South Africa beat West Indies to reach T20 World Cup semi-finals

AFP | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

South Africa edged the West Indies by three wickets in a rain-affected Super Eights match on Sunday to reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals and eliminate the hosts.

Chasing a revised 123 off 17 overs, South Africa stuttered to 110-7 as Roston Chase took three wickets, but they reached their target when Marco Jansen hit the first ball of the final over for six.

Man of the match Tabraiz Shamsi took 3-27 after South Africa won the toss and restricted the West Indies to 135-8 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

All-rounder Chase top scored with 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.

Jansen’s unbeaten 21 saw the Proteas to victory at 124-7 when he smashed the final six off Obed McCoy.

“The last time I played here I went for 50 runs and there was a lot of chatter going around,” said Shamsi. “I was happy to come back and perform my role, but credit as well to the guys who bowled before me because they set it up beautifully.”

Brought in for seamer Ottneil Baartman, the left-arm wrist-spinner got excellent support from fellow slow bowlers Keshav Maharaj (1-24) and captain Aiden Markram (1-28). Chase was dropped on 11 by Anrich Nortje and made the most of his luck, clearing the ropes twice and hitting three fours.