File photo of South Africa’s Anrich Nortje and India’s Ishan Kishan© AFP

Team South Africa in action© AFP

South Africa vs Pakistan 1st T20I, Live Score Updates© AFP

Batter Heinrich Klaasen will lead South Africa in the three-match T20I series against Pakistan from December 10 onwards, with regular captain Aiden Markram busy in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Markram, who will feature in the second Test from December 5 onwards and has been rested due to the tight schedule between the third Test and the T20Is. Besides Markram, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Tristan Stubbs will also miss the T20I series as they are also involved in the ongoing Test series.

Despite the absence of key players, South Africa’s T20I squad boasts plenty of firepower, with Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi returning for the first time since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, as per ICC.

All-rounder George Linde is also back in the T20I setup after a three-year gap, having last featured in 2021. Linde was in exceptional form during the CSA T20 Challenge, aggregating 171 runs at a strike rate of 178.12 and taking nine wickets at an impressive average of 18.33.

The squad, South Africa’s white-ball head coach Rob Walter said as quoted by ICC: “All 15 players are capped, and we are looking to build on the experience within the group as we continue to grow as a unit.”

“In the absence of Aiden, Heinrich will lead the team. He is a vastly experienced player with a strong understanding and reading of the game. We look forward to utilising him in this role after his previous experiences in 2021.”

“We have also given George an opportunity again. He really earned his spot off the back of a strong domestic campaign, and his skills as a spinning all-rounder add important balance to the team. We’re pleased to have Anrich and Tabraiz back in the squad. Their wealth of experience and skill significantly bolsters our bowling unit, enhancing both our pace and spin departments, which will be key against a strong Pakistan side,” he concluded.

Squad: Heinrich Klaasen (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Simelane, and Rassie van der Dussen.

T20I Series Schedule:

First T20I, December 10, Durban; Second T20I, December 13, Centurion; Third T20I, December 14, Johannesburg.

South Africa sent a stern warning to their opponents in the 2024 T20 World Cup, as they bowled out Afghanistan for a total of just 56, before chasing it down in under 10 overs. The Proteas reached their first-ever T20 World Cup Final, and will face either India or England on June 29. But throughout their dominant bowling performance, one moment stood out, showing the sheer might of the South African bowling unit. The delivery – bowled by Kagiso Rabada – went viral on social media.

With Afghanistan off to a shaky start at 20-3, Kagiso Rabada bowled a peach of a delivery to knock over veteran batter Mohammad Nabi for a duck.

The inswinging delivery sent Nabi’s off-stump cartwheeling. Afghanistan were down to 20-4 inside four overs. The ball beat Nabi between his bat and pad, and dismantled the stumps.

Rabada bowled a maiden over, including the two wickets of Nabi and opener Ibrahim Zadran. Rabada’s delivery went viral on X, with fans raving.

“Look at the run up, the action and the delivery. The perfect fast bowler,” tweeted one user.

Rabada, what is this ?

..#SAvsAFG #SAvAFG #T20WoldCup pic.twitter.com/6EjhRdnRwR

— 56 is not Just Number (@HUSNAINMANJ_01) June 27, 2024

Another fan on social media called for Rabada to receive more appreciation.

One comparison touted Rabada as a greater bowler than legendary South African speedstar Dale Steyn at his peak.

One more fan brought up the mouth-watering prospect of India’s Virat Kohli facing Rabada in the 2024 T20 World Cup Final.

With the chances of rain being over 90% for the second semi-final, an abandoned match would see India qualify to the final ahead of England, due to their better group stage finish.

