South Africa withstood a late threat from co-hosts USA with a nervy 18-run victory at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium to kick off the Super 8 stage of the Men’s T20 World Cup .
Chasing 195 for victory, American Andries Gous (73) made a spectacular 33-ball fifty to give his team hope of another famous victory, smashing three sixes in the 18th over to reduce the total required at 28 from 12 balls.
However, South Africa-born Gous failed to get his team over the line after some tight throws from Kagiso Rabada (3-18) and Anrich Nortje (1-37) at the death which held them to 176-6.
Earlier, South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (74) smashed seven boundaries and five sixes in his outing, hitting his highest score of the tournament as he shared a terrific second-wicket partnership worth 110 runs alongside his captain Aiden Markram (46).
Heinrich Klaasen (36no) and Tristan Stubbs (20no) shared an unbeaten 53-run partnership to further trouble the co-hosts and help South Africa post a score of 194-4.
American left-arm bowler Saurabh Netravalkar (2-21), who took the famous Super Over in their historic victory against Pakistan, and spinner Harmeet Singh (2-24) both took two wickets each but did not have failed to completely eliminate the threat of South Africa’s big hitters.
This victory allows South Africa to move to the top of Group 2 with two points, behind the United States in second place.
USA Showcases Its Underdog Talent
Gous shared a brilliant sixth-wicket partnership with Harmeet Singh worth 91 runs as the USA punished the South African bowlers and took their team from a worrying 76-5 to a commendable 176- 6.
The co-hosts made it clear they intended to reduce South Africa’s total when opener Steven Taylor (24) sent the first ball of the innings past backward point for four runs.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada removed Taylor with a back length delivery which was caught at mid-off by Klaasen, before striking again in his follow-up to dismiss Nitish Kumar (8) and leave the United States 53-2 at the end. of the power play.
United States stand-in captain Aaron Jones was out for a duck after edging De Kock, while Anrich Nortje crushed the leg stump of Corey Anderson (12) with a brilliant fuller ball.
Tabraiz Shamsi (1-50) made an immediate impact by trapping Shayan Jahangir (3) lbw to leave USA on 76-5, but Gous’ courageous and daring batting saw the co-hosts inch closer to the line of victory.
Gous smashed five boundaries and the same number of sixes in dragging his team to 167, but the wicket of Harmeet Singh (38), who bowled a full toss off Rabada to mid-wicket where he was caught, delayed the flow from the United States.
Needing 26 runs from the final over, a victory was still possible, but after Gous and Jasdeep managed just two singles and Nortje bowled a dot ball, victory was almost South Africa’s.
De Kock shines for South Africa
Earlier, South Africa moved to 56-1 at the end of the powerplay as their top-order batters made a welcome return to form with De Kock hitting seamer Jasdeep Singh (0-36) for three sixes consecutive in fourth.
Netravalkar made an early breakthrough after Reeza Hendricks (11) took over at mid-off where he was caught by Corey Anderson at third over. However, it was only in the 13th over that the co-hosts struck again, which saw the Proteas go from 16-1 to 126-1.
The American bowlers struggled to find answers to the flowing strikes produced by Markram and De Kock, the latter scoring a 26-ball half-century after sweeping Harmeet to deep square leg.
Harmeet took his revenge by taking two wickets in the same number of balls, including the valuable scalp of De Kock which was caught at cow corner by Shayan Jahangir.
David Miller (0) was caught and bowled for a golden duck by Harmeet to leave South Africa on 126-3 and provide a reprieve for the Associates.
Netravalkar removed the threat from Markram who smashed a wide, full ball backwards, but could not beat a brilliant diving catch from Ali-Khan, leaving South Africa 141-4.
Heinrich Klaasen (36no) and Tristan Stubbs (20no) shared an unbeaten 53-run partnership at the death to further trouble the co-hosts, the latter signing off South Africa’s innings in style with a scoop shot at the over Gous’ head for four.
Jones: Defeat is hard to take
American captain Aaron Jones:
“I don’t want to say I’m disappointed, but it’s hard to accept defeat after coming so close. I thought we could have been more disciplined bowling-wise, but that’s how it goes Sometimes.
“We are going to go back to the drawing board and go hard. We have a lot of talent and when we play good cricket we can beat any team in the world.”
Markram: South Africa will learn lessons
South African skipper Aiden Markram:
“I’m pretty happy with the performance overall. I thought (our) plans were good. Maybe we could have tightened up a few overs and the result might look a little more convincing.
“You take the lessons and hopefully in the future we will succeed in these steps.
“A few runs let us down, but if a team makes 170 with a short boundary and strong wind on a good pitch, then I think your bowlers have done a very good job.”
Watch every T20 World Cup match, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports.
And after?
South Africa will travel to Saint Lucia to face reigning champions England on Friday June 21 (3:30 p.m. UK and Ireland), while UNITED STATES will travel to Barbados for their encounter against co-hosts West Indies on Saturday June 22 (1:30 p.m. UK and Ireland).
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