Undefeated South Africa on Friday pulled off a seven-run win over defending champions England in the Super Eight playoffs at the T20 World Cup.
Harry Brook, who made 53, and Liam Livingstone, with 33 off 17 deliveries, had the chase in control for England with 25 needed off 18 balls until fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje dismissed them in the last three overs.
England were restricted to 156-6 in reply to South Africa’s 163-6.
Photo: AP
“Getting to those last three overs, the odds looked heavily against you, but the bowlers came back,” South Africa captain Aiden Markram said. “It shows a lot of skill and shows the fight inside.”
Quinton de Kock finished with 65 as he smacked the tournament’s joint-fastest half-century off 22 balls, while David Miller provided the impetus in the latter half of South Africa’s innings with 43 off 28.
South Africa’s win streak was extended to six games and they are a firm favorite for the semi-finals after two wins in two matches in their group.
Photo: AFP
England suffered their first loss in the Super Eight after they beat the West Indies by eight wickets at the same venue.
Earlier, De Kock dominated South Africa’s powerplay and had them motoring along at 63-0 before England pulled them back through spinners Adil Rashid (1-20) and Moeen Ali (1-25).
De Kock put fast bowler Jofra Archer on the mat early with two successive sixes in a 21-run over. He was given a life on 58 when video replays suggested that Mark Wood’s fingers were not underneath the catch. The decision left England players fuming.
In the evening match, Shai Hope hit 82 from 39 deliveries as the Windies beat the US by nine wickets in a match between the cohosts in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Hope struck eight sixes as the West Indies ran down their winning target of 129 with more than nine overs to spare.
He finished the chase with a six from the fifth ball of the 11th over.
Along with his eight sixes, he also struck four fours.
The West Indies had to win to stay in semi-final contention.
The US surprised the cricket world by beating Pakistan on the way to the Super Eight playoffs, but after losses to South Africa and the West Indies in the playoff stage now cannot reach the final four.
“This is my favorite place to play cricket,” Chase said. “I’m from Barbados, so I grew up playing a lot of cricket here. It’s our destiny and our goal to go out there and win this World Cup.”
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