South Africa vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup 2026: South Africa defeated Afghanistan after two Super Overs in a thrilling Group D match of the T20 World Cup here on Wednesday. Sent in to bat, South Africa rode on a 114-run partnership between Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickelton (61) to post a competitive 187 for 6. In reply, opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed a 42-ball 84 to lay the foundation, but Afghanistan were bowled out for exactly 187 in 19.4 overs, forcing the match into its first Super Over. A couple of no balls in the 20th over proved costly from Kagiso Rabada but he managed to effect the run out that tied the match.

Afghanistan scored 17 for no loss with Azmatullah Omarzai striking two fours and a six off Lungi Ngidi. South Africa matched the total, with Tristan Stubbs hitting a six off the final ball to take the contest into a second Super Over. Batting first in the second Super Over, South Africa scored 23, powered by David Miller’s 16. Rahmanullah Gurbaz clobbered three sixes but Afghanistan fell short of the target, scoring 19-2 to hand South Africa a dramatic victory.

Story continues below this ad

SA vs AFG T20 World Cup 2026 – LIVE Cricket Score, Full Scorecard: Watch Here

Earlier, South Africa posted a competitive 187/6 thanks to half centuries by Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton. After Aiden Markram was dismissed early, De Kock and Rickelton steadied the ship for the 2024 finalists as they added 114 runs off 61 balls before being dismissed in the same over by Rashid Khan. It pegged South Africa back as they looked set to cross 200 easily at one stage. Afghanistan had their chances to win the match in regulation time as well as the first Super Over but in the end it wasn’t to be.

SA vs AFG Playing XIs

South Africa XI: Aiden Markram (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi

Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (capt), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

SCROLL DOWN TO FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES FROM SF VS AFG T20 WORLD CUP MATCH

Match EndedICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2026 – Match 13

South Africa

187/6 (20.0) & 23/0 (1.0)

vs

Afghanistan

187 (19.4) & 19/2 (1.0)

Match Ended ( Match 13 )
Afghanistan tied with South Africa (South Africa won 2nd Super Over by 4 runs)

Live Updates

Globetrotting Rashid Khan’s cricketing paradox – can call many places his home, but still dreaming of playing in Afghanistan

Rashid Khan has two dreams. One, he says, more in jest than in seriousness, is that he wants to pick 7000 wickets. “There are a lot of youngsters, so you need to keep pushing. That’s why I told you I need to pick 7,000 wickets,” says Rashid, his T20 wickets tally on 696, chuckling. The other is a more serious dream. “I want Afghanistan to play at home, in front of their home fans. “That,” he says, “is a bigger dream than playing in the World Cup.”

READ MORE FROM SANDIP G