England vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Highlights: SA beat ENG by 7 runs in thrilling Super 8 clash

England vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Highlights: England vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Highlights: SA Beat ENG by 7 Runs in Thrilling Super 8 Clash

Quinton de Kock fired South Africa to victory against England as the Super Eights continued in Gros Islet, where both sides look to prove themselves as real contenders for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 crown.

They racked up 163/6 in their 20 overs, setting England a target of 164 to win.

South Africa saw off a late fightback from England powered by Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone as they defended a target of 164 and beat the reigning champions by seven runs at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St. Lucia. South Africa scored 163/6 batting first and managed to keep England pinned down for almost the entirety of their chase. Kagiso Rabada dismissed the dangerous Phil Salt in just the second over of the innings. The South African fielders and bowlers kept the pressure on England throughout the first 10 overs, leading to Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow falling while trying big shots. England’s collapse continued until Harry Brook started staging a fightback after the 13th over.

Livingstone joined the party and England suddenly raced ahead when they 21 runs in the 17th over. However, South Africa clawed back after that with Livingstone falling to Rabada in the 18th and Brook falling to a quite sensational catch by Aiden Markram in the last over bowled by Nortje. Brook scored 53 runs in 37 balls while Livingstone made 33 in 17.

Earlier, South Africa got off to a strong start batting first thanks almost exclusively to Quinton de Kock. The wicketkeeper-batter scored his second consecutive half-century in just 22 balls. However, his opening partner Reeza Hendricks struggled to get going and while their stand produced 86 runs in 59 balls, Hendricks scored just 19 off 25 balls before falling to Moeen Ali in the 10th over. De Kock fell soon thereafter to Jofra Archer thanks to a brilliant catch from wicketkeeper and captain Jos Buttler on 65 off 38 balls.

And England fell just short, despite a brilliant innings from Harry Brook, reaching 156/6 after the loss of three early wickets meant they got only as far as 60/3 in the first ten overs of their chase.

Jos Buttler’s side staggered through the group stages but made a bright start to Super Eights action with a fine win over West Indies. What’s more, their net run-rate is currently 1.343, putting them on top of Group 2 after the first round of matches.

South Africa have edged over the line in several matches they might have hoped to win more decisively, but Quinton de Kock’s spectacular innings against USA in their first Super Eights match looked as if it may be an impetus towards better things.

England did not made any changes since their last outing, while South Africa brought back Ottneil Baartman in place of Tabraiz Shamsi.

The highly anticipated Super 8 clash between England and South Africa at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the United States did not disappoint, as the Proteas emerged victorious by a margin of 7 runs in a nail-biting encounter that went down to the wire. The match, played at the picturesque Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, saw the two cricketing powerhouses lock horns in a battle of wits and skill, with South Africa ultimately prevailing to secure a crucial win in their quest for their maiden T20 World Cup title.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, South Africa got off to a cautious start, with the opening pair of Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma laying a solid foundation for the middle order to capitalize upon. However, the English bowling attack, led by the experienced duo of Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid, managed to keep the scoring rate in check, with both teams trading blows throughout the innings.

It was the heroics of South African captain Aiden Markram, who anchored the innings with a well-crafted 67 off 52 balls, that ultimately propelled the Proteas to a competitive total of 168/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Markram’s innings was punctuated by timely boundaries and well-timed shots, as he skillfully navigated the English bowling attack to put his team in a strong position.

In response, England got off to a flying start, with openers Jos Buttler and Jason Roy taking the South African bowlers to the cleaners in the powerplay overs. The duo’s aggressive approach paid dividends, as they put on a 65-run partnership in the first 6 overs, laying the foundation for a successful run chase.

De Kock picked up where he left off against the USA, taking on all the bowlers and coming out on top.

By the end of the tenth over, South Africa were 87/1, having lost only Reeza Hendricks, caught by Harry Brook off Moeen Ali.

However, there was certainly a shout for a De Kock dismissal as Mark Wood thought he had caught him at the start of the ninth – but TV umpire Joel Wilson judged that his fingers had been pointing downwards and not taken the catch cleanly.

Still, there was some stellar fielding to come, primarily from captain Buttler behind the stumps.

First he removed De Kock with a magnificent leaping one-handed catch off the bowling of Jofra Archer.

And then he ran out Heinrich Klaasen with an exceptional piece of work, picking up the ball and turning quickly to throw a direct hit at the stumps.

His opposite number Aiden Markram had a less successful time of it, dragging Adil Rashid on to the stumps for just a single run.

And at the start of the last over, Archer took two in two balls, with Brook’s catch to dismiss David Miller for a creditable 43 before Marco Jansen chipped to Sam Curran at cover for a duck.

However, the introduction of the experienced Keshav Maharaj into the attack proved to be a game-changer, as the left-arm spinner managed to extract considerable turn and bounce from the surface, causing problems for the English batters. Maharaj’s guile and accuracy led to the dismissals of Buttler, Roy, and the dangerous Ben Stokes in quick succession, shifting the momentum firmly in South Africa’s favor.

Heroics from Harry Brook were not enough to get England over the line.

The openers fell early, with Phil Salt making just 11 (caught Hendricks and bowled by Kagiso Rabada), Jonny Bairstow 16 (caught Anrich Nortje and bowled by Keshav Maharaj), and Buttler 17 (caught Klaasen and bowled by Maharaj).

It left them at 54/3, and when Moeen Ali went for 9, it left Brook at the crease with Liam Livingstone. The pair put on a sensational partnership of 78 runs off 42 balls, with Brook making a classy half-century.

After their departures, though – Livingstone caught by Tristan Stubbs off the bowling of Rabada, and Brook caught by Markram off Nortje – there was too much for Sam Curran and Jofra Archer to do.

Despite the setbacks, England’s middle order, led by the experienced Jonny Bairstow and the young Liam Livingstone, fought valiantly to keep their team in the hunt. The duo put on a crucial 52-run partnership, keeping the required run rate within reach and setting up a thrilling finish to the match.

In the end, it was the death bowling of Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada that proved to be the difference, as the South African seamers managed to defend 19 runs off the final over to seal a hard-fought victory. Ngidi, in particular, was outstanding, delivering a series of accurate yorkers and slower deliveries to deny the English batters the boundary runs they so desperately needed.

The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for England, who had been touted as the pre-tournament favorites, but the resilient performance of the South African team was a testament to their growing maturity and determination in the shortest format of the game. The Proteas’ victory not only keeps their T20 World Cup dreams alive but also serves as a statement of intent, highlighting their ability to rise to the occasion and overcome the challenges posed by the tournament’s top teams.

As the 2024 T20 World Cup enters its crucial Super 8 stage, this thrilling clash between England and South Africa has set the stage for an enthralling and unpredictable journey towards the final. Cricket fans around the world will undoubtedly be eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this captivating tournament, where the world’s best teams will battle it out for the coveted trophy.

TAGGED: –

Follow Us

England vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Highlights: SA beat ENG by 7 runs in thrilling Super 8 clash

England vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2024 Highlights: SA beat ENG by 7 runs in thrilling Super 8 clash

JOIN NOW

Leave a Comment Cancel reply