South Africa vs Afghanistan, 13th Match, Group D, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - CommentaryRSA vs AFG, 13th Match, Group D, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - Commentary

2 Super Overs! 1 Epic Game! DK & Rahane react to SA's win

Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, out Fazalhaq Farooqi Run Out!! 1 run completed. What a game. We have a run-out. And Afghanistan have botched this. Full on middle, Noor Ahmad gets forward to drive and gets it wide of Jansen at long-off, easy two but somehow Fazalhaq Farooqi is slow. He is just short of the line with the bat in the air as Rabada collects the throw which was wide of the stumps. Breaks it and catches Farooqi short. It's sent upstairs and we have the decision. Farooqi should've put in the dive but didn't and that cost him. To be fair Farooqi should've got in even without a dive as the throw was wide of the stumps. We are now on to a Super Over. Fazalhaq Farooqi run out (Marco Jansen/Kagiso Rabada) 0(0)

Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, SIX, this game is not over. An off-pace length delivery on middle, Noor Ahmad gets forward and pulls, hits it well and it clears the run and leap of deep square-leg to his left. A six and Afghanistan believe again

Marco Jansen to Noor Ahmad, out Mujeeb Ur Rahman Run Out!! Marco Jansen gets ahead of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and then fires a direct-hit to send him packing. A short of length delivery outside off, Noor Ahmad goes on the back foot to cut and mistimes it to the left of Jansen who picks it up and hits the stumps. Another big moment and Afghanistan are down to their last pair. Mujeeb Ur Rahman run out (Marco Jansen) 0(1)

Marco Jansen to Noor Ahmad, SIX, my word! What a blow. Full and in the slot outside off, Noor Ahmad nails the loft, he gets forward and smashes it way over long-on. That came out of the screws. Afghanistan believe again

Marco Jansen to Rashid Khan, out Caught by David Miller!! Miller with a clutch catch at long-on. He runs to his left and takes it. The slower-ball off-cutter and full and wide outside off, Rashid Khan gets forward to loft, off the bottom of the bat, Miller runs and takes it on the reverse-cup. He is such a good fielder. And that is a fine catch. Is that the end of Afghanistan? Rashid Khan c David Miller b Marco Jansen 20(12) [4s-3]

Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, out Caught by Tristan Stubbs!! What a catch under pressure. The slower-ball off-cutter and on leg-stump, Azmatullah Omarzai gets forward to loft, Stubbs right at the edge of the boundary at long-on, shows great awareness, takes it, knows he is going over, so lobs it back and comes back in to take it. Judged it so well. Azmatullah stands there in disbelief before trudging off. A bit more elevation and it was six. South Africa are relieved. Azmatullah Omarzai c Tristan Stubbs b Lungi Ngidi 22(17) [4s-3]

Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR, slower-ball off-cutter and it's a juicy low full-toss on middle and leg, swiped away and beats the dive of short fine to his left. Markram bubbles his lips in disappointment

Kagiso Rabada to Rashid Khan, FOUR, what a shot. A fine yorker on off, Rashid Khan sinks low, opens the face of the bat and squeezes it so late, wide of short third man and runs away for a crucial four. Kagiso Rabada has a wry smile at Rashid who too responds in the same way

Kagiso Rabada to Rashid Khan, FOUR, slower-ball and the leg-cutter again, it sits up short, Rashid Khan gets forward and smashes the pull to the deep mid-wicket fence, to the right of the man and he had no chance

George Linde to Rashid Khan, FOUR, that's a good sweep. Full outside the leg-stump, Rashid Khan sweeps and beats short fine to his left, short boundary and four. No chance for the deep fielder

George Linde to Mohammad Nabi, out Caught by Aiden Markram!! Gone. Nicely bowled. It's slower and tossed up outside the leg-stump, Mohammad Nabi makes room to slog to leg, it turns and forces the mistake, skies it and Markram settles under it at cover. That angle from over the wicket and bowling into whatever rough is there works for George Linde. Now South Africa favorites. Mohammad Nabi c Aiden Markram b George Linde 5(6)

Marco Jansen to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR, full on off, Azmatullah Omarzai gets forward and smashes it over the leap of cover, that was hit so hard and flies away, ends the over on a high

Marco Jansen to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR, poor delivery and four more. Full and down leg, easy for Azmatullah Omarzai as he gets forward and flicks it away, well wide of short fine, who is almost at backward square-leg

