In the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan got bowled out with only 56 runs, making them record holders for the lowest team total in the tournament’s semifinal history.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat at Brian Lara Stadium on Wednesday in Tarouba, Trinidad. They had their own weaknesses exploited by a powerful South African bowling attack.
This innings started so badly that Rahmanullah Gurbaz was caught by Reeza Hendricks off Marco Jansen on the last ball of over one. It was an early failure which precipitated a batting collapse for Afghanistan. Kagiso Rabada sent Ibrahim Zadran back to pavilion after just 2 runs whereas Gulbadin Naib was dismiss for nine by Jansen.
At 20-3 on the scoreboard, Pakistan wickets tumbled at a fast pace as Rabada cleaned up Nabi while Jansen did same to Kharote then it was 23-5. South African bowlers kept taking wickets and never let up on their pressure.
Azmatullah Omarzai put up a fight with his score of 10 from 12 balls before he too fell trying to loft outside off stump only for Tristan Stubbs to take Anrich Nortje’s catch. Shamsi’s spinning ball made quick work of Afghanistan lower order as he took 3 straight wickets trapping Karim Janat lbw, Noor Ahmad lbw and Naveen-ul-Haq lbw all successively.
Lowest total for Afghanistan in T20Is
- 56 vs SA, Tarouba, 2024
- 72 vs BAN, Mirpur, 2014
- 80 vs SA, Bridgetown, 2010
- 80 vs ENG, Colombo, 2012
The Afghan captain Rashid Khan score only eight before being castle by Nortje. And, The innings ended in just 11.5 overs, with Fazalhaq Farooqi not out on two, and Afghanistan were all out for 56.
Lowest totals vs South Africa in T20Is
- 56 – AFG, Tarouba, 2024
- 77 – SL, New York, 2024
- 80 – AFG, Bridgetown, 2010
- 81 – SCO, The Oval, 2009
With figures of 3-16 Marco Jansen was the best bowler for South Africa. However, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje both collected two wickets each while Shamsi’s figures of 3-6 were important in mopping up the Afghan tail.
