After conceding 187/6 in 20 overs, it was important that Afghanistan get off to a fast start to get ahead in the game. That was exactly what happened as Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz got Afghanistan off to a flier. But South Africa weathered the storm and through Lungi Ngidi got a double strike to peg Afghanistan back while Kagiso Rabada came in later to get rid of Atal also in the powerplay and suddenly it was South Africa’s game to win as Gurbaz was left high and dry in the powerplay.
But Rahmanullah Gurbaz kept the fight going and with Rasooli hanging in there, he scored his fifty and is now looking to carry the chase forward. Gurbaz will be the key to this chase one feels from here.
Lungi Ngidi’s double strike dents Afghanistan charge inside the powerplay.Â
Chasing a massive 188 runs for the win, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran came out to open the batting for Afghanistan while Lungi Ngidi had ball in hand for South Africa. Gurbaz made his intentions clear as the full toss was dealt with as he drove it past the diving mid-off fielder for a boundary. Ngidi gifted 5 wides as a bonus to the batting side. Gurbaz then whipped it away over square leg for a boundary.
Marco Jansen came to bowl the second over. Gurbaz took him on and climbed onto the short and wide outside the off-stump as Gurbaz hopped and ramped it over the keeper for the maximum. Kagiso Rabada came into the attack next as Gurbaz welcomed him into the bowling crease with a maximum as he chased at it and sailed over third man for the maximum. Rabada bowled a few wides and ended his first over.
George Linde came into the attack inside the powerplay. Gurbaz welcomed him too with the maximum as he made room and played it on the rise as he thumped it over long-off for the maximum. Ibrahim finally joined the party as he walked down and whacked it away towards wide long-on for a boundary. Ibrahim then walked down the track and whacked it nicely over long-on for the maximum as the 50 came up for Afghanistan and of the partnership inside 4 overs.
Lungi Ngidi came back into the attack for a fresh spell and removed Ibrahim for 12 off 10 balls with one four and one six to his name. Ngidi bowled the slower one and it did the trick as the ball was too full and slower dipping on the middle stump line. Ibrahim stepped out of the crease and swung through the line but was completely deceived by the slower one as the ball sneaked past the bottom edge of the bat and thudded the base of the stumps. Gulbadin Naib came out to bat next.
Ngidi had two in the over as he removed Naib for a silver duck. Ngidi bowled fuller than good length which was an off-cutter around the off-stump. Naib prod forward for a push at it but got the cue end of the bat and chipped it back to the bowler. Ngidi dived across to his right and took a good low catch. Sediqullah Atal came out to bat next.
Kagiso Rabada came back to bowl the final over of powerplay. Rabada removed Atal for a bronze duck. He bowled a length delivery on the leg stump line. The left-hander stayed inside the line and looked to glance it away but got it off the upper half of the bat and the ball flew to Jansen at short fine leg who dived across and took the good catch. Drinks was taken at this moment before Darwish Rasooli came to the crease next inside the powerplay.
Rasooli got off the mark with a triple to the deep midwicket region. At the end of the powerplay in the chase of 188, Afghanistan were 56/3 in 6 overs with Gurbaz unbeaten on 35 off 18 balls alongside Rasooli unbeaten on 3 off 3 balls.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz completes fifty and drives Afghanistan in the chase at the halfway stage of the innings.Â
Keshav Maharaj came into the attack post the powerplay. He bowled a decent first over. George Linde came back into the attack as Gurbaz welcomed him back with a maximum straight down the ground over the bowler’s head for the maximum. Gurbaz was not done yet as he went over covers for the maximum as Gurbaz reached his fifty in 26 balls. This is his 13th T20I half-century and fourth in World Cups.
Maharaj continued and bowled a tight over. Marco Jansen came back into the attack. Gurbaz took him on by shuffling across the stumps and played the lofted cover drive for a boundary. Afghanistan reached 93/3 in 10 overs with Gurbaz unbeaten on 63 off 33 balls with Darwish Rasooli unbeaten on 9 off 12 balls. The match was in the balance at this stage of the game.
What Lies Ahead.Â
So, Afghanistan have done relatively well to get to 93/3 in 10 overs chasing 188 for the win thanks to Gurbaz’s electrifying half-century. The match lays in the balance and can go either way from here. South Africa know that they get rid of Gurbaz they may go onto win the contest. Gurbaz stays could spell danger. It’s going to be a thriller one feels.
Let’s see how the second half of the chase shapes up from here.
Also Read:Â ICC T20 WC 2026: Ryan Rickelton & Quinton de Kock Powers South Africa To 187/6