Unbeaten South Africa are two wins away from creating history as they will be the winner of the World Cup for the first time but in the last game, The Proteas so nearly choked. Ultimately they proved that this team has something different.
South Africa joined England in the last four as Group 2 winners when Marco Jansen (21 not out) smashed a six down the ground off the first ball of the final over to get South Africa to their adjusted target of 123.
Proteas proved their Unbeaten streak was not only against weaker teams
Much has been made of the Proteas’ pathway to this point. It was said their group-phase run came against some of the weakest nations in T20 cricket. Then they beat England, the defending champions and second-ranked T20 team. With that, the criticism dulled but scaled again when this fixture became a quarter-final
Now they’ve beaten the hosts, who just two months ago swept them 3-0 in a series. The nature of performance is not immune to criticism. Indeed, skipper Aiden Markram lamented it. “We would have wanted to be more clinical,” he said. Courtesy of their three-wicket win against the co-hosts, the Proteas now have seven consecutive matches — the most by a team in a single T20 World Cup.
How South Africa defeated the hosts in the Quarterfinal despite losing a series to them
South Africa held their collective nerve to edge West Indies by three wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-disrupted shootout for a semi-final spot at the Twenty20 World Cup in Antigua on Sunday. Rain stopped play early on in South Africa’s chase and their target was readjusted to 123 from 17 overs when play resumed.
Hosts West Indies were restricted to 135-8 before the rainstorm swept in to stop play.
Spinner Roston Chase (3-12) took three wickets late in the South African innings to set up a dramatic finish and give a glimmer of hope that West Indies might keep alive their quest for a third title.
All-rounder Chase scored 52, featuring in an 81-run third-wicket partnership with Kyle Mayers (35 off 34 balls) before giving the West Indies hope by taking 3-12 with his off-spin.
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Kagiso Rabada’s Heroics would never be forgotten
Rabada’s involvement was limited to just two overs, which baffled the commentators. A sober analysis of the decision will reveal it as the correct one. It spun and bounced wickedly for the Proteas’ tweakers.
In any case, Rabada’s moment would come with the cane, not the Kookaburra.
The 29-year-old may yet make decisive contributions with the ball. But it spoke to the desire and granite spirit that pervades this Proteas team that two bowlers got them home.
How this unbeaten South Africa is different from the previous Proteas
Previous Proteas teams would have lost on New York pitches that weren’t fit for purpose. They would have succumbed to Nepal, been overwhelmed by the plucky Americans, or gifted Englishmen. And they would have certainly bottled it against the hosts in Antigua.
This team has conquered all those challenges, ticked all the boxes and are on the way to being champions. Alongside their win against West Indies in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, South Africa have also bagged a new record for the most wins in the tournament’s history.
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