New Delhi, India

South Africa moved past their poor record in ICC knockouts to thrash Afghanistan by 9 wickets in the first T20 World Cup 2024 semifinal and enter their maiden final. On Wednesday (June 26, local time), in Trinidad, Aiden Markram-led Proteas rode on bowling heroics from Player-of-the-Match Marco Jansen (3 for 16) and spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3 for 6) to dismiss the Rashid Khan-led Afghans, playing their maiden World Cup semifinal, for 56 (lowest-ever score in T20 WC semis) and chased it with 67 balls to spare.

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Opting to bat first at the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad, Rashid & Co. had nothing going for themselves from the word go. Their in-form openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmatullah Gurbaz went back in a flash and they were soon reduced to 23 for 5 with pacers Jansen, Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada chipping in with regular breakthroughs.

Jansen bowled in the right areas, and kept it on the stumps, to reap rewards whereas Shamsi removed the tail soon as the Afghans got bundled out for a mere 56 in 11.5 overs. Only Azmatullah Omarzai touched double digits with his 10 being the highest-score. Thus, Afghanistan attained some unwanted feats:

Lowest totals by full-member teams in T20 WC history

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55 - England vs West Indies, Dubai, 2021

56 - Afghanistan vs South Africa, Tarouba, 2024*

60 - New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Chattogram, 2014

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70 - Bangladesh vs New Zealand, Kolkata, 2016

Lowest total for Afghanistan in T20Is

56 vs South Africa, Tarouba, 2024*

72 vs Bangladesh, Mirpur, 2014

80 vs South Africa, Bridgetown, 2010

80 vs England, Colombo, 2012

- above four coming in a WC match.

Lowest totals vs South Africa in T20Is

56 - Afghanistan, Tarouba, 2024*

77 - Sri Lanka, New York, 2024

80 - Afghanistan, Bridgetown, 2010

81 - Scotland, The Oval, 2009

Also read: T20 WC 2024: EXPLAINED! What if both semifinals wash out? Who wins in case final is also called off?

Talking about the run-chase, Afghanistan removed opener Quinton De Kock for 5 with pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi striking early (who also signed off with most wickets in a single edition -- 17 scalps). However, there was nothing more to celebrate for the Afghans as Markram (23 not out) and opener Reeza Hendricks (29 not out) stitched an unbeaten 55-run second-wicket stand to take their side to a maiden T20 WC final. 

For Afghanistan, they can hold their heads high as an inspiring campaign came to an end, where they beat New Zealand and Australia. They probably ran out of steam, after also not getting much breathing space between their last Super 8 game and the first semifinal. Proteas, who also had a delayed flight en route to the semifinals, were clinical as ever with their bowlers dominating the show. 

Most consecutive wins in T20 WCs

8* - SA (2024)

8 - AUS (2022-2024)

7 - ENG (2010-2012)

7 - IND (2012-2014)

Markram-led SA, who won several close games in this year's competition, have, thus, stormed into their maiden T20 WC final. They will now lock horns with the winner of the second semifinal between defending champions England and India (on June 27, in Guyana).

The final will be held at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on Saturday (June 29).