SA vs AFG Match 13 Live Commentary - Ahmedabad (11 February 2026)

NO BALL! What drama! Oh, boy! Who wrote the script? This is full and around off, Ahmad looks to flick it away but miscues his shot as it was a slower delivery. It goes off the top edge to cover where the fielder takes the catch. But the SIREN GOES OFF and it's called a No Ball. Free Hit coming up....

WIDE! Pressure on KG! Full and sliding down the leg side. Noor Ahmad looks to flick but misses. The Free-Hit continues...

PUT DOWN! But it was a Free Hit anyway. Pitched up fuller around off, Noor Ahmad stays put and launches it down to long off where Marco Jansen spills it. No run is taken.

SIX! From having the game in hand, South Africa are now on the brink of throwing it all away. Noor Ahmad has hit a couple of unbelievable sixes. Short of a length and over middle, Noor hangs back, makes a bit of room by moving to the leg side and wallops the pull over deep square leg for a biggie. 5 needed now off 4 balls.

Finally, a dot ball. Full and straight, tailing in, dabbed down to long on for a dot ball.

NO BALL AGAIN! Kagiso Rabada, what are you doing? This is unlike this speedster. He is clearly feeling the pressure. Bowls a fuller delivery on middle, Noor Ahmad lofts it down to long on for a couple of runs. Noor Ahmad keeps the strike but the SIREN GOES OFF ONCE AGAIN. It's a FREE HIT...

OUT! RUN OUT! Lost for words.... We have a SUPER OVER! Fuller delivery, around off, Noor Ahmad strokes it wide of long off where Marco Jansen runs across and sweeps it off. Easy two but maybe there is some tiredness in the batter's leg. Marco Jansen throws it to Rabada, Fazalhaq Farooqi struggles but puts in a solid dive to get to the non-striker's end. Kagiso Rabada holds his nerves as he picks up the throw, a touch out of his reach but flicks the bails off quickly. The replay loads - Fazalhaq Farooqi has his bat in the air.

Marco Jansen bowls into the pitch, touch short and on off, Khan flat-bats it down the ground to long off for a brace.

WIDE! Tries the slower ball but delivers it well over the tramline outside off. 

George Linde puts in a solid effort as he runs back to chase the ball but in the process, he might have pulled his hamstring. Shorter delivery, outside off, Rashid Khan plays his famous ramp shot but slices it behind point. George Linde runs back from backward point, slides in the deep and keeps it down to two. 

OUT! KHAN GOES! This could be the game for the Proteas! Marco Jansen bowls a nice deceptive slower delivery, wide of the hitting arc of Khan, fuller delivery. Rashid Khan throws his blade and drags his shot. A nothing shot, actually and hits it down the ground. David Miller covers a lot of ground from long on. He runs to his left, slides and takes a brilliant catch. South Africa keeping their standards high in the field. A valiant 20 off 12 for Rashid.

SIX! Out of nowhere! Well, we are not done yet because Ahmad has different ideas. In the slot, a touch fuller and touch wider. Noor Ahmad steps inside the line and thumps it down the ground to long on for a six. 

Overpitched, outside off. Ahmad fails to get underneath and digs it out to cover.

OUT! MUJEEB UR RAHMAN IS RUN OUT! This should settle the nerves in the Proteas dugout! This is full and around off, in the blockhole. Ahmad squeezes it out to the left of Jansen, around the deck. A mix-up as both the batters are stranded, looking for a single. Meanwhile, Marco Jansen runs across, picks up and hits the bullseye at the batter's end. 

FOUR! Nicely picked! Lungi Ngidi spills out a low full toss, drifting on the pads. Omarzai helps it away to the left of the diving short fine leg fielder. No chance for the man in the deep as well. A boundary.

A full toss, dipping onto the batter on middle, this is flicked to mid-wicket for a single.

Much better from Ngidi! A wide yorker, outside off, removes all the pace off it. Rashid Khan tries to guide it away but misses.

An off-cutter, pings off the surface as Ngidi bowls in the deck. Khan fends it away to square leg for a single.

