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South Africa and Afghanistan are set to clash in the highly anticipated first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024. The match is scheduled for June 26, 2024, at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, starting at 6:00 AM IST (June 27).
South Africa:
South Africa has been on a remarkable run in this tournament, securing seven consecutive victories. They aim to break their World Cup curse and reach the final for the first time in history. With a dominant head-to-head record against Afghanistan, the Proteas are confident but cautious.
Afghanistan:
Afghanistan has been the dark horse of the tournament, carrying their momentum from the 2023 ODI World Cup where they defeated cricketing giants like England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In this T20 World Cup, they have already toppled Australia and New Zealand, earning their place in the semi-finals.
Where to Watch
- TV Channels: Star Sports, PTV, Ten Sports, Willow TV, ESPN Caribbean, Sky Cricket, Sky Sport NZ, SuperSport
- Live Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar, Myco, Tamasha, ESPN Play Caribbean, SkyGO, NOW TV, Prime Video, SuperSport
Match Insights
Toss Prediction
The team winning the toss is likely to bowl first, given that the last three out of four matches at this venue have been won by the chasing team.
Pitch Report
The Brian Lara Stadium pitch is known for being bowler-friendly, with an average innings score around 100. Fast bowlers have been more successful than spinners here, with over 80% of wickets taken by pacers.
Weather Report
Heavy showers are predicted during the day, but the match time is expected to be cloudy but dry, with temperatures ranging from 26-28°C and humidity levels exceeding 80%.
Team Previews
South Africa
Team News: South Africa is likely to stick with their winning combination, with no injuries reported.
Predicted Playing XI: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi
Form: South Africa is on a seven-match winning streak, making them the favorites.
Afghanistan
Team News: Afghanistan is expected to field the same XI that won against Bangladesh.
Predicted Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Nangeyalia Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Form: Afghanistan has shown resilience, defeating strong teams to reach the semi-finals.
Match Prediction
This semi-final promises to be an exciting contest. While Afghanistan has the potential to upset the Proteas, South Africa’s consistent performance and experience make them the favorites to advance to their first-ever World Cup final. The key battle will be between Afghanistan’s potent bowling attack and South Africa’s robust batting lineup. We predict South Africa to win, leveraging their balanced team and strong form.
Final Prediction: South Africa to win
