56 all out! Afghanistan’s unwanted record in T20 WC semis

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan were bowled out for just 56 runs in the first semi-final of the

T20 World Cup

2024, setting an unwanted record for the lowest team total in the tournament’s semi-final history.
After winning the toss and opting to bat at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba on Wednesday, Trinidad, Afghanistan faced a formidable South African bowling attack that exposed their batting frailties.

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The innings started disastrously as Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell for a duck on the last ball of the first over, caught by Reeza Hendricks off

Marco Jansen

. This early setback set the tone for Afghanistan’s batting collapse. Ibrahim Zadran managed only 2 runs before

Kagiso Rabada

clean-bowled him, while

Gulbadin Naib

was dismissed for 9 by Jansen.

With the scoreboard reading 20-3, Mohammad Nabi’s wicket for a duck to Rabada, followed swiftly by Nangeyalia Kharote’s dismissal by Jansen, left Afghanistan reeling at 23-5. The bleeding of wickets never ceased as the South African bowlers maintained relentless pressure.

Azmatullah Omarzai offered some resistance with a valiant 10 off 12 balls, but he, while attempting for a lofted shot, too fell, caught by Tristan Stubbs off

Anrich Nortje

. The lower order crumbled under the spin of

Tabraiz Shamsi

, who took 3 wickets for 6 runs, trapping Karim Janat, Noor Ahmad, and Naveen-ul-Haq lbw in quick succession.
Lowest total for Afghanistan in T20Is

Rashid Khan

, the Afghan captain, could only manage 8 runs before being bowled by Nortje. Fazalhaq Farooqi remained not out with 2 runs, as the innings wrapped up in just 11.5 overs for 56 runs.
Lowest totals vs South Africa in T20Is

Marco Jansen was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa, with figures of 3-16. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje each took 2 wickets, while Shamsi’s 3-6 was instrumental in dismantling the Afghan’s tailenders.