South Africa Edges Afghanistan in Double Super Over Thriller

Rahmanullah Gurbaz's multiple explosive stints with the bat in the middle went in vain as South Africa clinched one of the most thrilling contests in the history of T20 World Cups, securing a win in the second Super Over in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

The contest, where the pendulum swung in either direction several times over, one which promised to end several times before it eventually did, was finally decided on the last ball of the second Super Over.

The match could have ended in the first ball of the last over itself, when Kagiso Rabada had Noor Ahmad caught at cover. But the pacer had overstepped. It was a reprieve for Afghanistan, who were chasing 13 off the final over with only one wicket in hand.

It could have ended in the last ball of the first Super Over as well, but with South Africa needing 7 to win, chasing 18, Tristan Stubbs - who hadn't faced a delivery till then - smashed Fazalhaq Farooqi straight down the ground for a six.

Once again, with four balls left in the second Super Over, the match looked to be decided. Chasing 24 for victory, Afghanistan failed to score off the first two deliveries - and even lost the wicket of Mohammad Nabi. All that South Africa needed was a dot ball. But it just didn't end.

Gurbaz, who had earlier smashed a 42-ball 84 and set the stage of Afghanistan's chase, smoked three sixes off three balls to take the requirement down to 6 off the final delivery to seal the contest. Maharaj, in his attempt to go away from Gurbaz's hitting arc, ended up bowling a wide, leaving another possibility for a contest so evenly fought to eventually end in a tie, taking it to a third Super Over. Maharaj sent the final delivery away from the arc of Gurbaz, who smashed it into the hands of David Miller at point.

In hindsight there would be many decisions that Afghanistan might rue. To begin with, the decision to not bowl Rashid Khan in either of the Super Overs. The second one, especially, proved too costly for them as Azmatullah Omarzai missed his lengths under pressure, and was duly punished by both Miller and Stubbs. And then, with a tall task at hand, Nabi went out to open the innings in the final Super Over, a decision that proved costly.

Nonetheless, that Afghanistan managed to stretch the contest as deep as they did in itself is creditable, and Rabada would partly be responsible for it. After bowling the no-ball in the final over of the chase, a wide followed and Noor deposited one over the deep square leg boundary for a six. He then overstepped again, providing more opportunities for Afghanistan to stay strong in the contest.

However, it was another erroneous judgement on the part of Afghanistan which eventually led to their loss. Needing two to win off the last three balls, off a Free Hit, Noor drilled Rabada's full delivery to long off and Afghanistan's last pair attempted to go for a quick two, and Farooqui failed to dive on his return before Rabada knocked out the stumps.

Earlier in the day, it was Gurbaz's blazing 42-ball 84 which set the stage for Afghanistan in the chase. The opener got going with two cracking boundaries in the opening over, and sustained the pace through the PowerPlay - an aspect that the Afghan head coach was looking for improvement in. Jansen and Rabada were smoked for a six each, while George Linde was taken apart for 17.

With 50 runs wiped out within four overs, Afghanistan were cruising in the chase, but Lungi Ngidi pegged them back with two slower balls. Ibrahim Zadran was cleaned up and Gulbadin Naib lobbed a catch back to the bowler. A few balls later, Rabada sent back Sediqullah Atal and reduced Afghanistan to 52 for 3, adding only four more runs before the end of the PowerPlay.