World Cup Game 53 1st Semi Final South Africa v Afghanistan June 27 1000hrs @ Brian Lara Cricket Academy Trinidad and Tobago

[Gough]

South Africa from, Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs
Afghanistan from, Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik. Reserves: Sediq Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Saleem Safi

 

[010203]

I'm calling it - South Africa will win their first ever ICC World Cup semi final. They would have done cartwheels at the prospect of not having to play Australia in a semi final after all the heartache they've suffered at Australia's hands in ICC tournaments.

 

[Around the Wicket]

Pitch will decide this game, if it’s a batsmen’s track South Africa win, if it’s a spinners track Afghanistan win

 

[ep2018]

Pitch will decide this game, if it’s a batsmen’s track South Africa win, if it’s a spinners track Afghanistan win

Spinners track but SA will still win imo

 

[010203]

Spinners track but SA will still win imo

They've got two good spinners of their own let's not forget. Afghanistan would have used an enormous amount of emotional energy against Bangladesh too.

 

[NYRB]

South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan(c), Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi


Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat

 

[Around the Wicket]

Massive toss this, Afghanistan will bat, if they get a decent total on the board South Africa won’t chase it

 

[NYRB]

Winner takes all. Winner goes to Barbados.

 

[NYRB]

Rameez "this wicket can be a bit of a lottery"

 

[NYRB]

I love to bag Markram as a player but I must say I have underrated his captaincy a bit. He has managed his bowling rotations and fieldings pretty much on point this tournament.

 

[akkaps]

And Grubaz goes

 

[NYRB]

Lovely shot from Gulbadin down the ground off Maharaj

 

[Gough]

Lovely shot from Gulbadin down the ground off Maharaj

Hamstring's pulled up okay by the looks of it.

 

[NYRB]

I think the thing for me with Markrams captaincy is he likes to throw surprises. eg Maharaj bowling 2nd over

 

[NYRB]

Gulbadin pulls big Marco Jansen. Ricky Ponting would have been proud of that shot.

 

[NYRB]

Cricbuzz saying that this is a 'new wicket' apparently.

 

[Gough]

I think the thing for me with Markrams captaincy is he likes to throw surprises. eg Maharaj bowling 2nd over

Funny thing for me watching a guy like Markham is his bowling, he's a nets bowler at best in red ball cricket and yet in T20 he's very effective.

 

[NYRB]

Marco Jansen clean bowls Gulbadin. He had no idea about that one.

 

[NYRB]

Omarzai in at 4 for Afghanistan and they are in a bit of deep trouble here.

 

[NYRB]

Leg slip almost grabs a 3rd wicket for Jansen.

Afghanistan are living dangerously here.

 

[NYRB]

Rare do you see a leg slip in a T20 match.

 

[NYRB]

Rabada gets a wicket with his 1st ball.

South Africa all over Afghanistan like a cheap suit. Afghanistan 20/3 off 19 balls.

 

[NYRB]

This is a horror batting wicket for me for a semi-final.

 

[akkaps]

shambles

 

[NYRB]

Rabada double strikes in his first over.

Afghanistan 20/4 off 22 balls.