South Africa successfully defeated Afghanistan to earn their first-ever men's T20 World Cup final participation, overcoming their history of semi-final losses. The Proteas had lost seven straight World Cup semi-finals in different formats until this triumph. South Africa's bowlers were outstanding against Afghanistan in Trinidad, bowling them out for only 56 runs in 11.5 overs on a difficult wicket.
Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada led the Proteas' bowling assault, with Jansen getting key wickets early on, including Afghanistan's best scorer in the tournament, Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Tabraiz Shamsi and Jansen teamed to destroy Afghanistan's bottom order, limiting them to their lowest total of the tournament. The pitch conditions, which allowed for considerable seam movement and bounce, prompted concerns about its appropriateness for such a major tournament.
Despite struggling in their first batting innings, with Quinton de Kock removed after being struck in the body, South Africa easily knocked down the small goal in 8.5 overs. This victory advances them into the final in Barbados, where they will face either England or India in the hopes of winning their first World Cup championship.
South Africa's path to this point has been defined by tight matches, and their ability to navigate difficult conditions demonstrates their commitment to end their trophy drought. In contrast, Afghanistan, fresh from a historic victory, struggled to deal with poor pitch conditions and a delayed flight ahead to the match.
Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's captain, criticized his team's difficult circumstances while admitting that they were outplayed by South Africa's outstanding bowling performance. Despite the setback, he stressed T20 cricket's unpredictable character and the importance of adapting to changing conditions. Meanwhile, South Africa's captain, Aiden Markram, praised the squad and support personnel for their contributions to reaching the final, emphasizing the team's achievement.
