South Africa vs Afghanistan Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: South Africa beat Afghanistan in double Super Over thriller

South Africa vs Afghanistan Live Score: South African captain Aiden Markram after the thriller

"It's quite hard to sum that all up. Tough competition - teams put you under immense pressure. And when you start putting yourselves under pressure, life gets hard. Grateful for the win and the points. Ultimately in Super Overs you're picking your most confident guys. Lungi didn't miss by much in the first over but they still got a good score. Same story with Kesh. Tough being a spinner. Still backed him. I said to the boys it's a decent target but we're going to scrap. Wasn't 100 percent comfortable with it, thought we left a few out there. There's areas we can improve. Small little phases, and it adds up to a lot in this format. That is the positive you take from a game like this, you need to win games like this. Important to get a really good start in this format and that's exactly what they did for us. Two of them batted really nicely, taking the game on."

SA vs AFG Live Score: Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan after the match

"The boys did an amazing job, especially with the way they started with the bat. To restrict them under 190 was amazing. So unlucky to be part of the losing team. Gave everything on the ground. This wicket is good, played a lot in IPL on this wicket. Discussion with the team was "yes they had a good start but try to restrict them in the last 10 overs". Amazing innings, that's what he's famous for. In the last couple of overs in the powerplay where we lost quick wickets, we put him on the back foot. Overall he played amazing. We had our opportunities. In the last Super Over as well, 1 ball 5 runs could go anyway. Could've been smarter. One dive, one ball could've finished it. Work hard for the last one and a half years for this game to go to the next round. Very disappointing. Any time you're representing your country is a proud moment. Will try my best to keep them as up as possible."

SA vs AFG T20 World Cup Live Score: Player of the Match - Lungi Ngidi

"I've lost so much weight today. Never been that stressed in my life in a cricket game. Happy to come out on the winning side. I knew I was probably going to be the option (for the Super Over). Captain said to keep doing the same. Did the same with the slower balls but didn't come off in the Super Over. With the way they were going I knew they were going to keep attacking us (in the powerplay), brought the slower ball into play. Message (from SA batters) was that the slower balls into the wicket was gripping. Captain said it was going to be a scrap but I didn't know it was going to be that much of a scrap. Big part of T20 cricket (catching). Have seen in a couple of earlier games that dropped catches can cost the game." - Ngidi said after the match

South Africa vs Afghanistan Live Score: WHAT A MATCH!

Heartbreak for Afghanistan.

The moment at 19.4 in the main game could haunt them, when they need just 2 off 3 balls — had Noor taken the single to level the scores, or had Farooqi avoided that tight run-out, the result might have been different.

Afghanistan's T20 World Cup hopes now hang by a thread, needing big wins ahead and favourable results elsewhere.

Earlier, South Africa posted 187 after Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton’s 114-run stand set the platform before Afghanistan’s fightback. Dewald Brevis, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs struggled then, only to find themselves central to the drama that unfolded later.

SA vs AFG Live Score: OUT! South Africa beat Afghanistan in Super Over

WHAT A GAME! South Africa pull off a dramatic escape, holding their nerve in the mental battle.

A full delivery wide outside off tempts Gurbaz, but like Nabi earlier, he fails to get underneath it. He opens the face to carve, only to offer a simple catch at backward point, allowing South Africa to finally breathe. Gurbaz is left stunned, grunting in frustration at the missed chance.

SA vs AFG T20 World Cup Live Score: 6,6,6 - Gurbaz mashes three sixes in a row. Afghanistan need 6 off 1 ball to win

South Africa vs Afghanistan Live Score: SIXES! Gurbaz slams back-to-back maximums off Maharaj | AFG 12/1, need 12 off 2 balls

SA vs AFG Live Score: OUT! Maharaj dismisses Nabi for a duck | AFG 0/1 in 0.2 overs - target 24

SA vs AFG T20 World Cup Live Score: Keshav Maharaj to bowl for South Africa. Afghanistan need 24 to win

South Africa vs Afghanistan Live Score: South Africa set a 24-run target for Afghanistan in the second Super Over

Stubbs set the tone with a towering six before David Miller followed up with back-to-back maximums, powering South Africa to 23/0 in the second Super Over. Afghanistan now face a daunting target under immense pressure.

