T20 World Cup will have one new finalist, with either SA or Afghanistan progressing

Noor Ahmad of Afghanistan bowls during the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 Super Eight match between Afghanistan and Australia at Arnos Vale Ground on June 22, 2024 in St Vincent, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

26 Jun 2024

The winner of the semifinal between Afghanistan and South Africa on Thursday will progress to their first World Cup final.

Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh by eight runs by Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method this morning (Wednesday) to set the semifinal matches for this year’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by West Indies and the US, in stone.

The Afghans will take on the Proteas who will be playing in the semifinals of a T20 World Cup for the first time since 2014. In the other semifinal England play India at Guyana National Stadium.

It is the first time Afghanistan have reached the semifinal stage of any World Cup, having narrowly missed out in 2023 at the 50-over tournament in India.

It will be the first World Cup final appearance – in any format – for the winner of the semifinal between South Africa and Afghanistan, scheduled for 2.30am South African time at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.

While the one side of the semifinal draw is a side of firsts, the other has been there and done that a few times.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz of Afghanistan plays a sweep shot during the T20 World Cup at Arnos Vale Ground on June 22, 2024 in St Vincent, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines. (Photo: Gareth Copley / Getty Images)

Ottniel Baartman of South Africa in bowling action during the T20 World Cup against England at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 21 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)

India won the first T20 World Cup, hosted in South Africa in 2007, were runners-up in 2014 and reached the semis in 2016 and 2022. They are also two-time 50-over World Cup champions, with their latest success coming in 2011 at home.

England are reigning T20 World Cup champions, having clinched the title in Australia in 2022. It was the second time they had reached the pinnacle of the shortest format, having done so in 2010 as well. In that tournament Paul Collingwood and his men lifted the trophy at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, the venue for this year’s final – which is perhaps a good omen for the English.

Road to the semis

England find themselves in the heavyweight semifinal bout after ending second in their Super Eight group, having suffered a seven-run defeat to the Proteas.

However, their breathtaking eight-wicket win over West Indies in their first match of the Super Eight stage set up their progression to the next round.

The reigning champions have blown hot and cold throughout the tournament, having played seven matches, winning four and losing two, with a rain-out result against Scotland. Their other defeat was to Australia in the group stages.

England progressed to both the Super Eight and the semifinals through superior net-run rates over Scotland and West Indies, respectively, with whom they were tied on points.

Quinton de Kock has found some form at the top of the order. (Photo: Gareth Copley / Getty Images)

Jasprit Bumrah of India, bowling here against Australia during the T20 World Cup match in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, is a key player for the giants of world cricket. (Photo: Gareth Copley / Getty Images)

When in the mood this English side can blow good teams out of the water, as they did to West Indies, but have not played their best cricket consistently.

Similarly, Afghanistan have tasted defeat twice so far in the tournament – a 104-run thrashing at the hands of West Indies and a 47-run loss to India.

On the run-scoring front Afghanistan rely heavily on openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who are first and third on the overall run-scoring charts at the tournament.

The opening batters, along with a well-rounded bowling lineup, set up victories over New Zealand in the group stage and Australia in the Super Eights, which ultimately kicked the latter out of the tournament.

Afghanistan face a tough challenge against South Africa, who they have never beaten in any format in four opportunities.

Undefeated

The Proteas (seven matches) and India (six matches) head into the semifinals as the only two undefeated sides left at the World Cup.

India progressed to the penultimate phase largely unscathed with only one match – a group stage six-run win over Pakistan – going to the final over.

This is in stark contrast to the Proteas who, while undefeated, have made hard work of every match.

Both sides have every base covered in the batting and bowling departments, and their fielding has been exemplary too.

They head into their respective semifinals on Thursday as favourites based on their performance at this tournament, but have both shown fragility in pressure moments at recent white-ball World Cups.

Jos Buttler of England bats, watched by Andries Gous, during their T20 World Cup match against USA on 23 June 2024. (Photo: Philip Brown / Getty Images)

Noor Ahmad of Afghanistan can cause any batters problems. (Photo: Gareth Copley / Getty Images)

India went into the final of the 2023 One-Day International (50 overs) World Cup at home on a 10-match winning streak in the tournament before falling at the final hurdle by six wickets to champions Australia. In fact, they have reached the final four at the past three 50-over World Cups without winning.

And despite having the most lucrative T20 franchise league in the world, the Indian Premier League – which is fertile ground for developing T20 specialists for India – the inaugural title win in 2007 remains their only trophy in the competition.

South Africa’s World Cup failures are well documented, from the Allan Donald/Lance Klusener run-out in 1999, to looking nearly unbeatable and winning seven out of nine matches at last year’s 50-over tournament and losing by three-wickets in the semifinal against Australia.

The final will be played on Saturday in Barbados. DM

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