OUT! TAKEN! Wonderful catch from Stubbs. Should we even call this a stunner? These players are making it look so easy nowadays. Lungi Ngidi misses his mark and bowls a slower delivery in the slot. Azmatullah Omarzai launches it down to long on but fails to power it much. Omarzai thought he cleared the fence but Tristan Stubbs holds his nerves at the edge of the boundary line, picks up the catch over his head but just as he was losing his balance, he lobs it up, goes beyond the boundary and then gets back in to collect the catch again. It's fair in the replays. 24 needed off 13 balls. 

On a good length and on middle, Mujeeb Ur Rahman solidly blocks.

A good length delivery, around off, this is punched through covers for a single.

FOUR! Khan has picked the bones out of it. Short of a good length slower delivery and around off, lands in front of Khan, who pulls it powerfully, flat to deep mid-wicket for a boundary. 

Serves it full, pace-off and outside off. Khan knocks it to cover and denies the run. 

FOUR! Cheeky, very cheeky! A peach of a yorker from Rabada, around off. Nothing wrong with the delivery but Khan shows his smartness. He bends down and guides it fine of short third for a boundary. 

Too full and angling on middle, Khan turns it through mid-wicket for a single.

Bowls a bumper, outside off and into the surface. Omarzai gets on top and taps it to point to keep the strike. 11 from the over, 30 needed off 3 overs. 

OUT! STRAIGHT UP AND GONE! George Linde wasn't having a good day so far but this wicket will help his team. Linde comes over the wicket and pitches it up on leg, Nabi's eyes lit up as he quickly gets on his knee to slog-sweep but the ball darts in sharply and takes the top edge. High up and to cover it goes, where Aiden Markram takes the skier. 'Mr President' goes for just 5 runs to his name. 49 needed off 29 now.

Tosses it up, full and outside off. Khan punches it through covers for a single to get off the mark.

Oh, just out of Linde's reach! Linde bowls in the rough from over the wicket. Omarzai is tempted to whip it away as he leans in, but miscues it to the left of the bowler. George Linde puts in a full stretched dive to his left, but the ball is just out of his reach. 

FOUR! Khan shows how to play it! Fuller delivery, down leg, no turn this time and Rashid Khan nicely sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary. 

Shorter and on top of off, Khan cuts it late and to the right of the big Jansen, who dives across and keeps it down to one.

Pushes it full and on leg, Omarzai gets inside the line as he tracks back and work it down to long off for one. 

Beaten! Back of a length, pitching on off and angling it away from the right-hander. Azmatullah Omarzai looks to poke it away but gets beaten.

On a length, just outside off. Azmatullah Omarzai stands tall and spanks it toward long off for a single.

On a fuller length, around the pads, Mohammad Nabi flicks it to the short fine leg fielder and gets a single.  

FOUR! Easy pickings for Azmatullah Omarzai! This is a slower one and fuller, on leg. Azmatullah Omarzai glances it wide of Kagiso Rabada, in the short fine leg region, and the ball races away to the fence for four runs.

Back of a length, outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai frees his arms and slaps it toward right of deep cover for a couple of runs.

FOUR! An expensive over from Marco Jansen! This is a half-volley, on the fifth stump. Azmatullah Omarzai rocks back and smokes it over the extra cover fielder. The ball bounces off into the sweeper cover fence and Omarzai gets his second boundary of the inning.

Lungi Ngidi starts off with a slower yorker, on off. Mohammad Nabi tucks it with soft hands to the vacant square leg region and gets a couple of runs between the sticks.

Another slower one, on a hard length, on off, Nabi tucks it to square leg and gets across.

On a length, angling in, down the leg side. Azmatullah Omarzai flicks it to short fine leg and gets a quick single.

On a length, angling in, on off and middle. Mohammad Nabi tries to nudge it to mid on, but gets nicked on the inside edge. The ball rolls to the short fine leg region and Omarzai from the bowler's end shouts 'NO' to Nabi. 

Yorker now, on off and middle, Mohammad Nabi digs it toward square leg and gets a single.

On a length, on off, Azmatullah Omarzai rolls his wrists and flicks it to square leg to rotate the strike. A tidy over from Ngidi, only six runs from it!

Short and outside off, Darwish Rasooli slaps it toward the right of point for a single.

