"Emotional down here" - Dale Steyn after South Africa beat Afghanistan in T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final
Former South African paceman Dale Steyn said he turned emotional as the Proteas made it to their first-ever World Cup final. The retired cricketer took to X and expressed his hysteria after the national men's team's stellar outing in the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final against Afghanistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
With the Proteas up against Afghanistan in the first semi-final, the seamers hardly allowed any breathing space to the opposition after Rashid Khan won the toss and elected to bat first. In an innings that lasted only 11.5 overs, the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Anrich Nortje ran riot to bowl Afghanistan out for 56.
Steyn took to X and tweeted after their nine-wicket win:
"It’s emotional down here. We’re into a final."
Marco Jansen earned the Player of the Match award for his figures of 3-0-16-3. While South Africa lost Quinton de Kock early, Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks were in no mood to have another twist as the duo needed only 8.5 overs to complete the run-chase with nine wickets to spare. In the process, Markram and his men increased their unbeaten streak in the tournament to eight matches.
Dale Steyn suffered a heartbreak during the 2015 World Cup semi-final
Steyn has been part of a handful of South Africa's World Cup campaigns. However, arguably the biggest heartbreak came during the 2015 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Auckland. With the Black Caps needing 12 off the final over of their run-chase and five in the last two deliveries, Grant Elliot hit Steyn for a six over long-on to fashion a famous win for the hosts. The Proteas lost to Australia in the final.
South Africa will face either England or India in the 2024 T20 World Cup final on Saturday, June 29, at Bridgetown, Barbados. While England and India have won the T20 World Cup, the Proteas are yet to do so.