South Africa held off a late menace from co-hosts USA as they accomplished a nervy 18-run victory on the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua to kick off the Tremendous 8s stage of the Males’s T20 World Cup.
Chasing 195 for victory, USA’s Andries Gous (73) made a spectacular 33-ball fifty to offer his aspect hope of pulling off one other well-known victory, smashing three sixes within the 18th over to slash their required complete to twenty-eight from 12 balls.
Nevertheless, the South African-born Gous was unable to get his aspect over the road after some tight bowling from Kagiso Rabada (3-18) and Anrich Nortje (1-37) on the demise held them to 176-6.
Earlier, South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (74) smashed seven boundaries and 5 sixes throughout his outing, hitting his highest rating of the match as he shared a terrific second-wicket partnership value 110 runs alongside his captain Aiden Markram (46).
Heinrich Klaasen (36no) and Tristan Stubbs (20no) shared an unbeaten 53-run partnership to hassle the co-hosts even additional and assist South Africa submit 194-4.
USA’s left-arm bowler Saurabh Netravalkar (2-21), who bowled the well-known Tremendous Over throughout their historic victory in opposition to Pakistan, and spinner Harmeet Singh (2-24) each picked up two wickets apiece however had been unable to totally remove the specter of South Africa’s large hitters.
The victory means South Africa transfer to the highest of Group 2 with two factors with USA behind in second place.
USA showcase underdog brilliance
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The most effective moments of Andries Gous’ very good 80 off 47 in opposition to South Africa within the T20 World Cup
Gous shared a superb sixth-wicket partnership with Harmeet Singh value 91-runs because the USA punished South Africa’s bowlers and pulled their aspect from a worrying 76-5 to a commendable 176-6.
The co-hosts confirmed clear intent to chase down South Africa’s complete when opener Steven Taylor (24) dispatched the primary ball of the innings previous backward level for 4.
Quick bowler Kagiso Rabada eliminated Taylor with a back-of-a-length supply that was caught at mid-off by Klaasen, earlier than he struck once more in his following over to dismiss Nitish Kumar (8) and depart USA 53-2 by the top of the powerplay.
USA stand-in captain Aaron Jones was eliminated for a duck after he edged behind to De Kock, while Anrich Nortje crushed Corey Anderson’s (12) leg stump with a brillant fuller ball.
Tabraiz Shamsi (1-50) made a direct influence by trapping Shayan Jahangir (3) lbw to go away USA on 76-5 however courageous and daring batting from Gous noticed the co-hosts edge near the victory line.
Gous smashed 5 boundaries and the identical quantity of sixes as he dragged his aspect to 167 however the wicket of Harmeet Singh (38), who labored a full toss from Rabada to mid-wicket the place he was caught, stunted USA’s move.
Needing 26 runs from the ultimate over, a win was nonetheless potential however after Gous and Jasdeep solely managed two singles and Nortje bowled a dot ball, victory was all however South Africa’s.
De Kock shines for South Africa
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South Africa’s Quinton de Kock places the USA underneath strain after smashing 5 large sixes
Earlier, South Africa motored to 56-1 by the top of the powerplay as their high order batters made a welcome return to kind with De Kock hitting seamer Jasdeep Singh (0-36) for 3 consecutives sixes within the fourth over.
Netravalkar made an early breakthrough after Reeza Hendricks (11) top-edged to mid-off the place he was caught by Corey Anderson within the third over. Nevertheless, it wasn’t till the thirteenth over that the co-hosts struck once more which allowed the Proteas to construct from 16-1 to 126-1.
USA’s bowlers struggled to search out solutions to the fluent batting produced from Markram and De Kock with the latter scoring a 26-ball half-century after sweeping Harmeet to deep backward sq. leg.
Harmeet received his revenge when he took two wickets in the identical quantity of balls, together with the prized scalp of De Kock who was caught at cow nook by Shayan Jahangir.
David Miller (0) was caught and bowled for a golden duck by Harmeet to go away South Africa on 126-3 and supply the associates some reprieve.
Netravalkar eradicated the specter of Markram who smashed a full and vast ball to backward level however was unable to beat a superb diving catch from Ali-Khan leaving South Africa 141-4.
Heinrich Klaasen (36no) and Tristan Stubbs (20no) shared an unbeaten 53-run partnership on the demise to hassle the co-hosts even additional with the latter signing off South Africa’s innings in fashion with a scoop shot over Gous’s head for 4.
Jones: Defeat laborious to take
USA captain Aaron Jones:
“I don’t want to say I am disappointed but it is hard to take the defeat after getting so close. I thought we could have been more disciplined bowling-wise but that’s how it goes sometimes.
“We’ll return to the drafting board and are available laborious. We’ve plenty of expertise and after we play good cricket we are able to beat any workforce on the earth.”
Markram: South Africa will learn their lessons
South Africa skipper Aiden Markram:
“I’m fairly proud of the efficiency as an entire. Thought [our] plans had been good. Perhaps a few overs we may have tightened up and the outcome may look a bit extra convincing.
“You take the lessons and hopefully going forward we get those stages right.
“Just a few executions allow us to down but when a workforce is making 170 with a brief boundary and a robust wind on an excellent pitch then I feel your bowlers have accomplished a reasonably good job.”
Catch every match from the T20 World Cup, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports.
What’s next?
South Africa head to Saint Lucia for their clash against defending champions England on Friday 21 June (3.30pm UK and Ireland), while USA go to Barbados for their meeting against co-hosts West Indies on Saturday 22 June (1.30pm UK and Ireland).
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