South Africa love a Super Over; Afghanistan hate them

T20Is -- the format itself -- demand edge-of-the-seat thrillers, and in that regard, the T20 World Cup group-stage clash between South Africa and Afghanistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad delivered in full on Wednesday.  

A run-out off the fourth ball of the final over of the Afghan innings eventually pushed the match into a Super Over, while Tristan Stubbs’ six off the final delivery of Fazalhaq Farooqi in the first Super Over led to an unprecedented double Super Over in a T20 World Cup game. 
 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s three consecutive sixes even opened up the possibility of a third Super Over. That, however, did not materialise, as South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj had Gurbaz caught off the final ball of the match, bringing an end to an epic contest that saw both teams’ 20-over innings finish on 187, with 17 scored by each side in the first Super Over, before Afghanistan managed 19 while chasing 24 in the second Super Over.

** This was the first time a T20 World Cup match went into a second Super Over, and only the second such instance in T20Is.

** Afghanistan were also involved in the other double Super Over, losing that match as well – against India in Bengaluru in 2024.

** Meanwhile, this was the fifth time a T20 World Cup match has gone into Super Overs.

** However, including yesterday’s thriller between Afghanistan and New Zealand, a total of six matches have ended in ties in T20 World Cups. The first instance came in a game between India and Pakistan at the 2007 T20 World Cup, with India winning through a bowl-out.

** So far, South Africa have won both of their T20Is that went into Super Overs -- against Sri Lanka in Cape Town in 2019 and in yesterday’s game.

** Afghanistan, meanwhile, are yet to win a Super Over contest in T20Is, having lost all three so far.

** Quinton de Kock smashed a 41-ball 59 yesterday, becoming South Africa’s top scorer in T20 World Cups with 737 runs. He surpassed AB de Villiers, who scored 717 runs in T20 World Cups.

** Rahmanullah Girbaz’s 84 off 42 is now the highest score by an Afghan batter in a T20 World Cup, surpassing his previous best of an 80-run knock against New Zealand in the last edition of the tournament.

** Yesterday’s defeat means Afghanistan will not only have to win big in their next two group-stage games -- against UAE and Canada -- but also hope other results go their way.