AHMEDABAD: South Africa beat Afghanistan in a double super over thriller at the 2026 T20 World Cup after the group match ended in a tie in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Afghanistan posted 187 all out in their chase after South Africa scored 187-6.
The teams were tied again after a breathless first super over saw them both score 18, before South Africa won off the final ball of a heart-thumping second sudden-death showdown.
After South Africa bludgeoned 23 from their second super over and Afghanistan lost a wicket off the second ball of theirs, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was left needing four sixes off four balls for an unlikely victory.
Gurbaz sensationally launched Keshav Maharaj into the crowd three times with some huge blows.
A wide off the fifth ball meant Afghanistan still needed six to win but now a four would send it, incredibly, to a third super over.
With nerves jangling and pulses racing, the left-arm spinner held his nerve to bowl a wide yorker that saw Gurbaz smack into the grateful hands of Davis Miller at point as he looked to hit a boundary.
It was South Africa's second win in as many matches in Group D to be placed second behind toppers New Zealand.
A few minutes earlier, after Gurbaz scored a brilliant 42-ball 84 in the chase, Afghanistan had needed 13 off the last over of the match to win with one wicket in hand.
After Kagiso Rabada bowled two no balls and a wide and Noor Ahmad hit a six, Afghanistan needed two to win off three balls.
But Noor was run out going for the the winning second run with the scores level.
South Africa pace bowler Lungi Ngidi was named player of the match after his 3-26 in four overs.
"I've lost so much weight today," said a smiling Ngidi.
"Never been that stressed in my life in a cricket game. Happy to come out on the winning side."
Earlier, Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton hit blazing half-centuries as South Africa reached 187-6 against an Afghanistan bowling that hit back late at the T20 World Cup on Wednesday.
Invited to bat first, South Africa lost an early wicket but de Kock, who hit 59, and Rickelton (61) got going in a partnership of 114 to take the attack to the opposition in Ahmedabad.
Afghanistan bowlers pulled things back after the duo fell to star spinner Rashid Khan as South Africa fell short of what looked like a total of more than 200 at one stage.
De Kock reached his fifty off 34 balls with a four off Mujeeb Ur Rahman and two balls later fellow left-hander Rickelton struck a six to get to his half-century.
The duo unleashed a flurry of fours and sixes, forcing Afghanistan to rotate their bowlers at the world's biggest cricket stadium, which was largely empty.
Leg-spinner Rashid hit back as he got the dangermen in the space of three balls with de Kock caught out at deep mid-wicket and Rickelton trapped lbw.
The wickets slowed down South Africa's run-scoring and Dewald Brevis fell in his attempt to accelerate after his 23 off 19 balls.
David Miller hit an unbeaten 20 and Marco Jansen made 16 off seven balls to help the Proteas finish strong.