Summary

  • South Africa's men into their first ever World Cup final - report

  • Proteas win by nine wickets but struggle on difficult surface

  • TMS commentators label pitch as a "shambles" and "naughty"

  • Afghanistan bowled out for 56 after winning toss - their lowest ever T20 total

  • Jansen takes three wickets with new ball

  • Pacey Rabada and Nortje blow through middle order

  • Shamsi spins out the tail with 3-6

  • SA will meet England or India in Saturday's final

  • Venue: Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago

Live Reporting

by Mike Peter & Sam Drury

  1. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Sounds

    MarkramGetty Images

    You want an even contest. What this pitch has done is take batting completely out of the game.

    It's an actual shambles.

  2. Henry Moeran
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    That is ludicrous. Off a length it has almost bounced again before it reaches the stumps.

  3. SA 35-1

    Just the single from Azmatullah's first over as South Africa's batters desperately try to deal with this pitch.

    Three deliveries keep very low, while the final ball rises sharply on Reeza Hendricks.

  4. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Sounds

    HendricksGetty Images

    There was a TV show where you'd be creeping along and then suddenly get sucker-punched by a boxing glove and fall into a river. Total Wipeout maybe?

    This has pitch has had that level of peril.

  5. My line manager has just told me I can't burgle the Tower of London for the sake of a bit of live text whimsy.

    BBC red tape, eh?

  6. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Sounds

    KhanGetty Images

    Rashid was maybe trying to buy the wicket of Hendricks by looping it up, trying to find the edge.

    But Hendricks waited and didn't try to snatch at the shot. It came out of the middle of the bat, a nice shot that will make him feel better.

  7. SA 34-1

    Target 57

    First sight of captain Rashid Khan, as Afghanistan desperately seek wickets.

    The South African batters run him for a few, before Hendricks smacks his final ball through the covers for a one-bounce four.

    That's the end of the powerplay and South Africa need just 23 runs to win this semi-final.

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    Chris Murtagh: If only Afghanistan were sensible with their batting and picked up 1's, 2's, got up to 100, this would've been close.

  9. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Sounds

    It's all been happening in Trinidad. It's certainly been tasty viewing and there will be bowlers licking their lips.

    The ball has been talking all evening.

  10. SA 26-1

    MarkramGetty Images

    Markram is surprised again by some extra Naveen bounce, but just about manages to punch over the cover ring - the ball is cut off by the chasing fielder and the South Africa batters take three.

    Hendricks then hustles through a quick single to end the over.

  11. Geoff Lemon
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    Back-to-back boundaries. One unconvincing, the other very convincing.

  12. SA 21-1

    He knew about that one, timed well through the covers for consecutive boundaries.

  13. Geoff Lemon
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    This surface is doing all sorts. That ball has come in almost two feet!

  14. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Sounds

    We've not seen a South Africa batter play a shot with any certainty about where the ball is going to come through.

    That makes it a very uneven contest, I'd say. Fascinating but uneven.

  15. SA 17-1

    Fortuitous four for Markram as Naveen's delivery jags back wildly at the South Africa batter, happens to take the inside edge and heads off to the fine leg ropes.

    He didn't know anything about that.

  16. De KockGetty Images

    Christian, I know South Africa have struggled a bit at the start of this innings, but if they lose this I will break into the Tower of London, steal the Imperial State Crown - the most expensive hat in Britain - and eat it on the plaza at MediaCity.

    Although only if my line manager signs it off.

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    Christian Evans: Well, if South Africa lose this I will eat my hat, and I’m not wearing a hat. They are in the final, there’s no doubt about it.

  18. Geoff Lemon
    Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    That will make South Africa feel better.

  19. SA 13-1

    ReezaGetty Images

    Runs now. First from a wide, then Hendricks drives past the bowler for two and picks up four from the final ball of the over with a drive to the point boundary.

  20. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Sounds

    KhanGetty Images

    Or if South Africa had batted first. It's not beyond the realms that they could have ended up in a similar situation to Afghanistan.