South Africa held out in a thrilling contest against Afghanistan in Group D of the 2026 T20 World Cup, which concluded with two Super Overs. Given that this was the first time two Super Overs were necessary to decide a T20 World Cup match, here are the crucial rules which played an important part in the contest.
Why was Tristan Stubbs allowed to bat twice?
The ICC's playing conditions for the 2026 T20 World Cup state that "If the match is tied, a Super Over is played. If the Super Over is a tie, then subsequent Super Overs shall be played until there is a winner. Unless exceptional circumstances arise, there shall be an unlimited number of Super Overs played to achieve a result."
Thus, with five required, had Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit the final ball of the second Super Over for four, a third Super Over would have been played.
Appendix F of the Playing Regulations, which outlines the procedure for Super Overs, stipulates that, in the case of a second Super Over being required, "the team batting second in the previous Super Over shall bat first in the subsequent Super Over". Therefore, given Tristan Stubbs and David Miller chased down Afghanistan's target in the first Super Over, South Africa were required to set the target for the second Super Over.
The procedure also outlines that "Any batter dismissed in any previous Super Over shall be ineligible to bat in any subsequent Super Over". Thus, because Dewald Brevis was dismissed by Fazalhaq Farooqi in the first Super Over, he was not eligible to bat in the second Super Over. The procedure does not apply any other condition to who can bat in subsequent Super Overs, however, meaning South Africa were free to send Miller and Stubbs out again in the second Super Over.
Match 13, South Africa vs Afghanistan
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Why was Lungi Ngidi not allowed to bowl in the second Super Over?
South Africa went with Keshav Maharaj to bowl the second Super Over, having set Afghanistan 24 to win. It looked like a smart move after his first two balls produced a dot and a wicket, but Rahmanullah Gurbaz swung the game again by hitting three consecutive sixes. Lungi Ngidi, who had taken 3-26 in the main match, had bowled the first Super Over, and contained Afghanistan to 17.
Under the procedure set out in the playing conditions, however, he was not allowed to bowl the second Super Over. The conditions state: "Any bowler who bowled in the previous Super Over shall be ineligible to bowl in the subsequent Super Over."
Maharaj held his nerve in the end, despite bowling a wide in his first attempt at the finall ball of the match. Afghanistan were four runs short of South Africa's total at the end of their Super Over, and their path for Super Eight qualification now looks tricky.
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