SA vs AFG Live Score: BOOM! Miller smokes it over boundary | SA 15/0 in 0.4 overs

SA vs AFG T20 World Cup Live Score: Stubbs starts with a six off Azmat. SA 6/0 in 0.1 overs in 2nd Super Over

South Africa vs Afghanistan Live Score: It's not over yet! Stubbs smashes six. Match tied again. Second Super Over to follow

What a moment — we’re heading to another Super Over!

The tension is unbelievable as Stubbs delivers a stunning strike under immense pressure. A low full-toss on off, and he leans forward to launch a flat, powerful hit that sails over a leaping Nabi. Heads drop in the Afghanistan camp while Trott looks on in disbelief and Rashid holds his head. To generate that kind of power from such a delivery takes rare skill — and Stubbs has produced magic.

SA vs AFG Live Score: Edge & Four! Stubbs starts with a boundary. SA need 7 off 2 balls

SA vs AFG T20 World Cup Live Score: Farooqi strikes, dismisses Brevis. SA 7/1 in 0.3 overs | Target - 18

South Africa vs Afghanistan Live Score: Brevis smashes 6. SA need 11 off 4 balls

SA vs AFG Live Score: Afghanistan set a 18-run target for South Africa in the Super Over

4,6,1,1,4,1 - Azmatullah Omarzai smashes two fours and a six off Lungi Ngi in the Super Over as Afghanistan post 17/0 in it.

We are back for the Super Over shootout. The Proteas seem angry with themselves and don't even take a breather as they quickly head back onto the field of play. The officials are working things out with the teams and for now, it will be Azmatullah Omarzai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz to come out to bat for Afghanistan. The pressure is on South Africa as they keep waiting in the heat for the game to resume. Lungi Ngidi has the ball in hand and it will be Azmat to face the first ball. Let's go...

... Super Over ...

An all-time classic -  Can you believe what just happened out there? The game has swung like a pendulum and at the end of 40 overs, we still don't have a winner. Noor Ahmad has managed to take Afghanistan on level terms with the Proteas and we will now head into a Super Over shootout. Afghanistan will bat first. Let's head into overtime...

More drama! A run-out review on the deciding ball. This is so close but Kagiso Rabada has redeemed himself. The bails are off and the bat is in the air. OUT comes up on the big screen.

Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, OUT! RUN OUT! Lost for words.... We have a SUPER OVER! Fuller delivery, around off, Noor Ahmad strokes it wide of long off where Marco Jansen runs across and sweeps it off. Easy two but maybe there is some tiredness in the batter's leg. Marco Jansen throws it to Rabada, Fazalhaq Farooqi struggles but puts in a solid dive to get to the non-striker's end. Kagiso Rabada holds his nerves as he picks up the throw, a touch out of his reach but flicks the bails off quickly. The replay loads - Fazalhaq Farooqi has his bat in the air.

Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, NO BALL AGAIN! Kagiso Rabada, what are you doing? This is unlike this speedster. He is clearly feeling the pressure. Bowls a fuller delivery on middle, Noor Ahmad lofts it down to long on for a couple of runs. Noor Ahmad keeps the strike but the SIREN GOES OFF ONCE AGAIN. It's a FREE HIT...

Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, Finally, a dot ball. Full and straight, tailing in, dabbed down to long on for a dot ball.

Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, SIX! From having the game in hand, South Africa are now on the brink of throwing it all away. Noor Ahmad has hit a couple of unbelievable sixes. Short of a length and over middle, Noor hangs back, makes a bit of room by moving to the leg side and wallops the pull over deep square leg for a biggie. 5 needed now off 4 balls.

Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, PUT DOWN! But it was a Free Hit anyway. Pitched up fuller around off, Noor Ahmad stays put and launches it down to long off where Marco Jansen spills it. No run is taken.

Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, WIDE! Pressure on KG! Full and sliding down the leg side. Noor Ahmad looks to flick but misses. The Free-Hit continues...

Kagiso Rabada to Noor Ahmad, NO BALL! What drama! Oh, boy! Who wrote the script? This is full and around off, Ahmad looks to flick it away but miscues his shot as it was a slower delivery. It goes off the top edge to cover where the fielder takes the catch. But the SIREN GOES OFF and it's called a No Ball. Free Hit coming up....

Fazalhaq Farooqi is the last batter in for Afghanistan. Kagiso Rabada to bowl the final over. 13 needed off the final over.

