Afghanistan’s victory over UAE sends South Africa into the next stage, while keeping their own slim qualification hopes alive.
SOUTH Africa progressed to the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage without playing a match on Monday.
Their qualification was confirmed after Afghanistan defeated the United Arab Emirates by five wickets in New Delhi.
Afghanistan’s win kept their own slim chances of advancing from Group D alive.
All-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai was instrumental, taking 4-15 and scoring an unbeaten 40 to steer his side to 162-5 with four balls to spare.
South Africa, semi-finalists in 2024, became the third team to secure a Super Eights berth after the West Indies and co-hosts India.
Afghanistan must now secure a large victory against Canada on Thursday and rely on other results to edge out New Zealand for second place in the group.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan emphasised his team’s focus on performance regardless of the qualification mathematics.
“Next game, you never know, it’s a T20 game, we’ll have to come up with a good brand of cricket, irrespective of the chances of making it to the Super Eights,” he said.
New Zealand can eliminate Afghanistan and seal their own spot with a win against Canada on Tuesday in Chennai.
In the match, Sohaib Khan top-scored for the UAE with 68 in their total of 160-9.
A third-wicket partnership of 84 between Khan and Alishan Sharafu, who made 40, provided a solid foundation.
The UAE threatened when Muhammad Arfan dismissed Ibrahim Zadran, leaving Afghanistan at 97-4 in the 14th over.
However, a 43-run partnership between Darwish Rasooli and Omarzai steadied the chase.
Rasooli departed for 33 in the 18th over, but Omarzai remained calm to hit the winning boundary, securing Afghanistan’s first win of the tournament.
