In a nail-biting encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, South Africa clinched a thrilling victory over Afghanistan in the second super over of the 13th match of the T20 World Cup 2026. The spotlight shone brightest on South African opener Quinton de Kock, who smashed an explosive 59 off 41 balls, featuring three towering sixes and five boundaries. This knock propelled him past the 700-run milestone, making him the highest run-scorer for South Africa in T20 World Cup history with a staggering 737 runs.
De Kock’s performance against Afghanistan was a masterclass in aggressive T20 batting. His innings not only set the tone for South Africa’s total but also etched his name in the record books. Previously, AB de Villiers held the top spot with 717 runs, followed by JP Duminy (568), David Miller (482), and Aiden Markram (448). De Kock’s surge to the summit underscores his consistency and big-match temperament in the shortest format.
This was De Kock’s fifth T20 World Cup half-century, tying him with AB de Villiers for the most by a South African. Aiden Markram trails with four. Partnering with Ryan Rickelton, who scored 61, De Kock helped South Africa post 187 for 6. Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai claimed three wickets, while Rashid Khan took two.
Chasing 188, Afghanistan crumbled to 187 all out in 19.4 overs, despite Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s fiery 84 off 42 balls, laced with seven sixes and four fours. Lungi Ngidi starred with three wickets for South Africa, supported by Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, George Linde, and Keshav Maharaj.
The match extended to super overs, with both teams tied at 17 runs in the first. In the decider, South Africa raced to 21 for no loss, while Afghanistan managed 19 for 1, sealing a dramatic win. De Kock’s heroics have ignited South Africa’s campaign, positioning them as serious contenders.