124/7 (16.1)
CR : 7.67
135/8 (20.0)
CR : 6.75
South Africa won by 3 wickets (DLS METHOD) π
Player of the Match
Tabraiz Shamsi
3/27
Tabraiz Shamsi (Player of the Match): "Yeah, look, I'm sweating. I wasn't even out there, but quite nervy at the end. But, I think that's been the theme of our tournament, we finding a way to win as a team no matter what the situation is.
(On match-winning six) We were looking at Marco Jansen's reaction out there and he seemed pretty confident. So the boys were going crazy in the dugout.
Our supporters, naturally, would probably prefer bigger wins. But I believe close contests like this keep us grounded when the pressure really ramps up. The team's ability to overcome these moments throughout the tournament, and again tonight, is truly commendable. Full credit goes to the team.
Obviously, the last time I played here I conceded 50 runs, which led to a lot of chatter and stuff like that. However, I had to trust my plans, and thankfully, the coaching staff backed me to return to the same ground despite my previous struggles there. So, yeah, I'm just happy I could fulfill my role. But a huge credit goes to the bowlers who set things up beautifully before me. As a unit, we're firing on all cylinders, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.
We're fortunate to have several match-winners, each capable of carrying the team. This means there's no pressure on any single player to do it all alone. We're all playing as a unit, and these small contributions from everyone are getting us over the line. As a team, that's the ideal situation to be in β everyone feels supported and we're all working towards the same goal.
Yeah, it seems South Africa and rain in the World Cups have a bit of a one-sided love affair β not always in our favor! But, to their credit, the boys remained remarkably calm in the dressing room, and we knew what we had to do."
(On match-winning six) We were looking at Marco Jansen's reaction out there and he seemed pretty confident. So the boys were going crazy in the dugout.
Our supporters, naturally, would probably prefer bigger wins. But I believe close contests like this keep us grounded when the pressure really ramps up. The team's ability to overcome these moments throughout the tournament, and again tonight, is truly commendable. Full credit goes to the team.
Obviously, the last time I played here I conceded 50 runs, which led to a lot of chatter and stuff like that. However, I had to trust my plans, and thankfully, the coaching staff backed me to return to the same ground despite my previous struggles there. So, yeah, I'm just happy I could fulfill my role. But a huge credit goes to the bowlers who set things up beautifully before me. As a unit, we're firing on all cylinders, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.
We're fortunate to have several match-winners, each capable of carrying the team. This means there's no pressure on any single player to do it all alone. We're all playing as a unit, and these small contributions from everyone are getting us over the line. As a team, that's the ideal situation to be in β everyone feels supported and we're all working towards the same goal.
Yeah, it seems South Africa and rain in the World Cups have a bit of a one-sided love affair β not always in our favor! But, to their credit, the boys remained remarkably calm in the dressing room, and we knew what we had to do."
Akshay: The record of the host nation not winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup remains intact.
Rovman Powell (West Indies Captain): "I think the credit must be given to the boys for showing the fight. As a batting group, we didn't step up in the middle overs.
You say but both sides batted on this wicket. It wasn't easy to bat on. But in the middle overs, we lost wickets in clusters and it is tough to recover from that.
It was a commendable bowling effort. At the halfway mark, I said we have to fight till the end and credit to the boys for showing the fight and believing in themselves at the halfway mark that we can defend this.
We wanted to get to the semi-finals in the World Cup. But the way we have played in the last year or so, that's commendable. If you go from number 9 to number 3 in a year, it's great. We have done some good work for the cricket in the Caribbean and hopefully, we continue to do the good work and make the people in Caribbean proud again.
The fans have been fantastic. All the venues we have played and all the social media likes that the people have given us, it's been great. The people in the Caribbean are rallying around the West Indies now. It's heading in the right direction. Thanks to the people of Antigua and not only Antigua but the whole of Caribbean for coming in and supporting us."
You say but both sides batted on this wicket. It wasn't easy to bat on. But in the middle overs, we lost wickets in clusters and it is tough to recover from that.
It was a commendable bowling effort. At the halfway mark, I said we have to fight till the end and credit to the boys for showing the fight and believing in themselves at the halfway mark that we can defend this.
We wanted to get to the semi-finals in the World Cup. But the way we have played in the last year or so, that's commendable. If you go from number 9 to number 3 in a year, it's great. We have done some good work for the cricket in the Caribbean and hopefully, we continue to do the good work and make the people in Caribbean proud again.
The fans have been fantastic. All the venues we have played and all the social media likes that the people have given us, it's been great. The people in the Caribbean are rallying around the West Indies now. It's heading in the right direction. Thanks to the people of Antigua and not only Antigua but the whole of Caribbean for coming in and supporting us."
