By Staff Reporter
South Africa beat Afghanistan by nine wickets to reach first Men’s T20 World Cup final, will now face England or India; Proteas had lost all seven previous World Cup semi-finals across 20-over and 50-over cricket; Aiden Markram’s side skittle Afghanistan for 56 on unruly pitch.
Reeza Hendricks hit the winning runs as South Africa beat Afghanistan by nine wickets to reach their first Men’s World Cup final
South Africa dismantled Afghanistan for just 56 on a difficult pitch as they stormed into their first Men’s T20 World Cup final with a nine-wicket win in Trinidad.
The Proteas had lost all seven of their previous World Cup semi-finals across the T20 and 50-over events but are now one victory away from a maiden trophy after an eighth win out of eight at this year’s competition.
Aiden Markram’s side – who now face England or India in Barbados on Saturday – rolled Afghanistan in 11.5 overs on a surface offering extreme bounce and ample seam movement with Azmatullah Omarzai (10) the only batter to make double figures as the first-time semi-finalists were demolished for their lowest T20I score.
Ibrahim Zadran was bowled by South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada as Afghanistan were rolled for their lowest T20I score of 56
Pacemen Marco Jansen (3-16), Anrich Nortje (2-7) and Kagiso Rabada (2-14) razed the Afghanistan top order – Rashid Khan’s side were 28-6 in 6.3 overs after electing to bat – before spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3-6) polished off the lower order.
South Africa reached their target in 8.5 overs as Reeza Hendricks (29no off 25) followed a hooked six off Azmatullah with the match-clinching four down the ground as he took his stand with Markram (23no off 21) to an unbroken 55 off 43 deliveries.
With Inputs from Associated Press
