South Africa, Afghanistan play first-ever double Super Over in T20 World Cup

Double Super Over. One last-ball six. A chase that died with a run that didn’t exist. South Africa vs Afghanistan in Ahmedabad had all the chaos a T20 World Cup match can hold, and then some, as the Group D clash on Wednesday spiralled into a thriller South Africa eventually won by four runs.

Batting first, South Africa posted 187 for six. Afghanistan stayed on course for much of the chase with Rahmanullah Gurbaz playing the anchor and the aggressor in a superb 84. He found little support from the middle order, but Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad landed enough late blows to keep the chase alive.

The first twist came at the death. Kagiso Rabada had 12 to defend with just the last wicket left, but two no-balls cracked the door open. Suddenly, it was 2 needed off 3, a free hit in hand, and a simple script for Afghanistan: bat once, take the single, level it, then steal one from the last two.

Instead, they chased a second that was never there and the innings ended in a run-out. Still, the scores were level, and the match went to a Super Over.

Afghanistan made 17 in the first Super Over. South Africa looked beaten when it needed seven off the last ball, but Tristan Stubbs launched a six to force a second Super Over.

South Africa batted first again, this time piling up 23. Afghanistan lost Mohammad Nabi early, but Gurbaz refused to let the game end quietly, hammering three straight sixes to drag his team back. Then came another jolt: Keshav Maharaj bowled a wide, leaving five to win off the last ball. But on the final delivery, Gurbaz picked out a fielder, and South Africa finally escaped.

List of Super Overs in T20 World Cups so far

USA vs Pakistan (2024)

Oman vs Namibia (2024)

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka (2012)

West Indies vs New Zealand (2012)

Published on Feb 11, 2026