South Africa v Afghanistan: Greatest cricket match ever played?
South Africa's Marco Jansen (2R) celebrates with Kagiso Rabada (L), David Miller (2L) and Tristan Stubbs after taking a catch to dismiss Afghanistan's Sediqullah Atal during the 2026 ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 11, 2026. Picture: Shammi MEHRA / AFP
Image: Shammi MEHRA / AFP
Did we just witness the best Cricket World Cup game of all time in the Proteas’ Super Over victory over Afghanistan in their T20 World Cup clash in Ahmedabad on Wednesday?
And it’s all thanks to Kagiso Rabada, but more on that later.
My nerves are absolutely shot. First, it looked like we had lost in the final over of regulation play, then Afghanistan blasted 17 runs off the Super Over bowled by SA’s best bowler on the day, Lungi Ngidi.
Then Tristan Stubbs hit a six off the final ball of SA’s Super Over to tie the game again and send it into another Super Over.
South Africa’s Dramatic Victory Over Afghanistan: Maharaj’s Heroics and Rabada’s No-Ball Drama
This time, Stubbs and David Miller knocked it out of the park as South Africa made 23.
Game over, right?
Then the Proteas called on spinner Keshav Maharaj in the second Super Over, because Rabada’s nerves would be shot and Ngidi wasn’t allowed to bowl in the Super Over again.
Well, it definitely was when Maharaj went dot, wicket to start the over.
Then Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit three sixes in a row to leave Afghanistan six to win off the final ball, but finally, Afghanistan failed and South Africa won the second Super Over.
Back to Rabada though.
South Africa had the game won in regulation play as he took the last Afghanistan wicket with the first ball of the final over, only to see he had overstepped and it was a no-ball and a free hit.
Rabada went on to bowl another no-ball, which is just criminal from the man who is the leader of the Proteas attack. Doing the basics like not bowling no-balls is something that is non-negotiable from a world-class bowler like Rabada, and that left me very angry and disappointed.
Hopefully, since South Africa won, Rabada can quickly forget that final over and get ready for New Zealand on Saturday.
In the meantime, I need a nap.
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