South Africa will face Afghanistan in the first semifinal of the 2024 T20 World Cup at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad on Thursday, June 27. The match will begin at 6:00 AM IST (8:30 PM local time on June 26).
The Proteas advanced to the semifinals by topping Group 2 in the Super 8 round. They secured victories against the United States by 18 runs, England by seven runs, and West Indies by three wickets in a low-scoring thriller. Despite being unbeaten, none of their wins have been particularly convincing.
Afghanistan earned their semifinal spot by winning two of their three Super 8 matches. They stunned Australia with a 21-run victory in St Vincent and edged out Bangladesh by eight runs in a nail-biting contest. This is Afghanistan’s first appearance in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup.
Weather Concerns and Reserve Day
While excitement is high for the South Africa vs Afghanistan clash, the weather forecast predicts possible rain, which could disrupt the match. Thankfully, there is a reserve day in place for the first semifinal. A total of 250 minutes of additional time can be utilized if rain delays the match.
According to the playing conditions, an extra 60 minutes are available at the end of the scheduled day’s play. The remaining 190 minutes can be used on the reserve day, starting at 2 PM local time. Additionally, for a game to be considered complete, both teams must bat for a minimum of 10 overs per innings, up from the 5 overs required in earlier stages of the tournament.
Progression to the Final in Case of No Result
If there is no result in the South Africa vs Afghanistan semifinal even after utilizing the reserve day, the team that finished higher in the Super 8 stage points table will advance to the final.
In this scenario, South Africa will progress to the final as they topped Group 2 in the Super 8 round, winning all three of their matches. Afghanistan, finishing second in Group 1 with two wins and one loss, would unfortunately be eliminated.
The reserve day provision adds a layer of security for fans and players alike, ensuring the best possible chance for a fair contest.
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