South Africa Survive USA Scare in Thrilling T20 World Cup Clash
In a nail-biting encounter, South Africa held off a late surge from co-hosts USA to secure an 18-run victory in the Super 8s stage of the Men’s T20 World Cup at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
Chasing a formidable target of 195, USA’s Andries Gous (73 off 33) ignited hopes of an upset with a spectacular half-century, smashing three sixes in the 18th over to bring the required total down to 28 from the final 12 balls. However, the South African-born Gous couldn’t get his side across the line as Kagiso Rabada (3-18) and Anrich Nortje (1-37) held their nerve in the closing stages to restrict USA to 176-6.
Earlier, South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (74) had laid the foundation for their imposing total, striking seven boundaries and five sixes in a blistering innings. De Kock shared a 110-run second-wicket partnership with captain Aiden Markram (46), before Heinrich Klaasen (36*) and Tristan Stubbs (20*) added an unbeaten 53-run stand to help the Proteas post 194-4.
“We will go back to the drawing board and come hard,” said USA captain Aaron Jones. “We have a lot of talent and when we play good cricket, we can beat any team in the world.”
USA’s left-arm bowler Saurabh Netravalkar (2-21) and spinner Harmeet Singh (2-24) were the pick of the co-hosts’ attack, but they couldn’t fully contain South Africa’s powerful batting display.
The victory sees South Africa take top spot in Group 2, with USA sitting in second place after this thrilling encounter.
South Africa skipper Aiden Markram acknowledged that his side could have tightened up a few overs but was overall pleased with the performance. “You take the lessons and hopefully going forward we get those stages right,” he said.
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