history by defeating Australia
Under the captaincy of Rashid Khan, Afghanistan made the biggest upset in the T20 World Cup. The team, which has won one T-20 and 6 ODI World Cups, defeated Australia by 21 runs in the Super-8. This was Afghanistan’s first victory over Australia in any format of cricket.
In this match, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl and restricted the Afghanistan team to 148 runs, but Australia was all out for 127 runs. Gulbadin Naib snatched the victory from the Kangaroos by taking 4 wickets.
Afghanistan defeated Australia by 21 runs.
Last time it was De Villiers, who now?
2016 World Cup… Wankhede Ground Mr. 360 of Cricket i.e. AB de Villiers hit 29 runs in one over to the current captain of Afghanistan Rashid Khan. Which also included hat-trick six. South Africa won this match by 37 runs.
Today the African team has players like De Kock, Clason and Rabada. Now it remains to be seen who will make the team win. On the other hand, Afghan captain Rashid Khan’s team would like to avenge the 2016 defeat and reach the finals.
In this match, De Villiers played an inning of 64 runs on 29 balls.
Faced once in T20 World Cup, South Africa won
Afghanistan and South Africa have faced each other twice in T-20 International, in which South Africa has won both the matches.
Last 5 matches of both teams
importance of the match
South Africa is invincible in this T-20 World Cup. Afghanistan will play the first semi-final in its history, both the teams would like to win this match and reach the final.
roll toss
4 matches of T20 World Cup 2024 have been held in Brian Lara Stadium. Where the team fielding first has won all four matches. The average score of the first innings in this World Cup on this ground is 90 runs, while the average score of the second innings is 89 runs. Toss win, match win percentage at this ground is 75%.
Eyes on the stars…
top performer
1. Afghanistan
- Rahmunullah Gurbaz- Gurbaz is the top scorer of this T-20 World Cup. He has scored 281 runs in 7 matches at an average of 40.14 and strike rate of 126. In the decisive match against Bangladesh, he scored 43 runs off 55 balls. Due to which the team qualified for the semi-finals for the first time.
Gurbaz is the top scorer (281 runs) of this World Cup.
- Naveen Ul Haq- With charismatic bowling, he won against Bangladesh by taking 2 wickets in 2 consecutive balls. He was the man of the match in this match, taking 4 wickets for 26 runs in 4 overs. In this World Cup, Naveen has taken 13 wickets in 7 matches.
Naveen turned the match against Bangladesh by taking two consecutive wickets.
2. South Africa
- David Miller- Miller is the top batsman of the African middle order on the tricky pitch of West Indies. He has the ability to play according to the situation. Scored 148 runs in 7 matches of this World Cup.
David Miller has scored 148 runs in this World Cup.
- Kagiso Rabada- Rabada, one of the fastest bowlers in the world, can win the match in any match with his bowling. South Africa is expected to take wickets from Rabada in the initial overs. He has taken 10 wickets in 7 matches of this world.
Rabada has taken 10 wickets in this World Cup.
Match Prediction- Having chokers associated with the name of South Africa doubles their pressure. South Africa has won only 5 out of 18 matches in ICC Knockout till date. Afghanistan’s confidence is high. Afghan spinners can play a big role on this pitch. South Africa has more chances of winning this match.
Weather Report- There is a 40% chance of rain at Brian Lara Stadium on Thursday, but there is a reserve day for this match.
Afghanistan-South Africa possible playing eleven
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Janson, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortya and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Noor Ahmed, Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqui.
