Ahmedabad: South Africa held their nerve to defeat Afghanistan in a gripping double Super Over clash in Match 13 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.
The match finished level after both sides posted 187 in their allotted 20 overs, setting up a dramatic Super Over. In the first tie-breaker, Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 17 runs off Lungi Ngidi. Fazalhaq Farooqi then bowled a disciplined over while defending the total and dismissed Dewald Brevis. However, Tristan Stubbs smashed two boundaries — including a six off the final delivery — to draw South Africa level and push the contest into a second Super Over.
In the decisive over, Stubbs and David Miller took on Omarzai. Stubbs launched the over with a six, while Miller hammered two more maximums as South Africa amassed 23 runs, setting Afghanistan a stiff target of 24.
Afghanistan’s chase began with Mohammad Nabi and Omarzai at the crease, but South Africa opted for spin, handing the ball to Keshav Maharaj. He delivered a dot ball first up and then dismissed Nabi. Gurbaz reignited hopes with three consecutive sixes, but with six needed off the final ball, he was caught at point, handing South Africa a thrilling victory.
Earlier, Afghanistan won the toss and chose to field. South Africa had a slow start, losing captain Aiden Markram early to Farooqi. Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock steadied the innings, guiding the Proteas to 43/1 in the powerplay and 98/1 at the halfway mark.
De Kock struck 59 off 41 balls, becoming South Africa’s leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history with 737 runs, surpassing AB de Villiers’ 717. Rickelton played an explosive knock of 61 from just 28 deliveries, hitting five fours and four sixes. Rashid Khan pulled things back by dismissing both set batters in quick succession.
Stubbs fell cheaply to Omarzai, while Brevis (23 off 19), Miller (20* off 15), and Marco Jansen (16 off 7) powered South Africa to 187/6. Omarzai finished with three wickets, Rashid claimed two, and Farooqi chipped in with one.
In response, Afghanistan openers Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran came out attacking, racing to 50 within four overs. However, Ngidi struck twice in one over to remove Zadran and Gulbadin Naib, and Rabada dismissed Sediqullah Atal shortly after, shifting the momentum.
Gurbaz kept Afghanistan in contention with a superb 84 off 42 balls before edging Maharaj to short third man, leaving his side at 121/4 in the 13th over. Rashid Khan’s brisk 20 off 12 further narrowed the gap.
Needing 24 from the final two overs, Afghanistan managed 11 off Jansen’s penultimate over, though he removed Rashid and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. With 13 required in the last over, Rabada began with a no-ball and a wide, and Noor Ahmad cleared the ropes to raise hopes. But a run-out of Farooqi while attempting a second run tied the scores and forced a Super Over — which ultimately turned into a historic double Super Over triumph for South Africa.