Afghanistan’s roller-coaster night at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad ended in cruel fashion as South Africa edged a double Super Over classic — and captain Rashid Khan didn’t hide his frustration. In a match that swung back and forth like a metronome, Afghanistan had multiple chances to finish the job inside 20 overs but ultimately fell short after a wild finish that saw the game decided in the second Super Over.

Rashid’s annoyance was focused on a single moment in the final over of Afghanistan’s chase: a hesitant run by tailender Fazalhaq Farooqi that, according to the skipper, might have finished the game had Farooqi dived for the crease.

“We had our opportunities,” Rashid Khan said in the post-match presentation. “In the last Super Over as well, one ball and five runs can go either way. We could’ve been smarter. One dive, one ball could’ve finished it… Very disappointing. Any time you’re representing your country, it’s a proud moment. I’ll try my best to keep the boys as upbeat as possible.”

ALSO READ: Ben Stokes Undergoes Successful Eye Surgery After Freak Net Session Injury

The drama crescendoed in the 20th over. Afghanistan needed 13 from six balls with Noor Ahmad and Farooqi at the crease. A no-ball gifted Ahmad a reprieve on the first delivery of that over, and he made the most of it — clearing the ropes on the subsequent legal delivery to shift momentum. But a messy moment on the fourth ball, when Farooqi was stranded short at the non-striker’s end after attempting a second run, proved decisive.

The lack of a committed dive left the tail exposed, and South Africa ultimately closed out the match in the second Super Over when Keshav Maharaj dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz with five needed off the final ball. It was agonising because Afghanistan had fought so admirably to force that position. On a pitch that offered something for both batters and bowlers, the bowlers kept South Africa under 190 — an effort Rashid praised.

“The boys did an amazing job, especially with the way they started with the bat. To restrict them to under 190 was amazing,” he said, reserving special applause for Gurbaz. Rahmanullah’s 84 off 42 was the innings of the night: brutal, composed and the heartbeat that dragged Afghanistan back into contention.

Azmatullah Omarzai’s three wickets earlier in the contest gave Afghanistan the platform, and Noor Ahmad’s late cameo nearly produced a fairy-tale ending. Yet fine margins decided the night. Rashid’s assessment that Afghanistan “could’ve been smarter” is as much about in-game awareness as it is about execution under pressure — a lesson for a team that has steadily improved its T20 credentials.

WATCH – Netizens Applaud Afghanistan After Double Super Over Thriller Against South Africa

For South Africa, there is relief but also new nervousness. Despite the win, their path to the Super 8s is now precarious and depends on other results in the group — an uncomfortable position for a side of their pedigree. For Afghanistan, the pain will sting, yet the performance will be celebrated; they showed they belong in these high-stakes matches. The defeat exposes tiny tactical failings rather than structural flaws, and with Rashid at the helm they will be licking wounds and learning fast.