Ahmedabad, Feb 11 (NationPress) Afghanistan's captain Rashid Khan termed his team's heartbreaking defeat against South Africa as "unfortunate" following a nail-biting double super over battle at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

This Group D encounter will go down in history as one of the most thrilling matches in T20 World Cup lore, as Afghanistan pushed South Africa to their limits before narrowly missing victory in the second super over. With Ryan Rickleton (61) and Quinton de Kock (59) leading the charge, the Proteas set a target of 187/6. Afghanistan, however, responded with resilience, particularly through Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s explosive 84, resulting in a tie that necessitated a super over.

Reflecting on the bowling performance after a strong South African start, Rashid remarked post-match, "The boys executed brilliantly, especially given their strong batting start. Conceding only 190 runs after their 100 runs in the first 10 overs was a significant achievement. We began well with the bat, but it's just so unfortunate to end up on the losing side. We truly put in our all on the field, and the outcome was simply not in our favor."

He further explained their approach to the chase: "Our plan was clear. This pitch is favorable, as we've played extensively on it in the IPL. The average score here is around 190-195. We discussed that despite their strong start, we aimed to restrict them below 200 and give ourselves the best chance for the chase. We did create that opportunity, but unfortunately, we found ourselves on the wrong side of the result."

Gurbaz's fearless batting nearly clinched a historic win, especially during the final super over when he hit three consecutive sixes.

Rashid praised his opener, stating, "What an incredible innings; he showcased his talent! His destructive style at the top-order is well-known. He provided us with an excellent start, particularly during the last few overs of the powerplay when we lost three wickets in quick succession, which put him under pressure. He did well to maintain the innings... He played excellently, especially in the last super over with those three sixes and almost clinching it in the end with 5 runs needed from the last ball.”

Regarding the pivotal moments in the super over, Rashid acknowledged, “We had our chances. In the last super over, needing 5 runs from one ball could have gone either way. We had our opportunities but could have been a bit smarter with our batting. A well-placed dive or just one good ball could have sealed the game for us. There are many lessons to be learned from this, and we will only improve. We hope to maintain our positive energy and return stronger.”

The emotional impact was palpable as Afghanistan’s aspirations of advancing took a significant hit.

“It’s incredibly tough. We’ve worked tirelessly over the past year and a half for this game to win and advance to the next round. It’s disheartening. It’s challenging to keep spirits high, but representing your country is a tremendous honor. We play for our pride, knowing the expectations back home. Our World Cup start has not been what we hoped for, which is disappointing. Nevertheless, I will do my utmost to uplift the team. We will approach the next game with determination and strategy,” he concluded.

While Afghanistan faced a loss, their spirited performance ensured that this match would be etched in the annals of T20 classics.