De Villiers delivers to put South Africa in semis

Stand-in skipper AB de Villiers led by example as South Africa eliminated England to reach the World Twenty20 semi-finals with a three-run victory in a Group One match in Chittagong on Saturday.

- PHOTOS: South Africa knock England out of World T20

Leading the side in absence of Faf du Plessis, who served a one match suspension for the team's second slow over rate offence in 12 months, de Villiers struck 69 not out off 28 deliveries to fire his team to 196 for five, the highest score so far in this year's tournament.

De Villiers, unfurled his whole range of cheeky shots to frequently defy the English field setting in his unbeaten 28-ball blitz that contained three sixes and nine fours.

He then returned to marshal his bowlers who restricted England to 193 for seven for a win that snuffed out 2010 champions England's last four prospects at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

"It was important for the team to go through to the semis and get him (du Plessis) back and pumped-up for the next game," man-of-the-match de Villiers said at the presentation ceremony.

"It was important to show a bit of passion ... we are a proud nation and those things come naturally to us."