In a match filled with drama and action, South Africa edged out the West Indies by three wickets in the Super 8 of the T20 World Cup, held at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua on Monday. This victory secured South Africa's spot in the Semi finals while ending the World Cup journey for the Caribbean team.
South Africa's captain, Aiden Markram, won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Protea bowlers quickly put the West Indies on the back foot. In the very first over, bowler Johnson dismissed Shai Hope for a duck. The next over saw Andre Russell fall, with Markram sending the in-form Nicholas Pooran back to the pavilion after he scored just one run. The early pressure proved too much for the Caribbean team to overcome.
Despite the early setbacks, opener Kyle Mayers scored 35 runs, and middle-order batsman Roston Chase contributed a half-century, scoring 52 runs. However, the West Indies could only muster a total of 135 for eight at the end of their 20 overs. The score could have been much lower if not for a brief but crucial partnership between Russell and Alzarri Joseph towards the end of their innings.
The West Indies' batting lineup struggled throughout, with six of their batsmen failing to reach double figures. Two batsmen were dismissed for zero runs, and two others only managed to score one run each. South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi was particularly effective, taking three key wickets. Johnson, Markram, and Keshav Maharaj each claimed one wicket, further restricting the West Indies' score.
When it was South Africa's turn to bat, the drama intensified. Both openers were dismissed in the second over. Then, rain interrupted play for over an hour, reducing the match to 17 overs and setting a revised target of 123 runs for South Africa.
Markram, Tristan Stubbs, and Heinrich Klaasen helped South Africa recover from their shaky start. However, the match took another dramatic turn when David Miller was dismissed, rekindling hopes for the West Indies. With five runs needed off the last six balls, Johnson ended the suspense by hitting a massive six off Obed McCoy's first delivery, securing South Africa's victory and their place in the finals. Johnson's vital 21 runs off 14 balls were instrumental in the win.
Tabraiz Shamsi was named the man of the match for his outstanding bowling performance. South Africa, now with six points, advanced to the Semi finals as the best team in their group, keeping their dreams of a World Cup title alive.
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