SA vs AFG | Twitter in awe as unplayable Rabada clips Afghan wings with double-wicket maiden

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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What are fairytales without tragic starts? Unfortunately, the ones rooted in reality rarely get a happy ending. Afghanistan were brutally humbled while exploring uncharted territories in the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final on Thursday after a Proteas new-ball onslaught whittled them down to 28/6.

‌Afghanistan's first-ever appearance in a World Cup semi-final did not get off to the desired start as two early Marco Jansen wickets sent the in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib packing within the first three overs. However, it was just the beginning of a match-defining collapse, defined by a brilliant Kagiso Rabada over that left the Asian contingent reeling in distress.

The right-arm quick was handed the ball by Aiden Markram in the fourth over of the game and he had his eyes immediately set on Afghan's batting lynchpin Ibrahim Zadran. The opener had fared excellently in the tournament thus far but had no reply to a dream in-seamer from Rabada first-up that pitched straight on the length and jagged in sharply to pierce the gap between bat and pad before thumping into the leg stump. Surprisingly, the pacer somehow managed to outdo himself just three deliveries later. This time up against the vastly experienced Mohammed Nabi, Rabada pitched the ball on a similar length but slightly wider, tempting his counterpart forward into a defensive shot. The Kookaburra moved even further off the deck this time around and ended up at any quick's dream spot -- top of off-stump.

Rabada was understandably pumped up at having the dealt major early blows and Twitterati did not shy away from showering the world-beater with praise.

Ohh beauty!!

KGR lighting things up!

Fantastic

Locked and loaded

Tremendous

Maiden wicket

Sent away

Absolute seeds

Peak cricket

Timber

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