"Marco Jansen following in the footsteps of Mitch Starc" - Fans hail pacer for magnificent opening spell in 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final vs AFG

South African left-arm pacer Marco Jansen followed up on hitting the winning runs against the West Indies with a brilliant opening spell in the first semi-final of the 2024 T20 World Cup against Afghanistan in Trinidad on June 26. The 24-year-old entered the contest with only three wickets in the first seven games of the tournament.

However, he stepped up in the big game, removing Afghanistan's gun batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over for a 3-ball duck. Jansen continued questioning the Afghan batters with a brilliant delivery to clean up Gulbadin Naib off the third ball of his second over.

The tall left-hander finished his first spell with a third wicket off his final delivery to boast figures of 3/16 in three overs. Despite not being among the wickets until the ongoing clash, Jansen had an impressive economy rate of just over run-a-ball.

Fans on X/Twitter hailed Marco Jansen for his sensational opening burst with the following reactions:

The praises continued for Jansen, with one fan saying:

"Jansen breathing fire."

"Brutal from Jansen. 5-23 with a strangle down the leg side to nab Nangeyalia Kharote," said a fan.

"Geez! Jansen got a dinner date after this game? He’s flown out the blocks!" tweeted a fan.

Marco Jansen's brilliance propels South Africa to dominant bowling performance against Afghanistan

While Marco Jansen was breathing fire from his end, the other South African bowlers complimented him with an excellent showing. Fellow pacer Kagiso Rabada struck twice in his first over, cleaning up Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi in the fourth over of the innings. The twin strike reduced Afghanistan to a dismal 20/4 in four overs in the first semi-final.

The destruction from South Africa continued as Anrich Nortje struck in his first over to damage Afghanistan further as they found themselves at 29/6 in seven overs. Wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi was not to be left behind. He picked up two wickets off his first over to decimate Afghanistan to 50/8 in 10 overs.

Speedster Anrich Nortje also enjoyed himself with two wickets to cement the Proteas' ascendency and reduce Afghanistan to 53/9 in 11 overs. The bowling masterclass finally ended with Shamsi picking up his third wicket and finishing the Afghanistan innings for just 56 in the 12th over.

A win will be South Africa's first in a World Cup (ODIs and T20Is) semi-final in their history.