In a gripping encounter at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, South Africa held their nerve to clinch a crucial victory over the West Indies, booking their spot in the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Despite a tense finish, the Proteas emerged victorious with five balls to spare, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the tournament.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, South Africa got off to a strong start when Marco Jansen dismissed Shai Hope for a golden duck in the opening over. The Proteas continued to apply pressure, although a missed chance off Roston Chase allowed the West Indies to recover briefly, reaching 47/2 after six overs thanks to contributions from Kyle Mayers and Chase.
However, South Africa regained control as wickets fell at crucial intervals, with Tabraiz Shamsi and Kagiso Rabada making significant breakthroughs. Andre Russell’s late fireworks, including two massive sixes, pushed the West Indies to a competitive total of 135/8 from their allotted 20 overs.
In response, South Africa began their chase aggressively, with Quinton de Kock leading the charge until his dismissal by Russell. Rain interruptions added drama to the match, with the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method revising South Africa’s target to 123 runs from 17 overs.
Despite losing key wickets at crucial moments, Tristan Stubbs and Heinrich Klaason kept the Proteas’ chase on track. Stubbs, in particular, played a pivotal role with a steady 29 off 27 balls. With the match hanging in the balance in the final over, Marco Jansen stepped up, smashing a crucial boundary and a decisive six off Obed McCoy’s bowling to seal victory for South Africa.
The win saw South Africa finish the group stage with a perfect record of seven wins from seven matches, underscoring their determination and resilience in tight situations. They now advance confidently to the semifinals, aiming to continue their impressive run in the tournament.
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The Proteas’ ability to navigate challenging moments and capitalize on key opportunities proved decisive against a spirited West Indies side, highlighting their credentials as strong contenders for the T20 World Cup title.
