Double Super Over drama! South Africa steal T20 World Cup thriller as Afghanistan suffer cruel heartbreak

AHMEDABAD: South Africa survived pure T20 mayhem here, edging Afghanistan only after two Super Overs and only after Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the man who al-most stole the show, picked out a fielder off the last legal delivery.In a match that swung so violently it felt rigged by fate, South Africa escaped after the scores were tied at 187 all, then 17 runs all in the first Super Over before South Africa finally prevailed, scoring 23 to Afghanistan’s 19 in the second. Put in to bat, South Africa built a plat-form that looked match winning. Ryan Rickelton’s 61 off 28 was a blistering statement of intent and Quinton de Kock’s 59 off 41 provided the polish as the left-hand pair tore through Afghanistan’s attack in a stand worth 114.South Africa finished at 187/6, helped by late hits from David Miller (20* off 15) and Marco Jansen (16 off 7) even as Af-ghanistan clawed back through Azmatul-lah Omarzai (3/41) and Rashid Khan (2/28).Afghanistan’s chase was as dramatic as it was chaotic. Gurbaz played the lead role, striking 84 off 42 to keep dragging the game back from the brink. When wickets fell all around him, the pursuit became part calculation, part stubborn refusal to surrender.Then came the over that should have ended it — and instead detonated the match. Afghanistan began the last over needing 13 with one wicket in hand, the sort of equation that usually closes a contest. But Kagiso Rabada overstepped twice, cracking open a door Afghanistan had no right to still be pushing at.Noor Ahmad launched a crucial six and suddenly the stadium was roaring for a heist. Yet, in the rush of the mo-ment, Afghanistan’s running betrayed them: a desperate second run ended with a run-out at the non-striker’s end and the regulation 20 overs finished locked at 187 apiece. The first Super Over was a punch and counterpunch. Omarzai and Gurbaz smashed 17 off Lungi Ngidi, only for South Africa to answer through Tristan Stubbs, who launched a last-ball six to force the unimaginable: a second Super Over.South Africa’s second Super Over was ruthless. They scored 23 without loss, with Miller and Stubbs clearing the ropes to set a target that felt absurd even by T20 standards. And still Afghanistan nearly aced it. Facing 24, Gurbaz stared the chal-lenge in the eye, striking three consecu-tive sixes until Afghanistan were one more swing, and a six, away from victory with one ball left. A boundary would have meant a third Super Over. Keshav Maha-raj fired it wide, angled away from the hitting arc and Gurbaz sliced it to Miller.It was heartbreak for Afghanistan and relief for South Africa. With the win, South Africa moved to four points from two games, level with New Zealand at the top of Group D, while Afghanistan slumped to two defeats. Their campaign could be effeectively over since they need more than just wins against UAE and Canada.