South Africa clinched a place in the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 after defeating co-hosts West Indies by three wickets in a rain-interrupted match at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
Chasing a revised target
Pursuing a target of 136, South Africa lost Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock early in the second over. Rain then halted play, leading to a revised target of 123 runs from 17 overs. In a nail-biting finish, South Africa needed just 5 runs in the final over.
Marco Jansen’s heroics
All-rounder Marco Jansen was at the crease and wasted no time, hitting a match-winning six off West Indies pacer Obed McCoy. McCoy delivered a full-length ball, which Jansen sent soaring over the long-on boundary with a powerful shot.
The right-handed batter planted his front foot and swung through the line, sending the ball over the fence. The Proteas’ players and fans erupted in celebration. Jansen remained unbeaten on 21 runs off 14 balls, featuring one six and a four, guiding South Africa to the semi-finals.
Here is the video:
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Upcoming fixtures
South Africa will now face the second-placed team from Group One, while England will compete against the group topper. The semi-finals are scheduled for Thursday, June 27, with the final set for June 29. The opponents will be determined following the last two Super 8 matches – India vs Australia and Afghanistan vs Bangladesh on June 24.
Tabraiz Shamsi, who was named Player of the Match, emphasized the team’s resilience and ability to secure victories in various challenging situations throughout the tournament. He acknowledged that while fans might prefer more dominant wins, these tough matches serve to keep the team grounded and focused, demonstrating their capacity to overcome adversity and succeed under pressure.
“We keep finding a way to win these matches whatever the situation. Our supporters would probably like bigger wins. But things like this keep us in check and we’ve been able to overcome these moments throughout the tournament,” said Shamsi after the game
