Afghanistan came agonisingly close to pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the T20 World Cup, pushing South Africa to the brink in a breathless thriller at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. What unfolded was a contest for the ages, decided only after not one but two Super Overs, with the Proteas finally holding their nerve to scrape home and avoid a stunning defeat.
Despite the heartbreak, this was a night that underlined how far Afghanistan have come as a T20 force. Chasing South Africa’s imposing total of 187, Rahmanullah Gurbaz produced a sensational innings that lit up the stadium.
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The Afghan opener smashed a breathtaking 84 off just 42 deliveries, combining fearless strokeplay with smart game awareness to drag his side back into the contest almost single-handedly. His assault kept Afghanistan alive deep into the final over and forced the match into dramatic tie-breakers.
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WOW! ANOTHER SUPER OVER!
We’ve never seen anything like this in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
You simply cannot miss this action.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | SA 🆚 AFG | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/hgh4SaHBjk pic.twitter.com/x6HXtGAwic
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 11, 2026
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A game for the ages! Afghanistan gave it everything they could.
South Africa wins an edge-of-the-seat thriller after TWO Super Overs! 😱
In one of the greatest games in T20 World Cup history, the Protea Fire prevails! 🔥
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup – SA 🆚 AFG | HIGHLIGHTS 👉… pic.twitter.com/HFaPmVA52j
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 11, 2026
Well played Afghanistan
Afghanistan is the second best team in Asia after India. #SAvsAFG #T20WorldCup— SAM (@W0rshipSRK) February 11, 2026
Afghanistan is truly second best team of Asia
— Bong Political Guru 🧡 (@bong_politics) February 11, 2026
Two super overs in a row between South Africa and Afghanistan. Afghanistan is already the second best team in Asia.
— Lord Immy Kant (@KantInEastt) February 11, 2026
Second best Asian cricket team is Afghanistan ✅
First you know 😉 #icct20worldcup2026— Roudra.. (@Adi__tya2) February 11, 2026
Afghanistan is the second best Asian Team after India. I repeat.
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) February 11, 2026
Earlier, Afghanistan’s bowlers had laid the platform for the chase. Azmatullah Omarzai stood out with a disciplined spell, finishing with three crucial wickets to prevent South Africa from completely running away with the game. While the Proteas’ powerful batting line-up found momentum in patches, Afghanistan’s ability to strike at key moments ensured the target remained within touching distance.
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In the end, the result may not have gone Afghanistan’s way, but the performance earned widespread admiration from fans and experts alike. Social media was flooded with praise for their fighting spirit, with many hailing Afghanistan as one of the most exciting emerging teams in world cricket. This near-miss will sting, but it also sends a clear message: Afghanistan are no longer just competing — they are genuinely capable of challenging the game’s elite on the biggest stage.
