In a match that will be talked about for decades, South Africa survived an absolute heart-stopper against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2026. If you missed the South Africa vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup 2026 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, February 11, you missed the game of the tournament.
The match didn't just end in a tie; it required two separate Super Overs to find a winner. In the end, the Proteas narrowly escaped with a 4-run victory in the second tie-breaker, leaving Afghanistan players and fans devastated but proud of a legendary performance.
South Africa Vs Afghanistan Today Score: A Rollercoaster Summary
For those tracking the South Africa vs Afghanistan today score, the final result looks like a glitch in the system: Both teams finished their 20 overs at 187 runs.
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South Africa posted 187/6, thanks to a massive 114-run partnership between Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickelton (61). Afghanistan, fueled by a ferocious 84 from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, matched them blow for blow, finishing 187 all out in a chaotic final over bowled by Kagiso Rabada.
The Match at a Glance
| Phase | South Africa | Afghanistan |
| Regulation 20 Overs | 187/6 | 187/10 |
| Super Over 1 | 17/1 | 17/0 |
| Super Over 2 | 23/0 | 19/2 |
| Result | South Africa wins by 4 runs (2nd Super Over) |
Who Won the Toss SA vs AFG?
Early in the morning, the question on everyone’s mind was, "Who won the toss SA vs AFG?" Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan won the toss and elected to bowl first.
It was a tactical move based on the dew factor expected later in the evening in Ahmedabad. South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram admitted at the toss that he would have done the same, but he challenged his team to put runs on the board and apply the pressure.
The Main Event: How the Thriller Unfolded?
The game started with Fazalhaq Farooqi removing Aiden Markram early, but that only brought the left-handed duo of De Kock and Rickelton together. They decimated the Afghan spinners in the middle overs. At 124/1 after 12 overs, the Proteas looked poised for 220+.
However, Rashid Khan showed why he is a global superstar. He took two wickets in three balls to remove both set batters, dragging Afghanistan back into the fight. Late cameos from David Miller and Marco Jansen pushed the total to 187.
The Gurbaz Storm
In reply, Rahmanullah Gurbaz played perhaps the innings of his life. He smashed 84 off just 42 balls, including seven massive sixes. He made the chase look easy until Lungi Ngidi (the eventual Player of the Match) triggered a middle-order collapse.
The final over was pure madness. Afghanistan needed 13 runs with one wicket left. Kagiso Rabada struggled with his rhythm, bowling two no-balls and a wide. With the scores tied, Fazalhaq Farooqi was run out trying to steal the winning run on the penultimate ball.
Double Super Over Drama: Step-by-Step
When the first Super Over began, the atmosphere in Ahmedabad was electric.
Super Over 1: The Tie within a Tie
Afghanistan batted first and hammered 17 runs off Lungi Ngidi. In response, South Africa needed 7 runs off the final two balls. Tristan Stubbs became the hero of the moment, launching a huge six off the final delivery to tie the Super Over as well.
Super Over 2: The Final Stand
In the second Super Over, the rules changed—different bowlers and different batters. South Africa went first this time. David Miller and Tristan Stubbs took Azmatullah Omarzai to the cleaners, scoring 23 runs.
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Afghanistan needed 24 to win. Keshav Maharaj was given the ball for the Proteas. Gurbaz hit three consecutive sixes, bringing the equation to 6 runs needed off the last ball. Maharaj kept his cool, bowling a wide yorker that Gurbaz sliced straight to backward point.
South Africa vs Afghanistan Prediction Today: What We Learned?
Looking back at the South Africa vs Afghanistan prediction today, most experts favored the Proteas due to their depth, but few predicted such a struggle.
Why South Africa Won?
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Experience under fire: Even when Rabada lost his line, the team didn't panic during the Super Overs.
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Spin depth: Having Keshav Maharaj to bowl the final Super Over was a masterstroke by Markram.
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Middle-order grit: Tristan Stubbs and David Miller provided the "clutch" hitting when it mattered most.
Why Afghanistan Almost Pulled It Off?
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Fearless Opening: Gurbaz is currently one of the most dangerous T20 openers in the world.
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Rashid Khan’s Captaincy: His bowling changes kept South Africa from reaching a 200+ total.
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All-round effort: Azmatullah Omarzai’s performance with both bat and ball nearly carried them home.
Practical Takeaway: Betting and Fantasy Cricket Guidance
If you are following the tournament for fantasy leagues or sports analysis, this match highlighted a few key "buyer beware" signs for certain players.
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Don't ignore the "Anchor": While Gurbaz gets the headlines, Ryan Rickelton’s consistency makes him a safer fantasy pick for future games.
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The "Death Over" Risk: Kagiso Rabada is a world-class bowler, but his struggle with no-balls in high-pressure finishes is a recurring theme you should watch.
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Spin over Pace in Ahmedabad: Even though Ngidi took three wickets, the economy rates of Maharaj and Rashid Khan showed that spin is the real king on this surface.
The Verdict: A Historic Night
This game proved that the gap between the "top tier" teams and Afghanistan has completely closed. South Africa got the points, but Afghanistan earned the respect of the entire cricketing world.
With two wins from two, South Africa is now in a strong position to qualify for the Super Eights. Afghanistan, meanwhile, faces a must-win situation in their next match against Canada to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
