In Match 13 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first in what is a must-win encounter for them. And the Afghanistan team started decently and managed to get a breakthrough for them. Fazalhaq Farooqi provided the breakthrough as South Africa was slow off the blocks and now the duo of Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton are upping the rate to keep the match in balance at powerplay. The middle overs phase post the powerplay will be crucial for both teams as that will give us an idea as to who surges ahead in the contest.
Fazalhaq Farooqi removes Aiden Markram, South Africa going steady in powerplay
Put into bat first, captain Aiden Markram and keeper batter Quinton de Kock came out to bat for South Africa while Fazalhaq Farooqi had ball in hand for Afghanistan. Markram got off the mark with a boundary as he leaned forward and crisply drove it past cover point for a boundary. Mujeeb Ur Rahman had ball in hand from the other end. Quinton made his intentions clear as he got underneath it and went inside out over covers for a boundary.
Farooqi continued and got rid of the captain Aiden Markram for 5 off 8 balls with 1 four to his name. The change of pace did the trick for Farooqi as he rolled his fingers on this delivery. He bowled an off-cutter outside the off-stump as Markram failed to spot it and went for a lofted shot down the ground but he was way too early into the shot. He ended up miscuing it off the toe end of the bat and skied it up in the air as Nabi at mid-off took a safe catch on the edge of the circle.
Ryan Rickelton came out to bat next. Mujeeb continued as Quinton smoked this one over midwicket for the maximum, the first maximum of the game. Quinton then got a fuller and wide outside off-stump as he drove it between backward point and cover point for a boundary. Azmatullah Omarzai came into the attack next and was welcomed with a boundary from Rickelton as he went over the cover fielder with an inside out drive. Rickelton was at it again as he beat the diving midwicket fielder with a pull for a boundary.
Mohammad Nabi came into the attack to bowl the last over of powerplay. Quinton gave himself some room and rocked back to cut it behind square past backward point for a boundary. At the end of the powerplay, South Africa recovered from an early jolt and were at a steady 43/1 in 6 overs with de Kock unbeaten on 25 off 18 balls while Rickelton was with him unbeaten on 13 off 10 balls.
Quinton de Kock & Ryan Rickelton dominates the proceedings in the next 4 overs
Rashid Khan came into the attack post the powerplay as Quinton lofted it down the ground over long-off for the maximum. Nabi continued as Rickelton got down on one knee and slog swept it over cow corner for the maximum. Rashid continued as Quinton hit him for a boundary down the ground. Rickeltin reverse swept him over backward point for a boundary.
Noor Ahmed came into the attack next and was dispatched by Quinton for the maximum over the bowler’s head. Rickelton joined the party as he swept Noor in front of square for the maximum. Rickelton leant and drove the next ball through the covers for a boundary. Rickelton went again as he drove through the covers for a boundary as 23 came off the over. South Africa raced off to 93/1 in 10 overs with Rickelton unbeaten on 44 off 21 balls while de Kock was unbeaten on 48 off 31 balls.
What Lies Ahead
Despite the early setback, South Africa came roaring back into the contest post powerplay thanks to Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton. It seems 200 is on the cards now for the Proteas and Afghanistan looks bereft of ideas. Can they fight back and take a wicket to stem the flow of runs? Only time will tell.
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