South Africa have made their way through to the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024. The Proteas knocked out co-hosts West Indies after winning by 3 wickets (DLS) at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. In a rain-curtailed match, Aiden Markram’s men held their nerves and chased down a revised target of 123 with 5 balls to spare in a thriller that went right down to the last over. It’s also the third time that South Africa qualified for the semis of the tournament after 2009 and 2014.
Having won their seventh win in a row, South Africa also finished their Super 8 on top of the Group 2 table. The Caribbean team, on the other hand, won all their Group C matches, after which they beat the United States by 9 wickets. But they would be gutted after failing to step up against the Proteas in the virtual quarterfinal.
After being asked to bat first, West Indies got off to a horrendous start as Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran departed early with the score at 5 for 2 in 1.1 overs. From there on, Kyle Mayers, who replaced Johnson Charles, and Roston Chase restored sanity with a partnership of 81 runs off 10.5 overs. Mayers looked promising in his 35-run knock before Tabraiz Shamsi accounted for his wicket.
Chase, on the other hand, brought up his half-century off 39 balls. But just when he needed to step on the gas, Shamsi accounted for his wicket. The Caribbean team found itself in a hole after skipper Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford faltered. Andre Russell and Alzarri Joseph played cameos of 15 and 11, helping West Indies post 135 for 8.
Shamsi, who was brought in as a replacement for Ottneil Baartman, was the pick of the bowlers for the Proteas after he finished with figures of 4-0-27-3. Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada got one wicket apiece. Rabada was introduced as late as in the 18th over, and he responded with the wicket of Akeal Hosein.
Jansen plays a short yet priceless cameo
South Africa did not get off a pleasant start as Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock perished cheaply. Dee Kock started with 3 fours, but could not carry on. Russell made sure that West Indies made inroads into the opposition batting line-up. Rain threatened to play spoilsport, but only 3 overs were reduced from the run-chase.
Markram tried to put his head down before Alzarri Joseph dismissed him for 18. Heinrich Klaasen tried to play the big shots and scored 22 off 10 balls. Yet again, Joseph chipped in and removed the dangerman. With 33 runs needed off 39 deliveries and Tristan Stubbs in the middle, the Proteas were cruising. But after Stubbs departed for 29, the Proteas looked jittery.
But Jansen’s vital cameo of 21 off 14 balls took South Africa home in 16.1 overs. The right-handed batter smashed Obed McCoy down the ground for a six to bring the curtains down on the match.
Source: India Today
--Agencies