Keshav Maharaj to Azmatullah Omarzai, out Darwish Rasooli Run Out!! Rasooli run out! Oh this is horrible from Afghanistan's point of view! First Gurbaz, now Rasooli and the game has changed dramatically. Flat length ball at the stumps, Omarzai makes room to cut, finds backward point and the single isn't on. Rasooli still comes charging down for a single and is more than halfway when he has to turn back. Had no hope from there. Throw came to de Kock who passed it to the bowler's end. Easy run out. Darwish Rasooli run out (George Linde/Quinton de Kock/Keshav Maharaj) 15(18)

Keshav Maharaj to Azmatullah Omarzai, out Darwish Rasooli Run Out!! Rasooli run out! Oh this is horrible from Afghanistan's point of view! First Gurbaz, now Rasooli and the game has changed dramatically. Flat length ball at the stumps, Omarzai makes room to cut, finds backward point and the single isn't on. Rasooli still comes charging down for a single and is more than halfway when he has to turn back. Had no hope from there. Throw came to de Kock who passed it to the bowler's end. Easy run out. Darwish Rasooli run out (George Linde/Quinton de Kock/Keshav Maharaj) 15(18)

Keshav Maharaj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, out Caught by George Linde!! Linde takes a brilliant catch and Gurbaz is crestfallen! Tossed up outside off, slow and dipping and he looks to go inside-out over extra. There's just enough grip though. Not a lot, but just enough. It takes a thick edge and loops to the left of short third who dives full stretch and grabs with both hands. Huge moment in the game and props to Maharaj for tossing this up. Rahmanullah Gurbaz c George Linde b Keshav Maharaj 84(42) [4s-4 6s-7]

Keshav Maharaj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX, big swing, not the greatest connection but it's enough! Gurbaz on fire! Tossed up slow just outside off, dips on him as he goes for the slog, seems like a miscue but still clears the giant frame of Jansen at long-on

Aiden Markram to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX, lovely, was the off-break from Markram - drifted back into the right-hander and Gurbaz picked the length early, sinks low and then sweeps it high over deep backward square leg, sails over the back-tracking fieder for a maximum. 14 off the over

Aiden Markram to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR, nicely played, Markram goes full and drifts it down leg as Gurbaz backed away - swept backward of square on the on-side, beating Rickelton in the deep

Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR, classy, Gurbaz pre-empts the line and length, shuffles right across and then gets under this very full ball, places it over extra-cover and the ball runs away to the ropes

George Linde to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX, Gurbaz is on a roll and he brings up his fifty in some style. tad too short from Linde, sits up to be smacked and Gurbaz doesn't miss out, makes room by backing away and then carves it over cover for a maximum

George Linde to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX, hammered, too full from Linde - Gurbaz backs away and then lifts it back over the bowler's head. Went very high and very deep into the stands for a maximum

Kagiso Rabada to Sediqullah Atal, out Caught by Marco Jansen!! Catching practice at short fine and AFG are losing wickets in a hurry. Sediqullah Atal though will feel mighty unlucky here - back of a length and angling into the left-hander, Sediqullah got inside the line and then flicked, was in the air and in the vicinity of Jansen - he slides across, uses his height and holds onto a fine two-handed catch. They've taken drinks with South Africa getting on top with three quick strikes. Sediqullah Atal c Marco Jansen b Kagiso Rabada 0(3)

Lungi Ngidi to Gulbadin Naib, out Caught&Bowled!! The slower ball does the trick once again and Gulbadin Naib falls for a duck. Rolled his fingers across the seam, Naib was lunging forward on the defensive push, but the ball cuts back and catches the thick inside edge - lobs back at the bowler, but Ngidi still has work to do. He runs forward, dives and takes a two-handed blinder. Gulbadin Naib c and b Lungi Ngidi 0(2)

Lungi Ngidi to Ibrahim Zadran, out Bowled!! Lovely delivery and Ngidi has broken through for South Africa - was the slower ball and it dipped wickedly onto the right-hander. Ibrahim Zadran was charging down the pitch and he's completely undone by the drop, the ball dips and goes under his drive, crashing into the middle-stump. South Africa needed this wicket, they really looked rattled at the early charge. Ibrahim Zadran b Lungi Ngidi 12(10) [4s-1 6s-1]

George Linde to Ibrahim Zadran, SIX, beautifully played, Zadran skips down the track, gets right to the pitch of the ball and then swings through the line, high and over long-on - brings up 50 for AFG in 4 overs

George Linde to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR, nicely played, Zadran shimmies down the pitch, gets close to the ball and that allows him to play against the drift - picks the gap over wide mid-on and the ball bounces away to the ropes