SIX! CLUBBED AWAY! Pitches it up, does Maharaj, just outside off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets down on his knee and slogs it across the line over the long on region. Marco Jansen is the man patrolling the area, who leaps up high but the ball manages to escape the fingertips of the fielder.

OUT! TAKEN! Keshav Maharaj has got the big fish and the Proteas are all pumped up. This is tossed up, fuller, outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz crouches low and attempts to lash it over the sweeper cover, but ends up slicing it away to short third. George Linde dives to his left and takes a superb catch. Credit to the bowler who sucked Gurbaz into playing the big shot with the floater. The magnificent knock of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (84 off 42) has come to an end, and surely the Proteas will be happy to see his back. Afghanistan are now 121/4, needing 67 off 45 balls.

Flatter one, darted in towards middle stump, Azmatullah Omarzai stays back and blocks it off.

OUT! DARWISH RASOOLI IS RUN OUT! Oh, that is very ordinary running between the wickets. Keshav Maharaj bowls it flat and a bit full outside off. Azmatullah Omarzai stays low and dabs it to the left of point. The batters set off for the single but Azmat is ball-watching and realizes that there is no run on offer, and he turns back. Rasooli, however, is nearly at the keeper's end himself and the fielder throws it back to the wrong end. Quinton de Kock keeps his cool and throws the ball back to the bowler as Rasooli tries to scamper back. The dive is put in but the bails are dislodged and with the smart replay in place, the umpire raises his finger. Afghanistan are now 121/5, needing 67 off 43 balls.

Tossed up, on off, Azmatullah Omarzai drives it to cover.

Begins with an in-drifter and floats it on the pads, Gurbaz tucks it wide of short fine leg and picks up a single.

 Rasooli is looking patchy with the big shots, luckily for him, this one doesn't carry to the fielder. Shortish length angled into the batter, Rasooli gets cramped for room but goes through with the pull and mistimes it short of deep square leg for one.

FOUR! Easy pickings for the set-batter. Flatter and darted into the body of the batter, Gurbaz sits down and brooms it to the right of deep backward square leg and picks up a boundary.

Full and fired in at the toes, swept away straight to short fine leg for a single.

Full and straight, swept away firmly to deep square leg for a single.

SIX! Just over! This is bowled full and flat around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is quick to lunge across and get inside the line. He then sweeps it hard and flat, nailing it over the leaping fielder at deep backward square leg for a biggie. 14 off Markram's first over and the gamble hasn't paid off for South Africa.

Flat and a bit fuller outside off, Rasooli reaches out and slaps it to deep point for a single.

WIDE! Floated up, wide outside off, goes straight on and Gurbaz lets it be. Wide called.

Quicker one, full and wide, slides on with the arm. Gurbaz waits back and gets low before dabbing it down to short third for a quick single.

Fuller and outside off again, Rasooli throws his hands at it and slices it down to deep cover-point for just another single.

Dragged length, at the stumps, worked away off the back foot and through mid-wicket for a run.

Floated up, around off, Rasooli flat-bats it down to long off and turns the strike over.

Fired in, full and wide outside off, Gurbaz squeezes it behind point for a single. The 100 is now up for Afghanistan as well.

Pitched up fuller and around middle and leg, Rasooli clears the front leg and shanks the lofted shot down to long on for a single.

Tap and run! Relatively full, shaping in from off stump, Gurbaz leans on and pokes it towards mid off before picking up a quick single.

Short of a good length, angling across off, Rasooli blocks it off.

Full, darted in at the toes. Darwish Rasooli gets the front leg out of the way and jams it wide of square leg for a single.

FOUR! That's eye-catching strokeplay from Gurbaz. Full and wide outside off, Gurbaz staps across to the off side, goes on one knee and lifts it over covers for a boundary.

The call is for two and this time, they do get it. Good length outside off, hit on the up and to the right of sweeper cover for a brace. Afghanistan are 93/3 after 10 overs.

Length delivery, outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz punches it through covers for a single.

Well bowled! Keshav Maharaj gives a lot of air and bowls it wide of off, turning away. Arrives late towards Darwish Rasooli, who tries to slog-sweep but misses.

