So here we are with the finalists of the ICC T20 WC 2024 – South Africa and India. These two sides have been unbeaten so far in this month-long quadrennial showpiece event. Credit to the way they displayed their brand of cricket amid the mountain of expectations from their fans. They held their nerve when it mattered to make it to the final of the World Cup. Let’s analyse their performances in their respective semi-final encounters.
Semi-Final 1 of ICC T20 WC 2024 – South Africa Blow Away Afghanistan in No Time
It was touted to be the clash to watch out for as both South Africa and Afghanistan came to the semi-final on the back of impressive performances. But it was not to be as South Africa produced a clinical display to stop Afghanistan from progressing further in the ICC T20 WC 2024. The Aiden Markram-led Proteas unit beat Afghanistan by 9 wickets and with more than 10 overs to spare.
Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat first on a tricky surface, obviously going by how they successfully defended totals before. But it was a different South Africa on display as Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada broke the back of Afghanistan by sharing five wickets among themselves in the first five overs of the latter’s batting. Then it was the turn of Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shansi to wrap the Afghanistan innings by picking two and three wickets, respectively. Afghanistan was bowled out for a paltry 56 off 11.3 overs.
South Africa Lose De Kock Early
In reply, South Africa had a terrible start as Quinton De Kock was out for five as Fazalhaq Farooqi got one to nip back off the deck to knock the middle stump out. South Africa was 5 for 1 and could have been 6 for 2 if Rashid Khan had gone for the review. He wanted to but decided against it after consulting his teammates. Naveen Ul Haq bowled a slightly wider delivery to which Aiden Markram attempted to drive through the offside. The replay showed a thick edge that went to the wicket-keeper Gurbaz. Since Afghanistan opted out of review, South Africa escaped.
But after that, both Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram started scoring runs briskly and took South Africa over the line in just 8.3 overs, giving Afghanistan a thrashing defeat. Nonetheless, Afghanistan won many hearts for their mouthwatering performances in the ICC T20 WC 2024.
Semi-final 2 India Handed England a Thrashing 68-run Defeat
After intermittent rains, the India vs England Semi-final match finally got underway with expectations of a tight clash between the two giant teams as blazing sunshine made an appearance in Guyana.
England Skipper Jos Buttler won the toss and put India into bat first. Buoyed by Rohit Sharma’s blistering 57 off 39 balls and Surya Kumar Yadav’s 47 off 36 balls, India moved to 171 for 7 at the end of 20 overs. A very good total considering the slow, low surface of Guyana. England, in reply, were bundled out for just 103, losing to India by a massive 68 run-margin. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel were the pick of the bowlers with three wickets each, whereas pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah snared two wickets to wrap England’s innings.
Wrapping Up
So, it’s going to be India up against South Africa in the ICC T20 WC 2024 final. Both these teams have remained unbeaten so far, and it’s going to be one heck of a contest between the two on June 29, 2024. May the better team win the contest. zarooribaathai.in wishes good luck to both teams.
