LUCIA: South Africa maintained its unbeaten streak in the T20 World Cup with a close seven-run victory over England to top the Group 2 of the Super Eights stage.
With this win at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Friday, the Proteas recorded six consecutive wins in the mega tournament.
England faced a slow start in their run chase after losing key player Phil Salt early in the second over. Despite efforts from Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow to stabilize the innings, South African bowler Keshav Maharaj proved challenging for the English batters. Moeen Ali’s dismissal by Ottneil Baartman further increased the pressure on England as the run rate slowed down.
However, a spirited partnership between Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone revived England’s chase, with Brook taking on the South African bowlers aggressively while Livingstone contributed with crucial boundaries. Livingstone’s return to the pavilion after a quickfire 33 off 17 balls shifted the momentum back to South Africa, and despite Brook reaching his maiden T20 World Cup fifty, an outstanding catch by skipper Aiden Markram brought an end to his innings at 53 off 37 balls.
England concluded their innings at 156/6 in the allocated 20 overs, falling just short of the target.
Rabada and Maharaj claimed two wickets each for South Africa, restricting England’s scoring opportunities.
Batting first, South Africa posted a competitive total of 163/6. Despite a strong start with Quinton de Kock’s aggressive batting, South Africa faced a brief setback after losing quick wickets. David Miller’s rapid 43 and a solid partnership between De Kock and Klaasen contributed significantly to their total.
The match showcased an excellent all-round performance from both teams, with England’s fielding display earning praise despite the loss. The victory for South Africa puts them in a strong position for the semifinals, while England remains a formidable contender in the tournament.
In post-match discussions, South African skipper Markram expressed satisfaction with their performance, stating that they are on the right track despite minor shortcomings. Meanwhile, England captain Buttler credited De Kock’s impactful innings as the turning point of the game, acknowledging South Africa’s resilience in securing the victory.
