SA score thrilling win over Windies, make T20 WC semis

Images from the T20 World Cup Super Eight Group 2 match between the West Indies and South Africa, in Antigua.

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South Africa pulled off a thrilling three-wicket victory over the West Indies via the Duckworth Lewis method in a rain-affected Super 8 Group 2 match of the T20 World Cup to snatch a berth in the semi-finals, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, in North Sound, Antigua, on Monday.

Put in to bat, the West Indies rode on Roston Chase's 52 off 42 balls after a bad start to post 135 for 8.

In reply, South Africa were 15 for 2 in two overs when rain stopped play.

The match was truncated by three overs, South Africa being set a revised target of 123 in 17.

The Proteas chased that target down in 16.1 overs to knock the co-hosts out and qualify for the last four stage unbeaten, winning seven from seven.

South Africa, in pursuit of 136, lost openers Reeza Hendricks (0) and Quinton de Kock (12) for only 15 before heavy rain stopped proceedings.

Star all-rounder Andre Russell (2/3) removed both. In the process, he became the West Indies' highest wicket-taker with 29 wickets across all editions of the T20 World Cup, eclipsing Dwayne Bravo, who had 27 scalps.

Russell bowled the second over, got a faint leg side edge off Reeza Hendricks and had him caught behind by Bicholas Pooran.

He finished the over with the crucial wicket of Quinton de Kock, who holed out to Sherfane Rutherford at deep backward square leg.

Par score at the five-over mark was 37 runs and the Proteas arrived there at 41/2, thanks to back-to-back boundaries from Tristan Stubbs in the fifth over.

Alzarri Joseph struck with just his second delivery, forcing a mistimed drive from Aiden Markram (18 off 15), providing the hosts much hope.

But an expensive over from Gudakesh Motie, four boundaries for 20 runs, tipped the scales back in South Africa’s favour as Stubbs and Heinrich Klaason launched an assault.

Joseph then removed Klaason (22 off 10), but Stubbs’s presence make it look comfortable for the Proteas, until the right-hander tried to go over long-on and was out for 29 off 27.

Roston Chase then stepped in and took two wickets for six runs off two overs, giving the West Indies a slim chance at the death.,/P>

When Joseph bowled the third-last over, the requirement became 13 off 12.

With the match again on a knife’s edge, Marco Jansen and Rabada - the two that earlier collided in the field - were the cricketers at the crease looking to become the heroes. A crucial boundary on the seventh-last ball got the requirement to five from six, with Obed McCoy then stepping up to bowl the final over.

Jansen swung with everything he had off the first delivery. The all-rounder smashed one back over McCoy’s head, which cleared the rope and sealed victory for the Proteas, with five balls to spare.

Earlier, Tabraiz Shamsi led South Africa's fine bowling performance as they dismissed the West Indies cheaply.

The left-arm wrist spinner took three wickets for 27 runs as the co-hosts were restricted to 135 for 8.

Roston Chase's 52 off 42 balls was the only bright spark in the West Indies innings.

South Africa won the toss and decided to field first.

It was a must-win match for both teams as only one of them could join England in the semi-finals.

As expected, skipper Aiden Markram handed Marco Jansen the new ball and the pacer immediately struck, having Shai Hope caught by Tristan Stubbs for a first-ball duck.

In the next over, Markram decided to bowl himself and tasted success, tempting Nicholas Pooran, who skied one down the ground and Jansen took a well-judged catch.

Jansen should have had another wicket in his second over.

Roston Chase hit a delivery high, but Anrich Nortje was unable to hold on to a tough chance.

The batter made the best of the 'life' and he and opener Kyle Myers launched a fightback, his six off the last ball of the sixth over taking the West Indies to 47 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.

Another Mayers six in the eighth over proved costly for the Proteas, as Jansen and Kagiso Rabada collided awkwardly, both attempting to take the catch on the boundary. 

Play was briefly halted as Jansen appeared to be badly hurt. He was taken off. Till the collision Rabada did not bowl.

Mayers and Chase took the West Indies to 62 for 2 by the end of the tenth over.

Their partnership ended at the fag end of the 12th, as Mayers was out for 35 off 34 balls, caught by Stubbs off the bowling of Shamsi.

Thereafter, South Africa were in control as Rovman Powell (1 off 2) and Sherfane Rutherford (0 off 4) fell in consecutive overs, before Shamsi ejected Chase (52 off 42, including 3 fours and 2 sixes) at the start of the 16th over.

Russell came in and hit two huge sixes in the 17th over before attempting a quick  single and was run-out by Nortje, just short of his crease.

That dismissal, in a way, saw Nortje make up for dropping Chase.

Rabada was handed the ball in the 18th over and did well to have Akeal Hosein caught and bowled.

Alzarri Joseph, hit Rabada for a six, while scoring 11 off 7, as the West Indies finished with 135 for 8, 11 runs coming off the final over.