South Africa routs Afghanistan to reach Twenty20 World Cup final

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TAROUBA, Trinidad, June 27, (AP): South Africa trounced Afghanistan by nine wickets to reach the Twenty20 World Cup final, ending a long cricket drought.

Reeza Hendricks hit a six and a four on consecutive deliveries to lift South Africa to 60 for 1 in the ninth over, easily surpassing Afghanistan’s 56.

It was the first time in eight World Cup semifinals across the one-day and T20 formats that South Africa had managed a victory. Now it’s just potentially one victory away from a maiden World Cup title.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan won the toss Wednesday and opted to bat first but everything went South Africa’s way after that with the pace bowlers taking out the top order.

Marco Jansen (3-16) took wickets in the first and third overs and Kagiso Rabada (2-14) opened with a double-wicket maiden as Afghanistan slumped to 20-4 after 3.4 overs.

The opening pair that had carried Afghanistan so well during the tournament was gone, exposing the middle and lower order to a South Africa bowling attack hitting form at the perfect stage.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz faced three balls before he edged to slip and was out to Jansen in the first over. Ibrahim Zadran was beaten by a Rabada inswinger and bowled on the first ball of the third over.

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