South Africa v Afghanistan, Ahmedabad – one wicket left, 13 needed, six balls in the bank. That was the equation when Kagiso Rabada began the final over. What followed was equal parts skill and chaos, ending with the scores tied and a Super Over looming.
Ball one: a front-foot no-ball. Noor Ahmad failed to clear cover, yet celebrations were cut short by the siren. A free hit arrived, along with a priceless extra run. Five legal balls still to come, 11 required.
Rabada’s attempted yorker then slid down the leg side. Wide called. Same delivery to bowl, free hit preserved.
On the replayed 19.1, Noor scuffed to long-off – and Marco Jansen grassed “an absolute dolly”. No run, but the drop kept Afghanistan alive.
19.2 brought the moment of the night. Short, sitting up, and Noor opened his shoulders. “Noooooooooor! What are you made of?” came the commentary as the ball sailed beyond deep backward square. Six runs, the target down to five from four.
A fast, tailing full ball followed. Noor pushed to long-on yet refused the single. Fazalhaq Farooqi was almost mid-pitch before being sent back. A minor wobble, still three balls left.
Then more drama. Rabada over-stepped again. Noor muscled to wide long-on and they hurried two. Another free hit, Afghanistan now needing just two from three legal deliveries – drinks even arrived uninvited as the umpire waved the substitute off.
The decisive play came on the repeat 19.4. Noor drilled to the same area, both batters chanced the second, and this time South Africa hit the stumps. Rabada gathered the relay and flicked off the bails. Third umpire replays showed Farooqi millimetres short. One legal ball remained, but no partner for Noor. Scores level, match tied, cue the tournament’s first Super Over.
“South Africa will believe they’ve got out of jail,” said television analyst Lisa Sthalekar, her verdict neatly summing up an over that swung on two no-balls, a dropped catch and a direct hit.
For Afghanistan, heartbreak. For South Africa, relief. For everyone watching, breathless entertainment without any need for embellishment.
