Who writes these scripts? Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, the same duo which had collided during the West Indies innings leading to the latter getting injured, got together to win it for South Africa with the bat. What's more, it was the injured Jansen who sealed the deal with a six, to take the Proteas into the semi-finals of ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on Monday, June 24. (Highlights | Scorecard | Full Coverage)
Chasing a revised target of 123 runs in 17 overs after rain lashed Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, South Africa scraped home in the last over thanks to Marco Jansen's stunning strike off West Indies' Obed McCoy.
The surface in Antigua favoured spin big time, so much so that Rabada ended up bowling just two overs in the West Indies innings. Instead, it was spinners Tabraiz Shamsi (3/27), Keshav Maharaj (1/24) and Proteas skipper Aiden Markram (1/28), who led the way and limited the Windies to an eminently gettable total of 135 for 8.
In response, South Africa stuttered majorly before finally achieving the revised target of 123 with five balls and three wickets to spare. With this dramatic win, Aiden Markram and Co finished as Group 1 toppers, followed by defending champions England as the second semi-finalist from it.
The Proteas were in a spot of bother at 15/2 in two overs, when rain stopped play. Attacking young batter Tristan Stubbs (29 off 27 balls), along with Heinrich Klaasen (22 off 10 balls) set up the chase for the South Africans. But it was derailed by a West Indian with 'Chase' in his name - off-spinner Roston, who finished with figures of 3-12 in three overs to give the Caribbean side a real shot at victory.
But Jansen (21 not out off 14 balls) had other ideas. His six down the ground off the first ball of the 17th over sparked awe and joy in equal measure, as the South Africans erupted over the thrilling victory. The match was a virtual quarter-final, and certainly lived up to its billing.
Earlier, Chase starred with the bat too, scoring 52 runs off 42 balls to help the West Indies get to a respectable total. West Indies seemed set for a much bigger total, but SA skipper Markram's planning was impeccable and Kagiso Rabada was only brought into the attack in the 18th over.
Andre Russell, who smashed a couple of sixes off Anrich Nortje, could have inflicted more damage but a direct throw from the bowler during a Rabada over found the all-rounder short of his ground and ended the hosts' chances of crossing the 150-run mark.
Playing XIs
West Indies: Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Rovman Powell (c), Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie.
South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
South Africa, thus enter the semi-finals unbeaten and on a seven-win streak, while West Indies bow out with two losses and one win in the Super 8s.
