South Africa shot out Afghanistan for 56 in 11.5 overs in the first semi-final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, the lowest total in a knockout match at the T20 World Cup as well as Afghanistan’s lowest T20I score. Azmatullah Omarzai (10) was the only Afghan batter to reach double figures as Marco Jansen (3-16), Kagiso Rabada (2-14), Anrich Nortje (2-7), and Tabraiz Shamsi (3-6) ran riot.

They went on to chase the total in 8.5 overs with nine wickets in hand, booking their first-ever T20 World Cup final berth.

The South Africa pace attack was on top of the Afghanistan batters from the get-go, finishing with combined figures of 9-1-37-1. It's the first time the South Africa men's team have qualified for a World Cup final in any format.

Proteas with the bit between their teeth!

It’s been destructive poetry in motion.
Beautiful to watch

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) June 27, 2024

Lowest totals in knockout matches at the Men’s T20 World Cup:

56 (Afghanistan v South Africa, Tarouba, 2024 semi-final)

Keeping the results in the tournament in mind, Afghanistan opted to bat on a surface that assisted the seamers. Inside the first five overs, Jansen had struck thrice, while Rabada had started with a double-wicket maiden. Afghanistan somehow ambled from 28-6 to 50-6, but simply caved in once Shamsi came on. South Africa chased it down in 8.5 overs.

101 (West Indies v Sri Lanka, The Oval, 2009 semi-final)

Chasing 159, the West Indies were left in tatters by Angelo Mathews (3-16), who struck thrice in his first six balls. Chris Gayle (63 not out in 50 balls) held the fort, becoming the first batter in the history of T20Is to carry his bat in an all-out innings, but he was the only West Indian to reach double figures as Muttiah Muralidaran (3-29) and Ajantha Mendis (2-9) ran through them.

101 (Sri Lanka v West Indies, Premadasa, 2012 final)

The West Indians avenged the defeat by bowling out Sri Lanka for exactly the same score on a slow turner in the final, three years later. Marlon Samuels (78 in 56 balls) first lifted them from the doldrums to 137-6, then choked the hosts with 4-0-15-1 before Sunil Narine (3-9) put a swift end to proceedings.

123-7 (Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Premadasa, 2012 semi-final)

Sri Lanka had defended 140 against Pakistan three days before the final. Mohammad Hafeez (42 in 40 balls) seemed to have put Pakistan on track, but each of the five Sri Lankan bowlers to bowl more than one over kept their economy rate under seven. When Pakistan tried to hit, they succumbed to Mendis (2-27) and Rangana Herath (3-25).

128-6 (Sri Lanka v England, Gros Islet, 2010 semi-final)

A fourth entry featuring Sri Lanka. Stifled by some tight bowling from England, they were left reeling at 47-4 after nine overs. Only Mathews (58 in 45 balls) provided some respite as four of the five England bowlers finished with six or fewer runs an over. Sri Lanka ambled to 128-6 and England won with four overs in hand.

Lowest totals in knockout matches at the Women’s T20 World Cup:

71 (West Indies 71 v Australia, North Sound, 2018 semi-final)
85 (New Zealand v England, Lord’s, 2009 final)
87 (West Indies 87 v Australia, Premadasa, 2012 semi-final)

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