The Afghanistan vs South Africa Super Over highlights will tell you why this match will be remembered as one of the greatest T20 World Cup match ever played. After a regulation-time tie at 187 runs—forced by Noor Ahmad’s final-over heroics against Kagiso Rabada—the two sides played out an unprecedented Double Super Over thriller at the Narendra Modi Stadium. In a night that defied logic, the first Super Over ended in another tie (17 runs each) after Tristan Stubbs smashed a six off the final ball. However, the experience of South Africa finally shone through in the second one-over eliminator, as David Miller and Stubbs plundered 23 runs to finally sink a resilient Afghan side.
Match Summary: A Three-Phase Epic in Ahmedabad
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 - Match 13 - Afghanistan vs South Africa
Group D • Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
The drama began in regulation time when South Africa’s 187/6—powered by Ryan Rickelton (61) and Quinton de Kock (59)—was equaled by Afghanistan in a frantic chase. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s blistering 84 kept the dream alive before Noor Ahmad’s late sixes and a frantic final-ball run-out of Fazalhaq Farooqi tied the scores. In the first Super Over, Afghanistan posted 17, only for Stubbs to tie it with a last-ball maximum. Finally, in the second Afghanistan vs South Africa Super Over, South Africa smashed a massive 23 runs, a target that proved too steep for the Afghans as Keshav Maharaj successfully defended the total to secure a historic win. This was absolute madness! A treat to watch! Pheww!
Playing XI
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (C), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
South Africa
Quinton de Kock (WK), Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (C), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
Key Stats & Records From This Match:
23 Runs: The highest score ever recorded in a second Super Over in ICC tournament history.
187: The highest tied-score in T20 World Cup history.
2 No-Balls: Kagiso Rabada is the first “Full Member” pacer to bowl multiple no-balls in the final over of a tied WC match.
100% Win Record: South Africa maintains their perfect record against Afghanistan in T20Is (4-0).
Innings Breakdown
First Innings: The Proteas Left-Handed Masterclass
The opening chapter of the match saw Rickelton and De Kock put on a 114-run masterclass. Rickelton was particularly savage, striking at 217.85 and forcing Rashid Khan to rethink his middle-over strategy. While Rashid eventually removed both set batters in the same over, late fireworks from Marco Jansen (16* off 7) pushed the total to 187. This was the highest total conceded by Afghanistan in the tournament, yet it set the stage for an even greater chase.
Second Innings: Gurbaz’s 84 and the Rabada Melt-Down
Afghanistan’s chase was spearheaded by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who hammered 84 off 42 balls, including 7 massive sixes. His dismissal by Keshav Maharaj seemed to end the game, but Noor Ahmad (15* off 9) had other plans. With 13 needed off the final over, Kagiso Rabada struggled under pressure, bowling two no-balls and a wide. Noor smashed a crucial six, but a direct hit from Marco Jansen on the final ball ran out Farooqi, ending the innings at 187/10 and triggering the first of two Super Overs.
The First Super Over: Stubbs Stuns Rashid with Last-Ball Heroics
The drama reached a fever pitch in the first super over of the Afghanistan vs South Africa Super Over. Afghanistan batted first, sending out Azmatullah Omarzai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Omarzai was ruthless, smashing Kagiso Rabada for a 4, 6, and 4 to help Afghanistan post a formidable 17/0. South Africa’s response looked shaky as Brevis was caught out on the third ball. Needing 11 runs off the final three deliveries, Tristan Stubbs showed nerves of steel. He hit the 4th ball for a boundary towards 3rd man. It was then the last ball, Stubbs launched Fazouqi over deep long-off for a massive six, tying the super over at 17-17 and forcing the first-ever Double Super Over in World Cup history.
SUPER OVER TIED! 🤯
— ICC (@ICC) February 11, 2026
Get to your screens now, broadcast details 📲https://t.co/NPykWM7qqY#T20WorldCup #SAvAFG pic.twitter.com/br2g9CEuPF
The Second Super Over: Miller and Stubbs Plunder 23 to Seal It
With the rules dictating a second super over, South Africa took the momentum into the next phase of the Afghanistan vs South Africa Super Over. This time, the Proteas batted first and completely dismantled the Afghan bowling. David Miller and Tristan Stubbs targeted the straight & leg-side boundaries, plundering an incredible 23 runs—the highest ever in a second Super Over. Facing a target of 24, Afghanistan struggled against the tactical brilliance of Keshav Maharaj. Despite a valiant show of 3 sixes off the last 4 balls from Gurbaz, Maharaj’s pin-point wide yorker restricted them to 19/2, finally ending a match that had lasted nearly five hours, and might have caused some heart-attacks in the commentary box.
The Maharaj “Double-Pivot”: In the second Super Over, Aiden Markram didn’t go back to his pace spearheads. Instead, he gave the ball to Keshav Maharaj. Maharaj specifically used a “double-pivot” approach, pausing his delivery stride to ensure Gurbaz couldn’t get under the ball. This tactical change resulted in Gurbaz being caught at point on the last ball, effectively ending the game.
Top Performers
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (84 off 42 balls & Super Over Fury)
Gurbaz was the heart of the Afghan effort. His dominance against Lungi Ngidi in the powerplay and his aggression in the second Super Over proved he is currently the most dangerous Associate-born opener in world cricket. He ended the night with 8 sixes across three innings.
Tristan Stubbs (Match-Saving 6 & 23-run Super Over Blitz)
Stubbs saved the match twice for South Africa. His last-ball six in the first Super Over kept the Proteas alive when all seemed lost, and his aggressive 15 runs in the second shootout provided the cushion needed to finally break Afghanistan’s resistance.
Lungi Ngidi (3/26 off 4 overs) - Player of the Match
Despite the Super Over chaos, Ngidi was the standout bowler in regulation. His three-wicket haul during the middle-over squeeze accounted for Ibrahim Zadran and Gulbadin Naib, which kept South Africa in the game when Gurbaz was threatening to finish it early.
Why did the Afghanistan vs South Africa match have two Super Overs?
In an incredible turn of events, the first Super Over ended in a tie. Afghanistan batted first and scored 17/0 (Azmatullah Omarzai hitting 4, 6, 4). In response, South Africa reached 17/1 after Tristan Stubbs hit a six off the final ball of the first Super Over. According to ICC rules, if a Super Over is tied, another one must be played until a winner is determined.
Match Highlights
What This Result Means for Group C
Scotland moves to the top half of Group C, significantly improving their NRR after the opening loss to the West Indies. They are firmly back in the Super 8 race. For Italy, the concern shifts to captain Wayne Madsen; if his shoulder injury rules him out of the England game, Italy’s debut campaign faces an early threat of derailment.
T20 World Cup 2026 Group C Points Table
Following South Africa’s heart-stopping Double Super Over victory against Afghanistan in Ahmedabad, the Group D standings have been thrown into absolute chaos. While South Africa earns the 2 points, the “Double Tie” in regulation time means Afghanistan’s Net Run Rate (NRR) stays remarkably healthy despite the loss.
This result has turned Group D into the definitive “Group of Death“, with New Zealand currently holding the top spot on NRR, followed closely by the unbeaten Proteas.
Group D Points Table
*Denotes match decided via Super Over. According to ICC rules, a Super Over win grants 2 points but the NRR is calculated based on scores at the end of 20 overs (tied).
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