SA Edges Closer to T20 WC Semis with Thrilling Win Over England

Aiden Markram-led South Africa moved a step closer to the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 after defeating England by seven runs in the Super Eight match at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.

During the run chase, Philip Salt (11 runs from 8 balls, 1 four, and 1 six) and skipper Jos Buttler (17 runs from 20 balls, 1 four) opened for England. However, their partnership lasted for just 15 runs as Kagiso Rabada dismissed Salt in the second over.

Jonny Bairstow (16 runs from 20 balls, 1 four) replaced Salt but failed to make a significant impact, falling to Keshav Maharaj in the seventh over. Buttler was dismissed in the ninth over by Maharaj, leaving England struggling to form strong partnerships.

Proteas pacer Ottneil Baartman quickly removed Moeen Ali (9 runs from 10 balls) in the 11th over, further weakening England’s batting lineup. However, Harry Brook (53 runs from 37 balls, 7 fours) and Liam Livingstone (33 runs from 17 balls, 3 fours, and 2 sixes) built a solid 78-run partnership, reviving England’s hopes.

Rabada broke this crucial partnership by dismissing Livingstone in the 18th over. Brook reached his fifty in the 19th over, keeping England in the game. In the final over, with England needing 14 runs to win, Anrich Nortje took the critical wicket of Brook on the first ball, caught by Markram.

Nortje successfully defended the 14 runs, restricting England to 156/6, thus maintaining South Africa’s unbeaten streak in the tournament. Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj led the Proteas bowling attack, each taking two wickets, while Ottneil Baartman and Anrich Nortje picked up one wicket each.

Earlier, England won the toss and chose to bowl first. South Africa’s openers, Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock, gave a steady start, bringing up the team’s fifty in just five overs. De Kock reached his fifty in the seventh over, but Hendricks was dismissed for 19 runs in the 10th over.

After De Kock (65 runs from 38 balls) was dismissed by Jofra Archer in the 12th over, South Africa struggled to maintain momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals. David Miller’s 43 runs off 28 balls provided some stability, but Archer’s double strike in the final over curtailed South Africa’s innings at 163/6.

Jofra Archer was the standout bowler for England, taking three wickets for 40 runs in his four overs. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid also chipped in with a wicket each.

Brief score: South Africa 163/6 (Quinton de Kock 65, David Miller 43, Reeza Hendricks 19; Jofra Archer 3/40) beat England 156/6 (Harry Brook 53, Liam Livingstone 33, Jos Buttler 17; Keshav Maharaj 2/25).