SA vs AFG: Afghanistan records lowest total in T20 World Cup knockouts

T20 World Cup 2024: The Proteas’ pace troika of Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje sharing seven wickets between them to blow away the Afghan batting lineup.

Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib is out bowled by South Africa’s Marco Jansen. | Photo Credit: AP

Afghanistan was bundled out for the lowest score in a T20 World Cup knockout match during its semifinal against South Africa in Trinidad on Thursday.

The Rashid Khan-led side was shot out for 56 runs in 11.5 overs with the Proteas’ pace troika of Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje sharing seven wickets between them.

The previous lowest in the first innings of a knockout match was by West Indies, which scored 101 against Sri Lanka in the semifinal of the 2009 edition. Sri Lanka was also tied on the same score, creating the unceremonious record against West Indies in 2012.

This was also Afghanistan’s lowest score in T20Is, going below the previous mark of 72 runs, against Bangladesh in 2014.

In the Proteas’ reply, Fazalhaq Farooqi rearranged Quinton de Kock’s stumps and brough brief hope for his side. However, Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks stood still the end to ensure a nine-wicket victory and a spot in the final.