SA vs AFG, T20 World Cup semis: South Africa out to improve baffling knockout record

South Africa will look to overcome their jittery knockout run when they take on a spirited Afghanistan side.

In the first semi-final of the men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Trinidad on Thursday, June 27. Having remained unbeaten so far in the tournament, the Proteas will look to end the long-standing jinx of not having won a World Cup semi-final yet. Yes, you read that right!

History does not favour South Africa in one of the much-anticipated T20 World Cup clashes, which will be held at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. In 10 appearances in the knockout stages of men’s World Cups, South Africa have managed to win only one match. The rare win came in the quarter-final of the 2015 World Cup when a Proteas side led by Faf du Plessis defeated Sri Lanka in Sydney.

South Africa in men’s World Cup knockout matches: Played – 10, Won 1, Lost 8 and Tied – 1. However, the Aiden Markram-led South Africa side doesn’t seem to carry the baggage of the past in the USA and the Caribbean. Only two players from the 2015 World Cup squad feature in the current side — David Miller and Quinton de Kock — with both of them being serial winners of franchise-based T20 titles.

South Africa have shown enough signs that they are mentally geared up to close out tight games this time around. Out of the 10 meetings in the World Cup knockout matches, South Africa have gone down thrice against Australia — including the infamous tied game of the 1999 World Cup semifinal. The Proteas, now, have the advantage of not facing Australia, thanks to Afghanistan and India, who knocked Mitchell Marsh’s side out of the competition in the Super 8 stage.

SOUTH AFRICA’S BLUES IN ODI WORLD CUP KNOCKOUTS
1992 – Lost to England in semi-final in Sydney

1996 – Lost to West Indies in quarter-final in Karachi

1999 – Tied and knocked out in semi-final against Australia in Birmingham

2007 – Lost to Australia in the semi-final in St Lucia

2011 – Lost to New Zealand in quarter-final in Mirpur

2015 – Won against Sri Lanka in quarter-final in Sydney

2015 – Lost to New Zealand in the semi-final in Auckland

2023 – Lost to Australia in semi-final in Kolkata

IN T20 WORLD CUPS
2009 – Lost to Pakistan in semi-final in Nottingham

2014 – Lost to India in semi-final in Mirpur

South Africa have remained unbeaten so far in the Caribbean and the USA, but they have been tested in tight games. South Africa began their campaign with a comfortable six-wicket win against Sri Lanka in New York after bowling out the islanders for 77 and chasing it down in 16.2 overs. They also secured a straightforward victory against the USA in the Super 8 stage.

BATTLE-HARDENED IN USA AND CARIBBEAN
However, none of their other games have been straightforward. They have also tested the nerves of the players and played with the emotions of the Proteas fans.

Against the Netherlands, who beat them in the ODI World Cup last year in India, South Africa were reeling at 3 for 3 and then at 12 for 4 while chasing 104 in New York. David Miller rescued the side with an unbeaten 59 as South Africa saw off a massive scare. South Africa also got out of jail against Bangladesh in their group stage, successfully defending 113 in New York. Bangladesh were 94 for 4 with 3 overs to go before South Africa mounted a comeback and won by seven runs. Even against Nepal, who were one of the weaker sides in Group D, South Africa survived by the barest of margins. Defending 115, South Africa won by just 1 run after Nepal failed to close out a game that was in their hands.

In the Super 8 stage, South Africa remained unbeaten. However, they survived close games against England and the West Indies. It was Kagiso Rabada’s fiery spell that saved the Proteas’ day against England as they defended 163 in St Lucia and won by 7 runs. South Africa were not entirely out of danger of being knocked out in the Super 8 when they came up against the West Indies in Antigua in their final game of the round in Antigua. There were nerves in a rain-affected game as the equation got tighter in their chase of 123 (via Duckworth Lewis Stern). Once again, South Africa fared better as Marco Jansen finished it off with a six when the Proteas needed 5 runs from the last over.

It seems South Africa are more battle-hardened than ever. After having missed the final berth in the ODI World Cup last year despite playing excellent cricket throughout the competition, the Proteas will be keen on making amends. A win on Thursday against Afghanistan will help them progress to their first-ever men’s World Cup final.

It is not going to be straightforward as Afghanistan are heading into the contest, high on confidence after having beaten Australia and survived a thriller against Bangladesh in their Super 8 fixtures. Afghanistan also have the previous experience of playing in Trinidad, having beaten Papua New Guinea here by 7 wickets.

Is it going to be any different this time for South Africa?