South Africa made history by qualifying for their first-ever World Cup final after a dominant nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on June 26.
South Africa Secures First-Ever World Cup Final Berth After Long Time
The Proteas, known for their past heartbreaks in World Cup semi-finals across formats, finally broke the jinx with a clinical performance against Afghanistan. Having suffered defeats in seven previous World Cup semi-finals over 32 years (five in ODIs and two in T20Is), Aiden Markram’s men left no doubts in this encounter.
Afghanistan, batting first, were bundled out for a mere 56 runs in just 11.5 overs, unable to withstand the pressure from South Africa’s bowlers. Marco Jansen was the standout performer with a devastating three-wicket spell in the powerplay, earning him the Player of the Match award. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje chipped in with two wickets each, while left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi polished off the tail with three wickets.
In reply, South Africa chased down the target in just 8.5 overs, securing their place in the final in style. This victory marked South Africa’s eighth consecutive win in the ongoing World Cup, following an impressive streak of four wins in the group stage and three in the Super Eights.
With their relentless performance and newfound momentum, South Africa now awaits their opponent in the tournament’s final, aiming to clinch their maiden ICC World Cup title.
