South Africa has secured a spot in the T20 World Cup semi-finals after defeating co-hosts West Indies in a tense three-wicket match decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. The game in Antigua was essentially a quarter-final to determine which team would progress from Group 2, with England already securing their place in the last four.
Chasing a revised target of 123 set by the DLS method, South Africa faced some challenges but ultimately prevailed under pressure. Marco Jansen hit a six to seal the victory with just five balls to spare. Despite restricting West Indies to 135-8, South Africa faced early setbacks when Andre Russell claimed two wickets in the second over, leaving them at 15-2.
The match was disrupted by a sudden downpour, delaying play for 75 minutes. When play resumed with a new target set for 17 overs, South Africa quickly regained control with a flurry of boundaries. However, the West Indies continued to put up a fight, with Roston Chase taking three wickets and making 52 runs with the bat.
As the game approached a tense conclusion, South Africa needed nine runs from seven balls. Kagiso Rabada’s cover drive for four and Jansen’s finish at the start of the last over secured the win for the Proteas. The spinners, particularly Tabraiz Shamsi, played a crucial role in South Africa’s victory by taking key wickets.
South Africa finished at the top of Group A, with Australia coming in second
