2026 T20 World Cup: Proteas Survive Double Super Over Madness to Break Afghan Hearts

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga

image 2026 T20 World Cup: Proteas Survive Double Super Over Madness to Break Afghan Hearts
The Narendra Modi Stadium witnessed the impossible on Wednesday. In a Group D clash that will be remembered as an all-time World Cup classic, South Africa outlasted Afghanistan in the first-ever double Super Over in tournament history. What began as a high-quality cricket match descended into a 24-ball frenzy of nerves, sixes, and heartbreak. When the dust finally settled in Ahmedabad, the Proteas emerged with a four-run victory in the second tiebreaker, leaving a devastated Afghanistan side on the brink of elimination after two gut-wrenching defeats.

De Kock Claims the Crown Before Rashid Bites Back

Sent in to bat, South Africa survived an early scare when Fazalhaq Farooqi removed Aiden Markram for just five. However, the innings was defined by a historic 114-run masterclass between Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton. During his composed 59, De Kock officially surpassed AB de Villiers to become South Africa’s leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, a fitting milestone for a man recalled from retirement for one last dance.

At the other end, Rickelton was a hurricane, blasting 61 off just 28 balls to put the Proteas on course for a 220+ total. But Rashid Khan had other plans. The Afghan skipper produced an over for the ages, dismissing both set batsmen in the space of three deliveries to claim his 699th career T20 wicket. Afghanistan’s death bowling, led by Azmatullah Omarzai (3/41), was clinical, restricting South Africa to 187/6 (a total that felt 20 runs short after the Rickelton rampage).

Gurbaz’s Heroics and the Super Over Heartbreak

The Afghan chase was the Rahmanullah Gurbaz show. The opener played a lone hand of pure defiance, smashing 84 off 42 balls, including seven massive sixes. Despite Lungi Ngidi’s brilliant 3/26 keeping the Proteas in it, Afghanistan needed just 13 from the final over.

In a comedic yet tragic sequence of no-balls and frantic running, Fazalhaq Farooqi was run out by a fraction of a millimeter on the final ball, leaving the scores tied at 187.

Then came the mayhem:

  • Super Over 1: Afghanistan posted 17. South Africa looked dead until Tristan Stubbs launched a last-ball six to tie it again.
  • Super Over 2: South Africa bludgeoned 23 runs off Omarzai. Afghanistan needed four sixes from four balls.

Incredibly, Gurbaz hit three in a row. With five needed off the final ball, Keshav Maharaj held his nerve, delivering a wide yorker that Gurbaz could only slice to David Miller at point. The result keeps South Africa perfect in Group D, while Afghanistan (despite pushing New Zealand and the Proteas to the absolute limit) now face a nearly impossible path to the Super Eights.

Group D Outlook: Proteas on the Brink of Super Eights as Afghanistan Face Early Exit

This result has massive ramifications for the Group D table. With two wins from two, South Africa now sits in a commanding position with four points, trailing only New Zealand on Net Run Rate (NRR). The equation for the Proteas is now remarkably simple: one more win against either the UAE or the Black Caps will officially punch their ticket to the Super Eights.

For Afghanistan, the "Group of Death" has lived up to its name in the harshest way possible. Despite losing both games in the final moments, Rashid Khan’s men are now staring at an early flight home. To qualify, they must not only win their remaining matches against the UAE and Canada by massive margins, but they also need either South Africa or New Zealand to lose both of their remaining fixtures, which looks highly unlikely given the form of the top two.

The focus now shifts to Saturday’s blockbuster at the same venue, where South Africa faces New Zealand. With both teams likely to advance, that match will almost certainly decide who tops the group and takes the more favorable seed into the next round.