🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: Semi Final 1 - M53: SA vs AFG @ 6:00 AM IST🏏 - Page 4

All the best to both the teams.👍👍

Originally posted by: aekiel

All three of Afg's major wins at this tournament (NZ, Aus, BD) have come while batting first.

Two big losses while chasing v Ind and WI.

More than half (probably even more actually) of their runs have been scored by Gurbaz and Zadran.

SA bat first; put up a half decent score and get Gurbaz out early- they should be able to win IMO.

Yeah

SA is good in defending

They choke while chasing

Afg bowling is good though

Let's see

Originally posted by: Savera84

One word. Four syllables. Starts with A. It's the name of your opponents in the 2024 men's T20 World Cup semifinals. Had those clues been given to South Africa's players before the tournament, their answer would in all likelihood have been that other team whose name starts with an A.

Yeh paragraph jisne bhi likha

Gulbadin kal ke liye kya socha hai

Originally posted by: Savera84

🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: Semi Final 1 - M53: South Africa vs Afghanistan at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad on 27/06/2024 @ 6:00 AM IST🏏

Can Afghanistan continue their dream run against unbeaten South Africa?

It remains to be seen if Gurbaz, who hurt his knee against Bangladesh, is fit to play. Afghanistan look to continue dream run

Afghanistan played their first official fixture in 2004 as part of the Asian Cricket Council Trophy, which featured 15 teams. Twenty years later, they have done the unthinkable by making their first World Cup semi-final in the biggest World Cup featuring 20 teams.

In just 20 years, they have achieved what many teams might take 50 years to do. Afghanistan have always had the raw talent. They've now married it with elite skills and continue to upgrade them, thanks to global T20 exposure.

Their captain and lead spinner, Rashid Khan, is arguably the most sought-after T20 player in the world. Noor Ahmad, their second spinner, is a left-arm version of Rashid while Rahmanullah Gurbaz, their opener, can bruise oppositions in the powerplay. Fazalhaq Farooqi is on his way to becoming the next Trent Boult in T20 cricket while Naveen-ul-Haq has had Dwayne Bravo, Afghanistan's bowling consultant and T20 legend, grooving and celebrating near the boundary with his variations. Eight of Afghanistan's XI that toppled Bangladesh on Monday in Kingstown were part of IPL 2024.

Then, there is Mohammad Nabi, who of course played in Afghanistan's first official fixture back in 2004. In a year in which his son made his Under-19 World Cup debut for Afghanistan, Nabi, 39, will turn up for Afghanistan in their first World Cup semi-final. Nabi has defeated 45 teams in his career and will now look to add South Africa to that list.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman was sidelined from the tournament after playing a solitary game, but Afghanistan, under Bravo's tactical guidance, have still had enough depth to roll over oppositions. No attack has taken more wickets than Afghanistan's 57 in this World Cup and their economy rate of 6.35 is second only to South Africa's 6.10 among the Super-Eight teams.

Afghanistan, however, don't have as much depth in their batting, especially in the middle order. And while Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have struck up four 50-plus partnerships while batting first, their stands while chasing are eight against PNG, zero against West Indies, and 13 against India.

So, there's a strong case for South Africa to make Afghanistan chase, try to separate their openers early, and put the middle order under pressure. Keshav Maharaj, their left-arm fingerspinner, will look to ace his match-up against a right-hander-heavy Afghanistan line-up on a Tarouba surface that may continue to offer variable bounce. Tabraiz Shamsi, the left-arm wristspinner, could also pose a threat with his variations and knowledge of Caribbean conditions, having spent a number of South African winters in the CPL.

Though Reeza Hendricks is struggling for form at the top, South Africa have a dynamic middle order with all of Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs and Heinrich Klaasen capable of countering spin, and a vastly experienced David Miller around to finish the innings.

South Africa have been on the precipice at several points during the World Cup, but they have somehow hauled themselves back to claim seven successive wins across challenging conditions. They need to win two more to secure their maiden World Cup title. No team has ever won a T20 World Cup unbeaten, so South Africa and India have the chance to rewrite history this time.

Thanks RJ..i think india vs Africa on the cards for the final ✨

Originally posted by: Bacillusbadius

Gulbadin kal ke liye kya socha hai

Didnt expect this from him..🙈

I love the chokers but for the first time I will be supporting their opponents.Go Afghanistan!

Originally posted by: Spideyweb

Didnt expect this from him..🙈

Thik hai

SL ka time out wala badla liya

Ban ka time waste karke

TBH Afg ko kuch mehnat karne ki bhi zaroorat nahi hai

SA khud choke karegi

Originally posted by: Bacillusbadius

Thik hai

SL ka time out wala badla liya

Ban ka time waste karke

Nice but it didn't matter at all..lol.

Bdw where are your colours? Forgot to bring crayons here ?🖍️🖍️