Aiden Markram (South Africa Captain): "I think a lot of relief ultimately to get through, to get to the semifinal. I think we would have liked to be a lot more convincing in getting the job done with bat in hand, especially after that rain break. We really thought the wicked was playing nicely and probably just didn't take care of little partnerships to get us closer and then kill the game at that time. I suppose it's been the story of our comp. We get ourselves into tricky positions but our cricket has gotten us over the line each time.
We started off strong with the ball, reading the conditions well and restricting them to a below-par total. However, with the bat, as I mentioned before, probably just trying to kill the game too early. We need to understand that sometimes building a partnership and establishing a strong position is necessary before going for the big shots. Reflecting on this in the changing room and having these discussions will definitely be beneficial for our next game.
We started off strong with the ball, reading the conditions well and restricting them to a below-par total. However, with the bat, as I mentioned before, probably just trying to kill the game too early. We need to understand that sometimes building a partnership and establishing a strong position is necessary before going for the big shots. Reflecting on this in the changing room and having these discussions will definitely be beneficial for our next game.
To be honest, we picked Shamsi, wanting to have sort of your mystery spin against them. We identified it as a possible opportunity for us. With that, you leave out the seamer. So I felt like we needed to get one or two spin in the power play and then immediately saw it start spinning. So thought we probably needed to bowl as much spin as we could on this track and the wicket was helping us. It's sort of just the plans became pretty evident from there, I would say. If it hadn't spun that much then we would have used our pacers, not a lot of times when KG bowls only 2 overs, speaks volumes about how the pitch is playing.
We have been doing really well, the bowling unit is firing and as a batting unit, it is about when to take the game on. From the batting point of view, more clinical understanding when the right time is to really take the game on, and maybe understanding when the right time is to knock it around for a couple of overs.
(On preferences in semifinal) I've not even been following that other group, so I'm not sure, whoever it might be. We haven't played our best game of cricket yet, so try to put our best game of cricket together for that semi."
We have been doing really well, the bowling unit is firing and as a batting unit, it is about when to take the game on. From the batting point of view, more clinical understanding when the right time is to really take the game on, and maybe understanding when the right time is to knock it around for a couple of overs.
(On preferences in semifinal) I've not even been following that other group, so I'm not sure, whoever it might be. We haven't played our best game of cricket yet, so try to put our best game of cricket together for that semi."
Most wickets for West Indies in a single edition of a T20
World Cup:
13 - Alzarri Joseph (2024)
11 - Samuel Badree (2014)
11 - Andre Russell (2024)
10 - Dwayne Bravo (2009)
13 - Alzarri Joseph (2024)
11 - Samuel Badree (2014)
11 - Andre Russell (2024)
10 - Dwayne Bravo (2009)
Most matches won in a single edition of a T20 World Cup:
7* - South Africa in 2024
6 - Sri Lanka in 2009
6 - Australia in 2010
6 - Australia in 2021
7* - South Africa in 2024
6 - Sri Lanka in 2009
6 - Australia in 2010
6 - Australia in 2021
Players to score 50+ and pick up 3+ wickets in a T20 World
Cup match:
66* & 4/38 - Dwayne Bravo vs India at Lordβs, 2009
51 & 3/26 - Shane Watson vs Ireland in Colombo, 2012
72 & 3/34 - Shane Watson vs India in Colombo, 2012
67* & 3/19 - Marcus Stoinis vs Oman in Barbados, 2024
52 & 3/12 - Roston Chase vs South Africa in North Sound, 2024
66* & 4/38 - Dwayne Bravo vs India at Lordβs, 2009
51 & 3/26 - Shane Watson vs Ireland in Colombo, 2012
72 & 3/34 - Shane Watson vs India in Colombo, 2012
67* & 3/19 - Marcus Stoinis vs Oman in Barbados, 2024
52 & 3/12 - Roston Chase vs South Africa in North Sound, 2024
Longest winning streak for South Africa in T20Is:
7* - in 2024
7 - in 2009
7 - in 2021
7* - in 2024
7 - in 2009
7 - in 2021
That is the end of Group 2 Super 8 fixtures. South Africa and England are the two semi-finalists emerging from that Group. We have two more Group 1 matches left, which will decide the fate of the remaining two semi-finalists. Don't forget to tune in with us for the matches between Australia and India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
For now, it is me AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Akshay Bhide and Deepak Prakash, who, alongside our scorer/analyst Bishal Mandal, brought you all the live-action of this cracking game. We will meet again. Until then, its cheers!
For now, it is me AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Akshay Bhide and Deepak Prakash, who, alongside our scorer/analyst Bishal Mandal, brought you all the live-action of this cracking game. We will meet again. Until then, its cheers!