In response, South Africa encountered an early hiccup losing Quinton de Kock cheaply, but Reeza Hendricks and captain Aiden Markram guided them to victory comfortably. With this win, South Africa advances to their first senior men’s final since 1998, where they will meet the winner of the England vs India clash.
Reflecting on the match, Man of the Match Jansen credited their disciplined bowling performance, which effectively sealed Afghanistan’s fate early on. Despite Afghanistan’s spirited journey to their first semi-final, highlighted by their openers’ performances, their batting vulnerabilities were exposed by South Africa’s clinical display.
Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan acknowledged the challenges faced, emphasizing the need for better batting performances in future tournaments. Nonetheless, he expressed pride in their achievements and optimism for future competitions, underscoring their potential to compete against top teams in international cricket.