Ahmedabad: South Africa clinched a dramatic victory over Afghanistan in a match that required two Super Overs after a gripping tie in regulation time at their Group D T20 World Cup encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium here today.
Both teams finished on 187 in their allotted 20 overs, triggering a Super Over that itself ended level, forcing a rare second Super Over to decide the contest.
Afghanistan appeared to be heading for defeat when the final over of their chase began with 13 runs required and only one wicket in hand. However, Kagiso Rabada’s over swung the game unexpectedly. Two no-balls provided Afghanistan crucial lifelines, and despite the mounting pressure, a running error eventually resulted in the scores being tied at the end of regulation play.
The first Super Over did little to separate the sides, with both teams scoring 17 runs. South Africa’s hopes then rested on Tristan Stubbs, who delivered under pressure by striking a six off the final ball to keep his side alive and push the game into a second Super Over.
In the decisive Super Over, Afghanistan were set a daunting target and needed four consecutive sixes to pull off an extraordinary win. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who had anchored Afghanistan’s innings with a blistering 84 off 42 balls in regulation time, nearly scripted a memorable finish. He launched three sixes in succession, briefly raising hopes of yet another tie.
But with Afghanistan requiring just a boundary off the final ball to extend the match further, Gurbaz mistimed his shot and hit straight to a fielder at point, sealing South Africa’s win in a contest defined by razor-thin margins.
Earlier, South Africa posted 187 for 6 after solid contributions from Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock. Rickelton top-scored with 61, while de Kock added 59, providing stability at the top. Afghanistan’s bowlers kept the scoring in check during key phases, with Azmatullah Omarzai returning figures of 3 for 41 and Rashid Khan finishing with 2 for 28.
Afghanistan’s response was powered by Gurbaz’s aggressive strokeplay. His 84 formed the backbone of the chase, keeping Afghanistan in contention despite regular wickets. South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi delivered a crucial spell, claiming 3 for 26 to prevent Afghanistan from pulling ahead.
The victory helped South Africa navigate a tense encounter in what has been widely regarded as one of the tournament’s most competitive group stages, while Afghanistan were left to reflect on a match that slipped away after coming within a single boundary of extending the drama even further.
Brief Scores: South Africa 187/6 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 61, Quinton de Kock 59; Azmatullah Omarzai 3/41, Rashid Khan 2/28); Afghanistan 187 all out in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 84; Lungi Ngidi 3/26); South Africa won after second Super Over.
Australia vs Ireland: Australia opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a commanding 67-run victory over Ireland at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. After electing to bat, Australia compiled 182/6 on a slow surface, recovering from an early setback with a brisk PowerPlay that yielded 64 runs despite losing Travis Head. The innings lost momentum briefly as Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis fell, but Matt Renshaw and Marcus Stoinis rebuilt with a crucial 61-run partnership. Renshaw’s patient 37 and Stoinis’ fluent 45 off 29 balls anchored the recovery before late acceleration pushed Australia past the 180 mark. Ireland’s bowlers were disciplined for large phases, but dropped chances hurt their cause.
Chasing 183, Ireland struggled from the outset as Nathan Ellis’ incisive opening spell dismantled the top order. Ellis mixed pace effectively to finish with 3/5 early, leaving Ireland under severe pressure. Adam Zampa then tightened Australia’s grip with an outstanding 4/23, extinguishing any hopes of a revival. George Dockrell’s 41 and Lorcan Tucker’s 24 provided brief resistance through a 46-run stand, but the chase never regained balance. Ireland were eventually restricted to 115, sealing a comprehensive win for the former champions.
Brief Scores: Australia 182/6 in 20 overs (Stoinis 45, Inglis 37; Adair 2/44) beat Ireland 115/10 in 16.5 overs (George Dockrell 41; Nathan Ellis 4/12, Adam Zampa 4/23) by 67 runs.
England vs West Indies: West Indies posted a formidable 196/6 after recovering from early setbacks, with Sherfane Rutherford anchoring the innings through a blistering unbeaten 76. Despite losing Shai Hope and Brandon King inside the first two overs, the middle order rebuilt steadily before Rutherford’s power-hitting transformed the contest. He struck seven sixes and stitched crucial partnerships, while Jason Holder’s late assault (33 off 17) propelled West Indies with a 54-run surge in the final four overs. England’s bowlers made early inroads through Jofra Archer and Sam Curran, but Rutherford’s counterattack proved decisive.
In reply, England began aggressively as Phil Salt raced off the blocks, including a 24-run over off Holder. However, wickets at regular intervals disrupted their momentum. Jacob Bethell continued his impressive run with attacking strokes, helping England register 67/1 in the PowerPlay — the second-highest PowerPlay score of the tournament. The chase faltered in the middle overs as Gudakesh Motie (3/33) and Roston Chase applied the brakes, removing key batters including Jos Buttler and Will Jacks. England slipped to 134/6, with Motie’s spin proving pivotal in tilting the game West Indies’ way.
Brief Scores: West Indies 196/6 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 76 not out, Roston Chase 34, Jason Holder 33; Adil Rashid 2-16, Jamie Oveton 2-33) beat England 166 all out in 19 overs (Sam Curran 43*, Jacob Bethell 33, Phil Salt 30; Gudakesh Motie 3-33, Chase 2-29) by 30 runs
