South Africa beats Afghanistan after a dramatic tiebreaker at T20 World Cup. Australia beats Ireland

AHMEDABAD, India — South Africa survived a nerve-shredding finish to edge Afghanistan in a double tiebreaker on Wednesday night, keeping their Twenty20 World Cup campaign intact in front of a captivated crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

After both sides finished level on runs in regulation and again in the first Super Over, the contest was ultimately settled in a second Super Over that saw Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj hold his composure under immense pressure. Maharaj’s calm execution sealed the win and sent South Africa into the next phase, while Afghanistan were left to rue what might have been in one of the tournament’s most gripping encounters.

Earlier in the day, Australia cruised past Ireland to claim their own place in the knockout rounds, adding another layer of intrigue to a group that has already delivered its share of surprises.

The back-to-back thrillers underline the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket and set the stage for a dramatic conclusion to the Super 12 stage.