* Roston Chases’ brave all round performance in vain – Super 8 (Match 50)
By Dwayne Ferreira
In a thrilling match at North Sound, South Africa edged past the West Indies by three wickets via the DLS method to secure their spot in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024. The victory, which saw , also eliminated the co-hosts from the tournament.
Having maintained an undefeated streak of six matches, South Africa managed to navigate a rain-reduced contest and chase down a challenging target, solidifying their position at the top of their Super Eight group and likely avoiding a semi-final clash with India. This remarkable turnaround raises the question: could this be South Africa’s year?
South Africa, historically plagued by near-misses in ICC tournaments, are now winning games they previously might have lost. Their newfound resilience, reminiscent of their rugby counterparts, the Springboks, who triumphed in close matches in the recent World Cup, has led them to their first T20 World Cup semi-final in a decade. Under the leadership of Aiden Markram, who has brought innovative strategies and a reliance on spin, the team has found a successful formula.
In this match, Markram took an unconventional approach by opening the bowling with himself and Marco Jansen, focusing heavily on spin. South Africa’s spinners bowled 12 overs, taking 5 for 79 and stifling the West Indies’ progress. The hosts faced 57 dot balls, the highest in this tournament, and only an 81-run partnership between Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase kept them competitive.
Despite their bowlers’ efforts, the West Indies’ batting proved to be their downfall. They posted a modest 135 for 8, with Mayers and Chase the only batsmen to score more than 15 runs. South Africa’s bowlers, particularly the spinners, maintained tight control, leading to frequent batting collapses.
The West Indies bowlers, however, made a strong start, reducing South Africa to 15 for 2 before rain interrupted play. After a 75-minute delay, the match resumed with a revised target of 123 runs from 17 overs.
Quinton de Kock gave South Africa a solid start, but quick wickets from Andre Russell increased the tension. However, Heinrich Klaasen turned the game around with a crucial over against Gudakesh Motie, hitting 16 runs off it, which set South Africa on the path to victory. His aggressive play helped South Africa needing just 53 runs off the last 10 overs, a manageable target given their deep batting lineup.
South Africa’s fielding was erratic, with four dropped catches, but their bowling strategy compensated for these lapses. Kagiso Rabada, traditionally a new-ball bowler, was introduced only in the 18th over, making an immediate impact by taking crucial wickets and restricting the West Indies’ final score.
As the semi-finals approach, South Africa’s dramatic and determined performances suggest they might finally be ready to break their ICC trophy jinx. The team’s resilience and innovative strategies, under the leadership of Markram, have set a new standard that could inspire other cricketing nations.
Chief Scores
West Indies’ 135 for 8 in 20 overs (Roston Chase 52, K.Mayers 35, T.Shamsi 3-27)
South Africa 124 for 7 in 16.1 overs DLS System (T.Stubbs 29, H. Klaasen 22, M. Jansen 21*, R. Chase 3-12)
Player of the Match – Tabraiz Shamsi
