The 19th match of the T10 World Cup 2026 delivered another gripping contest as South Africa edged past Afghanistan by 5 wickets, with 2.1 overs to spare, in a fast-paced clash at the Docklands Stadium. The match was a perfect example of T10 cricket—explosive batting, sharp fielding, and decisive all-round performances.
Afghanistan, batting first, posted a competitive 103/8 in 10 overs. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz led the charge with a fluent 49 off 27 balls, anchoring the innings while striking at an impressive rate. He was well supported by Ibrahim Zadran (15 off 7) and a late flourish from Mohammad Nabi, who smashed 31 off just 14 balls, pushing Afghanistan past the 100-run mark. However, multiple run-outs and a lack of sustained partnerships prevented Afghanistan from accelerating further in the final overs.
South Africa’s bowling attack remained disciplined, with Keshav Maharaj (2 wickets) and Aiden Markram applying pressure in the middle overs. Sharp fielding also played a crucial role, as Afghanistan lost wickets at key moments.
Chasing 104, South Africa had a brisk start through Quinton de Kock (36 off 18) and Reeza Hendricks (22 off 8), but Afghanistan fought back strongly with quick wickets, briefly tilting the match in their favor. The turning point came with Mohammad Nabi’s exceptional all-round performance, as he picked up 2 wickets and later anchored Afghanistan’s resistance with the bat.
Despite the setbacks, Aiden Markram held his nerve, finishing unbeaten on 22 off just 6 balls, displaying remarkable composure and power under pressure. Supported by Marco Jansen, South Africa crossed the finish line at 106/5 in 7.5 overs, sealing a crucial victory.
With his impactful contribution of 31 runs and 2 wickets, Mohammad Nabi was deservedly named Man of the Match, despite Afghanistan ending up on the losing side.
This victory keeps South Africa firmly in contention in Group B, while Afghanistan, though spirited, will need more consistency and sharper execution to stay alive in the tournament.