Marco Jansen to Noor Ahmad, OUT! MUJEEB UR RAHMAN IS RUN OUT! This should settle the nerves in the Proteas dugout! This is full and around off, in the blockhole. Ahmad squeezes it out to the left of Jansen, around the deck. A mix-up as both the batters are stranded, looking for a single. Meanwhile, Marco Jansen runs across, picks up and hits the bullseye at the batter's end. 

Marco Jansen to Noor Ahmad, Overpitched, outside off. Ahmad fails to get underneath and digs it out to cover.

Marco Jansen to Noor Ahmad, SIX! Out of nowhere! Well, we are not done yet because Ahmad has different ideas. In the slot, a touch fuller and touch wider. Noor Ahmad steps inside the line and thumps it down the ground to long on for a six. 

South Africa are holding on to all the crucial catches and that probably is going to be the difference in the end. With that said, Noor Ahmad walks out to bat now. 19 needed off 9 balls.

Marco Jansen to Rashid Khan, OUT! KHAN GOES! This could be the game for the Proteas! Marco Jansen bowls a nice deceptive slower delivery, wide of the hitting arc of Khan, fuller delivery. Rashid Khan throws his blade and drags his shot. A nothing shot, actually and hits it down the ground. David Miller covers a lot of ground from long on. He runs to his left, slides and takes a brilliant catch. South Africa keeping their standards high in the field. A valiant 20 off 12 for Rashid.

Excellent commitment in the deep from George Linde. However, he seems to have gotten his knee stuck in the turf. He will now hobble off the pitch and the physio will tend to him.

Marco Jansen to Rashid Khan, George Linde puts in a solid effort as he runs back to chase the ball but in the process, he might have pulled his hamstring. Shorter delivery, outside off, Rashid Khan plays his famous ramp shot but slices it behind point. George Linde runs back from backward point, slides in the deep and keeps it down to two. 

Marco Jansen to Rashid Khan, WIDE! Tries the slower ball but delivers it well over the tramline outside off. 

SA vs AFG T20 World Cup Live Score: Afghanistan need 24 to win

All eyes on skipper Rashid Khan, who is playing on 16 off 9 balls, as Afghanistan need 24 off the final two overs to beat South Africa in Ahmedabad.

AFG 164/7 in 18 overs | Target 188

Marco Jansen to Rashid Khan, Marco Jansen bowls into the pitch, touch short and on off, Khan flat-bats it down the ground to long off for a brace.

The pressure is on. Everything rests on the shoulders of skipper Rashid Khan. Marco Jansen (3-0-31-0) is back on to bowl the 19th over. 24 needed off 12 balls.

Lungi Ngidi to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, On a good length and on middle, Mujeeb Ur Rahman solidly blocks.

The next batter is in. It is Mujeeb Ur Rahman in at number 9.

Is that a fair catch? Tristan Stubbs is very confident and the Proteas are celebrating. What an occasion to pull off something spectacular and the third umpire confirms that it is a fair catch. OUT!

Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, OUT! TAKEN! Wonderful catch from Stubbs. Should we even call this a stunner? These players are making it look so easy nowadays. Lungi Ngidi misses his mark and bowls a slower delivery in the slot. Azmatullah Omarzai launches it down to long on but fails to power it much. Omarzai thought he cleared the fence but Tristan Stubbs holds his nerves at the edge of the boundary line, picks up the catch over his head but just as he was losing his balance, he lobs it up, goes beyond the boundary and then gets back in to collect the catch again. It's fair in the replays. 24 needed off 13 balls. 

Lungi Ngidi to Rashid Khan, An off-cutter, pings off the surface as Ngidi bowls in the deck. Khan fends it away to square leg for a single.

Lungi Ngidi to Rashid Khan, Much better from Ngidi! A wide yorker, outside off, removes all the pace off it. Rashid Khan tries to guide it away but misses.

Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, A full toss, dipping onto the batter on middle, this is flicked to mid-wicket for a single.

Lungi Ngidi to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR! Nicely picked! Lungi Ngidi spills out a low full toss, drifting on the pads. Omarzai helps it away to the left of the diving short fine leg fielder. No chance for the man in the deep as well. A boundary.

Bowling change. Who will it be? Lungi Ngidi or Marco Jansen? It will be Ngidi to bowl the 18th. 30 needed off 18 deliveries.

Kagiso Rabada to Azmatullah Omarzai, Bowls a bumper, outside off and into the surface. Omarzai gets on top and taps it to point to keep the strike. 11 from the over, 30 needed off 3 overs.