Too full, floated and on middle, Darwish Rasooli hangs back and pats it back to the bowler.

WIDE! Close to the tramline outside off, fuller-length. Darwish Rasooli leaves for a wide.

Fractionally short and around off, no pace behind it. Darwish Rasooli hoicks it across to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Quick single! A bit too full, outside off, Gurbaz crunches it to cover, towards Aiden Markram and runs across.

Too short and too wide, slower in the air. DR flashes his blade to deep point and picks up a run.

SIX! THAT IS HUGE! Rahmanullah Gurbaz is playing on a different deck. Pushed through, bowls in the slot and around off, Gurbaz launches it high and handsomely over long off for a six.

Linde slows up the pace and gives some air, this is on middle, RG taps it on the deck.

SIX! Fifty for Rahmanullah Gurbaz! His fourth T20 World Cup half-century. What a shot this is. Not that short, Linde gives a lot of width outside off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets underneath the ball and slashes it flat and over extra cover for a six. Gurbaz raises his bat and gestures towards the dugout, not to worry, as if to say he has it all under control. That kind of body language speaks volumes about confidence.

LEG BYE! Angling on the pads, Gurbaz fails to flick and it rolls off the pads to square leg for a leg bye. 

Clear and loud call for 'two', but good fielding keeps them down to one. Tossed up, outside off, Darwish Rasooli strokes it down to deep cover for a single.

Hesitation again, but the batters are safe! Fuller delivery on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz nudges it with soft hands to mid-wicket and rings for two. George Linde runs across and slides. He misfields but Gurbaz doesn't want to risk another wicket and settles down. 

Dragged length, quicker and outside off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz bends low and cuts it hard but straight to point.

Drifts in a length ball onto the pads. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is quick to get on his knee, he sweeps it behind square leg where Kagiso Rabada sweeps it up. Two runs are taken.

Keshav Maharaj tosses it up, length ball, outside off, Gurbaz crunches it wide of deep point for two more.

WIDE! Flirts with the tramline and bowls it very full. RG makes room and ends up leaving it. 

Flatter trajectory, wide outside off. Gurbaz slaps it hard and to deep cover for a single.

The call is for 'two', they settle with a run! Maharaj pushes it fuller and outside off, too wide. Darwish Rasooli plays it to cover for one more.

A single to end the over as Rahmanullah Gurbaz hits this length ball to cover. 

Yorker, on leg. Rahmanullah Gurbaz opens his stance, but ends up jamming it to backward point and gets a one run.

OUT! TAKEN! Afghanistan lose their third wicket in the space of seven balls, and oh boy, what a take that is from Marco Jansen. Kagiso Rabada bowls this one on a good length, around the thigh pad of the batter. Sediqullah Atal gets inside the line and looks to tickle it but the ball flies toward the left of Marco Jansen in the short fine leg region, who dives and takes a spectacular catch. Gurbaz is left stranded at the other end right now, with wickets falling left, right and center.

Fuller, angling in, around leg. Darwish Rasooli flicks it from the inner half of his bat to the right of the short mid-wicket fielder. The deep square leg fielder moves to his left and cuts it to three runs.

Back of a length, on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz nudges it to square leg for a single.

Full, on middle, Darwish Rasooli flicks it but straight to the short mid-wicket fielder.

A dot to finish off a positive over from Kagiso Rabada! Short of a length, just outside off, Darwish Rasooli attempts a pull shot but misses the connection. 5 runs and a wicket from it. 56/3 in the Powerplay. 

Slower low full toss, on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz nudges it to the right of the mid on fielder and gets across for a single. 

OUT! CASTLED! The Proteas get their first breakthrough, and it's Lungi Ngidi who breaks this dangerous-looking partnership. This is a bit slower and fuller, pitching just outside off and shaping back in. Ibrahim Zadran charges down the deck to flick it with power towards the leg side, but misses and the ball dips and crashes into the stumps. Ibrahim Zadran departs, scoring 12 off 10 balls.