People talk about Bumrah, people talk about Starc, people talk about Cummins. But this beast has always gone under-appreciated despite being too good in every format for years now. https://t.co/W4dPYWMHq7

— Thank You Davey (@jersey_no_46) June 27, 2024

This boy’s purpose was to play cricket. Better than prime Dale Steyn in my books https://t.co/g9kWeJVkfc

— Linda #WOD (@The_DonHimself) June 27, 2024

Rabada to kohli https://t.co/absD9MOn9r

— Oscar (@Oscar_0039) June 27, 2024

Rabada’s two wickets, along with three each from Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi and two more from Anrich Nortje, helped South Africa bundle up the Afghan batting lineup in just 11.5 overs.

South Africa still have a 100% win record in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Quinton de Kock made a coruscating fifty and bowlers responded bravely to the challenge of defending a sub-par total as South Africa thwarted a late England surge to eke out a tight seven-run win in their Group 2 Super Eight match in the T20 World Cup at Gros Islet, St Lucia on Friday. England had done well to keep South Africa to 163/6 in spite of De Kock’s 38-ball 65, but lost their way despite a spirited fightback from Harry Brook (53) and Liam Livingstone (33). They eventually finished at 156 for six.

South Africa’s perfection in executing their plans of taking the pace off the ball corresponded with England’s refusal to show intent as the defending champions did not find a single boundary between the fifth and the 12th over.

Brook and Livingstone did extremely well to stage a fightback to bring England back into the game but South Africa held their nerves, despite making plenty of errors, to keep their winning run in this World Cup intact.

England were still significantly far from target needing 46 runs to win from the final four overs but Ottneil Baartman, who had been measly throughout the group stage, sent down plenty of full-tosses as 21 runs were knocked off in the 17th over.

But Kagiso Rabada (2/32) stamped his class as he had Livingstone (33 off 17b, 3x4s, 2x6s) caught at deep backward square leg in the 18th over.

Marco Jansen then allowed only seven runs in the penultimate over to leave England needing 14 runs off the final over, in which Anrich Nortje (1/35) did well to remove Brooks and seal Proteas’ win.

Brook and Livingstone came together in the 11th over with England needing 103 to win from 58 balls. They added 78 from 42 but it was not enough as England paid a heavy price for being meek in the beginning.

Reeza Hendricks deserved all credits for pulling a catch out of thin air, putting a stunning effort at extra cover while diving to his left after Phil Salt (11) hit one hard against Rabada in the second over.

With Salt was dismissed early, England were neither quick off the blocks nor did they change approach to counter South African tactics.

Jonny Bairstow (17) failed to make the most of a lifeline given to him when Heinrich Klaasen dropped a regulation catch running in from backward square leg off Rabada in the third over.

However, with South African bowlers keeping it tight another chance came their way when Keshav Maharaj lured Bairstow to slash one wide of the off-stump and the batter obliged by hitting in the air. Nortje grabbed the chance.

The wily Maharaj then foxed England skipper Jos Buttler by taking the pace off a delivery which he hit straight to deep midwicket, where Klaasen did not make any mistake.

Moeen Ali (9) was bounced out by Baartman with Maharaj taking the catch as England skidded to 61 for four around the halfway mark.

Earlier, South Africa squandered a blistering start by Quinton de Kock (65) as England managed to keep the Proteas to a low total.

With De Kock (68, 4×4, 4×6) going hammer and tongs to take the scoring rate to nearly 10 an over for most of their first half, England fought back hard with regular wickets courtesy excellent fielding which remained the highlight of their effort.

Apart from De Kock’s fireworks, David Miller’s late resistance, 43 off 28 balls (4×4, 2×6), saved SA the blushes.

From 86 for no loss at one stage, South Africa had slipped to 113 for four by the 15th over, losing the momentum.

Amid the steady fall of wickets at one end, Miller held his ground and his late charge helped South Africa go past the 150-mark.

USA vs SA, T20 World Cup 2024 Highlights: South Africa started Super 8 with a win.© AFP

South Africa vs Nepal, T20 World Cup 2024 LIVE Updates© AFP

Hardik Pandya reacts to Romario Shepherd’s batting in IPL 2024 match© X (formerly Twitter)