George Linde to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX, lovely, Gurbaz is looking so good today - flighted delivery on middle and leg, Gurbaz backs away, opens up the off-side and then goes inside out over mid-off for a maximum

Kagiso Rabada to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX, smashed, pace going against South Africa at the moment - Jansen then, KG now. Short and at the stumps, Gurbaz backs away and carves it high over third man for a maximum

Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX, cheeky and six, banged in short and just outside off - Gurbaz backs away, opens the face of the bat and then uses Jansen's pace to ramp it down to the stands at third man

Lungi Ngidi to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR, cracking shot, on a length and just outside off - Rahmanullah Gurbaz plays the pick-up whip, brought his wrists into play and hammers it backward of square on the on-side for a boundary

Lungi Ngidi to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, no run, on a good length and just outside off - Gurbaz presses well forward on the defensive push

Lungi Ngidi to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR, lovely, full-toss from Ngidi and Gurbaz doesn't miss out. The right-hander leans into the drive and caresses it into the gap past the diving fielder at mid-off

Azmatullah to Marco Jansen, out Caught by Sediqullah Atal!! Miscued in the air and gone! Pace off into the surface, a slower short ball and gets big on Jansen as he tries flat-batting down the ground. Takes a thick top-edge and Sediq takes it safely coming in from long-on. Marco Jansen c Sediqullah Atal b Azmatullah 16(7) [4s-2 6s-1]

Azmatullah to Marco Jansen, FOUR, attempted yorker is dispatched to the boundary! Only missed by a few inches but it's enough for Jansen who uses the bottom hand superbly to hammer it wide of long-off. One bounce and over the ropes!

Azmatullah to David Miller, SIX, this time Miller doesn't miss. Another slower ball on the wide line, he reaches out, holds his shape and lofts through the line over long-off. Previous ball he was trying to slog through the leg-side but this time he held his shape nicely

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Marco Jansen, SIX, goes pace off and disappears down the ground! Maybe that's why he was trying to look for the yorkers. Short of length just outside off, slower one and Jansen plays an incredible shot down the ground off the back foot. What a hit!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Marco Jansen, FOUR, Farooqi needs to relook what he's trying to do. Again goes for the yorker, bowls it in the slot and Jansen creams it through extra cover. The ball is stopping in the surface and pace off might be a better option

Fazalhaq Farooqi to David Miller, FOUR, that's not a good delivery. Pace off into the surface is working well but Farooqi tries to look for a yorker and ends up giving a full toss. Effortlessly whipped wide of long-on for four

Azmatullah to Tristan Stubbs, out Caught by Mujeeb!! South Africa not getting the finish they would've wanted. Stubbs's turn to head back to the pavilion. Full and straight, he bends across to scoop and gets it off the inside edge to short fine. Mujeeb hangs on for a low catch to his right and Azmatullah finishes the over with his second wicket. Tristan Stubbs c Mujeeb b Azmatullah 1(2)

Azmatullah to Dewald Brevis, out Caught by Nabi!! Flat-batted straight to mid-off and Afghanistan get another wicket. The fightback continues. As expected, it's dug in short again, pace off from Azmatullah and Brevis tries muscling it with a tennis-style forehand down the ground. Doesn't strike it well enough to clear mid-off where Nabi takes a simple catch. Dewald Brevis c Nabi b Azmatullah 23(19) [4s-1 6s-1]

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Dewald Brevis, SIX, the top edge flies all the way! Unlucky for Farooqi! Good short ball across off, gets big on Brevis as he goes for the pull and the edge travels over short fine

Noor Ahmad to Dewald Brevis, FOUR, too full and hammered! Misses his length, bowls it right in the slot and Brevis makes some room before unleashing down the ground. Such a powerful blow to the boundary!

Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, out Lbw!! Rickelton given out LBW and goes for the review! That's plumb in front! Round the wicket angle does the trick for Rashid and he's dismissed both the set batters in this over. Look at him leap in celebration. It's slides in off a good length, not sure if it was the googly but it didn't turn much and just came in with the angle. Rickelton tries clipping it away, misses and is pinned on the crease. Ball-tracking says it's hitting the top of middle. Ryan Rickelton lbw b Rashid Khan 61(28) [4s-5 6s-4]

Rashid Khan to de Kock, out Caught by Ibrahim Zadran!! Big fist pump from Rashid as he gets rid of de Kock! A massive 114-run partnership comes to an end. Pushed through flat on leg, it sits up from back of a length and de Kock looks to capitalise with the pull shot. Doesn't hit it well enough though. Goes flat and straight to Ibrahim at deep midwicket and it's a wicket Afghanistan desperately needed. de Kock c Ibrahim Zadran b Rashid Khan 59(41) [4s-5 6s-3]

Azmatullah to Ryan Rickelton, SIX, strays away from his plan and gets hammered! Full delivery angling down leg, easy pick-up shot for Rickelton with the kind of form he is in, whips it over midwicket and it sails over the ropes

Mujeeb to Ryan Rickelton, SIX, fifty for Rickelton as well- floaty back of the hand delivery outside off - Rickelton lunges forward, gets right under the length and then smotes it high over long-on - the fielder in the deep ran in and then went back, but he can only watch it go over his head

Mujeeb to de Kock, FOUR, cracking shot, dragged short by Mujeeb - de Kock picks the length early, swivels across and then pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary, brings up his fifty as well

Noor Ahmad to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR, too full, too wide and a fumble at extra-cover adds to Noor's woes - loopy delivery outside off and was driven hard - the fielder slid to his right and was undone by some awkward bounce

Noor Ahmad to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR, beautifully played, tossed up well wide of off - Rickelton leans forward, lets the ball come and then drives through the rise, finds the gap right of cover and the ball races away

Noor Ahmad to Ryan Rickelton, SIX, crunched, they're looking to attack Noor - too full and well wide of off, allows Rickelton to get underneath the ball and he then swipes it high over mid-wicket for a maximum

Noor Ahmad to de Kock, SIX, that's some welcome from de Kock - tossed up gently and well outside off, lets the left-hander free his arms and he then strikes it cleanly, high and over long-on for a maximum

Rashid Khan to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR, nicely played, Rickelton brings out the reverse sweep - gets down low, meets the ball on top of the bounce and then sweeps it over backward point

Rashid Khan to de Kock, FOUR, that's a mishit and Sediqullah has overrun it - Rashid doesn't look a happy man, tossed up on off and de Kock went through with the lofted drive, doesn't get hold of the shot and the ball drops in front of long-on

Nabi to Ryan Rickelton, SIX, clubbed, he doesn't miss out this time around - fraction too full and just outside off, Rickelton gets down low, onto his knee and then hammers the slog-sweep over wide long-on

Rashid Khan to de Kock, SIX, beautifully played, wasd the attempted wronjg 'un from Rashid - but he's bowled it very full and right in the slot. de Kock backs away, opens up the off-side and then swings through the line, clearing long-off with ease

Nabi to de Kock, FOUR, cracking shot, fraction short and around off, de Kock backs away, opens up the off-side and finds the gap past backward point for a boundary

Azmatullah to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR, the boundaries are beginning to flow - Azmatullah drags the length back, but it's still wide of off and Ryan Rickelton drags the pull past mid-wicket- beats the fielder in the ring and runs away

Azmatullah to Ryan Rickelton, FOUR, nicely played, fuller length delivery and well wide of off, Azmatullah came from round the wicket and the width allows Rickelton to free his arms - driven over the leaping fielder at cover and the ball runs away to the ropes

Mujeeb to de Kock, FOUR, back-to-back boundaries for de Kock - Mujeeb drags the length back, but there's width on off - de Kock stays on the front-foot as he punches it in front of square on the off-side for a boundary

Mujeeb to de Kock, SIX, clubbed, tad too full from Mujeeb, it's right in the slot and de Kock clears the front-foot on the shovel. He gets his left leg out of the way and hoists it high over long-on for a maximum

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Aiden Markram, out Caught by Nabi!! Chance and takes at mid-off - change of pace and that does the trick, wasd a slower ball at 112 kmph - drops onto Markram and he's way too early into the lofted drive, goes through with the sliced drive, got it right off the toe-end and scoops it up towards mid-off - Nabi gets under, waits on the ball and takes it with ease. An early strike and AFG will be happy with this start. Aiden Markram c Nabi b Fazalhaq Farooqi 5(8) [4s-1]

Mujeeb to de Kock, FOUR, cracking shot, tossed up just outside off - de Kock leans across, opens the face of the bat and then drives it up and over cover, runs away to the ropes in a hurry

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Aiden Markram, FOUR, lovely shot, overpitched and wide of off - Markram leans into the drive and finds the gap wide of cover for a boundary

Match Forecast: T20 WC - SA vs AFG, 13th Match