South Africa vs Afghanistan Highlights, T20 World Cup Semi-Final 1: SA reach a men's World Cup final for first time

Aiden Markram: “It feels good. It’s not only the captain that gets you in the final, it is a massive squad effort. Plenty of guys behind the scenes as well. Fortunate to have lost the toss, we would have batted too. We were brilliant with the ball, got it in the right areas and kept it really simple. The bowlers have been incredible for us. It was challenging with the bat, no batter is going to lie and tell you it was easy out there. We had a bit of luck and then got a bit of a partnership. We have had a few close games and a few people back home would have woken up early with more grey hairs. Glad today was a bit more comforting.”

On the final: “It is one more step for us, it is an opportunity we have never had, nothing to be scared of. This win means a lot, we have some world class players in the side but like I said, it takes a whole squad to be able to deliver such a performance.”

Rashid Khan: “It was tough, tough for us as a team. We might have done better but the conditions didn’t allow us to do what we wanted. That’s how T20 cricket is, you need to be ready for all conditions. I think they bowled really well. I think we got good success in this tournament because the seamers bowled really well, you need good starts. I think we were unlucky with Mujeeb’s injury, but our seamers and even Nabi bowled brilliantly with the new ball. That made our job easier as spinners. We have enjoyed this tournament.”

“We will accept playing a semi-final and losing to a top side like Africa. It is just the beginning for us, we have the confidence and belief to beat any side. We just need to keep our processes. This has been a great learning experience for us. What we take from the competition is the belief. We know we have the skills, it is just about managing tough situations, pressure situations. Some work to be done, specially in the middle order to take the innings deep. As I said, it is always learning for our team and we have achieved good results so far but we come back doing more hard work, specially in the batting department.”

Marco Jansen is the Player of the Match for taking three wickets early on and finishing with figures of 3/16.

“Awesome feeling,” he says after the match. “The guys played really well, we executed perfectly. We just wanted to stick to our plan, bowl good lengths and see how the wicket reacts. The wicket was getting a bit open, and it was about keeping it simple. We will enjoy tonight and be on our way again.”

56 all-ou is the lowest T20I total for Afghanistan.

Lowest total for AFG in T20Is: 

56: Against SA, Tarouba, 2024
72: Against BAN, Mirpur, 2014
80: Against SA, Bridgetown, 2010
80: Against ENG, Colombo, 2012

OUT! Naib (9 from 8 balls) is cleaned up by Jansen. The ball moved back in just a little and Naib was stuck on the crease as the ball escaped the bat to break the stumps. AFG 16/2.

This is a good comeback from the pacer after Naib his a four in the third over to mid-wicket.