South Africa secured their spot in the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought three-wicket victory over West Indies on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in a crucial Super 8s clash. The match in Antigua served as a virtual quarter-final to determine the second team advancing from Group 2, following England’s earlier qualification.
Chasing a revised target of 123 runs from 17 overs due to rain interruptions, South Africa encountered early setbacks when Andre Russell struck twice early in their innings, reducing them to 15-2. However, they regrouped well after a lengthy rain delay of 75 minutes, returning to the field with renewed determination and swiftly regained control with a flurry of boundaries.
Despite a spirited effort from West Indies’ Roston Chase, who contributed with both bat and ball, South Africa held their nerve in the tense closing stages. Kagiso Rabada’s crucial boundary and Marco Jansen’s decisive six in the final over sealed the victory with five balls to spare, ensuring their top position in Group 2 standings.
With this win, South Africa will face the runners-up from Group 1 in the semi-finals, while England awaits their opponent based on India’s final position in the group, with semi-final matchups set for Thursday in Guyana and Trinidad respectively.
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