Fans of cricket will have etched in their memory the moment when the T20 World Cup match between South Africa and Afghanistan unfolded in such an extraordinary way that it took not one but two Super Overs to determine the winner!

Author: Aditya Pareek | EQMint

There’s no doubt the Group D clash between South Africa and Afghanistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 could be declared the most dramatic fixture. These two teams from Ahmedabad kept the fans thrilled with their impeccable performance and determination throughout the match, which not only ended in a draw but also led to a rare event of having two consecutive Super Overs in the T20 World Cup cricket!

High-Scoring Showdown in Ahmedabad: SA vs AFG Match Report

After winning the toss and opting to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium, South Africa amassed a good total of 187/6 in their twenty overs with a great batting display from Ryan Rickelton (61 off 28) and Quinton de Kock (59 off 41). The pair’s dynamic innings, filled with boundary hitting and some that were towering sixes, prepared the ground for an extraordinary showdown.

Afghanistan returned with the same level of intensity. Rahmanullah Gurbaz took the spotlight during the chase as he single-handedly scored 84 out of 42 balls (7 of the hits being sixes), making a last-minute comeback possible. A lower-order explosion combined with crucial bowling mistakes resulted in the match being level at 187 after the regular game. 

One may wonder: Was this really the match that decided who would win the tournament — or just a thriller on the group stage? There was a lot of drama in that game, which can hardly be put into one group stage match

Super Over Drama — First Standoff

Both outfits were pretty good in setting and chasing a target in the Super Over where the chasers started 17 runs, found their momentum once again by scoring boundaries at crucial moments. South Africa’s chase looked pretty safe, but they still needed a last-ball heroics — and Tristan Stubbs showed why he is a good cricketer by smashing a six, and thus, the Super Over was leveled, and a second Super Over was required.

Mere witnessing a double Super Over is rare, and the fact that it was back-to-back, with both teams being unbeaten until then, is probably not something that many people had seen in a major tournament before.

Second Super Over — Deciding Moment

It all depended on the second Super Over, and it was a fairy tale. South Africa batted first and set a target of 23 runs that came from staggering hits by Stubbs and David Miller — not only that, but they had put the Afghan batsmen under thick pressure by hitting several sixes.

Afghanistan was to score 24 in order to win the game easily. Gurbaz, who was already a very good player, showed great skill by smashing three sixes in a row thereby keeping the door open. A yorker absolutely crushing was delivered by Keshav Maharaj, who dismissed Gurbaz on the last ball, and thus the match was decided, South Africa winning the double Super Over battle by just four runs.

The very last Super Over was not just about the result; it has been inscribed in history as one of the most heart-stopping moments of T20 World Cup.

Key Performances & Match Impact

Top Performers:

• Ryan Rickelton (SA): 61 – his fiery knock was the main reason for a big total 
• Quinton de Kock (SA): 59 – played a very good inning under pressure
• Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG): 84 – was the reason for the Super Over return.

Bowling Highlights:

• Lungi Ngidi (SA): took three wickets at crucial moments during Afghanistan’s chase 
• Keshav Maharaj (SA): his last-ever delivery in the Super Over was very important in securing the victory.

A victory for South Africa means they are now top of Group D and hence much closer to their Super 8s qualification. Meanwhile, Afghanistan must lick their wounds as this defeat is their second in as many matches, and the road to the next round has become more difficult.

A Historic Match That Cricket Fans Will Always Remember

This was not just another cricket match but a T20 World Cup 2026 match between South Africa and Afghanistan that was filled with thrill, tension, outstanding skills, and the resilience of which kept everybody guessing the outcome of the match at all times. Of course, the teams battled it out for their pride, and while only one side could eventually emerge the winner, the drama behind the double Super Over was something that is hardly seen in this level of cricket.

This battle will be cited in the future as a monumental moment in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, as it shows that in the shortest format, cricket is so unpredictable that in a single game, we can have even two Super Overs.Whether it’s for T20 World Cup 2026 highlights, SA vs AFG results, or a count of double Super Over thrillers, this epic battle will be the highlight of an electric match that will always be remembered in the history of the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌tournament.

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