Ngidi has tried it again. Slower one, full and dips on the batter but this one just slips down leg. Gulbadin Naib gets inside the line to flick but misses and it is given as a fair delivery.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! What a comeback over from Lungi Ngidi. Another slower ball, Ngidi goes wider on the crease and pitches it up on a nagging length around middle. Gulbadin Naib misreads the pace completely and leans on to push at it. The ball holds in the deck and lobs off the face of the blade. Ngidi takes a brilliant diving catch to his right in the follow-through, and Naib has to walk back after a two-ball duck.

Slower and much fuller, wide outside off, Sediqullah Atal jams it from the outer half of his bat to deep third for no runs.

Pitches it up, does Ngidi, outside off, Sediqullah Atal leans towards the delivery and defends it to the off side.

SIX! Exceptional from Gurbaz! George Linde sees the batter making room leg side and angles it in. Rahmanullah Gurbaz holds his shape and plays it inside out and sends the ball sailing over the wide long off fence for half a dozen.

Full, on middle and leg, Rahmanullah Gurbaz eases it to mid on for a single.

Fuller, on off, Zadran drives it to the short cover fielder.

FOUR! Ibrahim Zadran is not holding back. A touch fuller, on middle, Ibrahim Zadran puts on his dancing shoes and smashes it over the mid on fielder to get four more runs.

Flat and fuller, outside off, Ibrahim Zadran attempts to cut it but misses on the connection.

SIX! Oh, this is brilliant hitting from the Afghan openers and the 50 is already up for Afghanistan. Flighted ball at the stumps, Ibrahim Zadran steps out and clobbers it over wide long on for a biggie. Zadran barely got to the pitch of the ball, still managed to generate the power.

SIX! Rahmanullah Gurbaz is fighting fire with fire. KG begins with a shortish ball around off, pace on as well. Gurbaz backs away and carves it over deep third for another biggie. It is brilliantly held by someone in the crowd as well.

Back of a length, straighter in line, nudged away in front of mid-wicket for a single.

Back of a length again, rising extra off the deck. Zadran gets up on his toes and angles it down to deep third for one more.

WIDE! Slower one, full and just angled down the leg side.

Nicely bowled. Slower from Rabada, angled well into the batter. Gurbaz gets cramped for room even as he tries to back away and chops it down to short fine leg for a single.

Pitched up, very full and outside off. Ibrahim Zadran jams his bat across but the ball swings away past the blade.

Another play and a miss. Full and in the channel, drawing out the drive from Zadran but the ball beats the willow once again. 10 runs off KG's first over.

That's a fine stop from George Linde. Short of a length and angled across off, Zadran stands tall and pats it away to the left of cover-point. Linde lunges across and makes a half stop, keeping it down to a single.

Good length on middle, Gurbaz looks to turn it leg side but closes the bat face early and nudges it down back to the bowler.

SIX! All the way and that's the first six of the chase. Dug in very short and angled across off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz backs away a bit and opens the face of the blade to ramp it over deep third for a biggie.

Oh, buzzers! Back of a length and angled across off, Gurbaz taps it to the left of George Linde at cover-point and wanders down the pitch. Linde tries to keep him honest and fires in a throw at the keeper's end. It is a direct hit but the ball deflects away and the batters end up picking up two overthrows.

Good length on the pads, tucked away 'round the corner on the leg side for a single.

Slightly short and outside off, cut away straight to point.

A bit of shape to begin with. On a good length and well outside off, moves away from the right-hander and Gurbaz leaves it alone.

FOUR! A gift from Ngidi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz obliges. Juicy full toss outside off, Gurbaz leans on and drives it between mid off and covers and picks up a boundary to get going.

Back of a length, well outside off again, Gurbaz gets on his toes and taps it down to covers.

FIVE WIDES! That's a wild delivery from Ngidi. Rahmanullah Gurbaz moves past the leg stump early and this forces the bowler to follow him. Ngidi bangs it in a bit short and the ball swings down the leg side and rolls away into the fine leg fence.

Much better from Ngidi. Good length, around the top of off, blocked off.

FOUR! Stylishly picked up by Gurbaz. Hard length on middle, angling in, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets inside the line and whips it wristily over square leg for a boundary. 13 off the first over, already.

A dot to end but Afghanistan are off to a flier. Good length, albeit a touch fuller and around off. Gurbaz defends it to square cover.