South Africa beat West Indies by three wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis (DLS) method in a crucial match for a semi-final spot at the T20 World Cup in Antigua on Sunday. The unbeaten Proteas joined England in the last four as Group 2 winners, thanks to Marco Jansen’s (21 not out) six on the first ball of the final over, getting South Africa to their adjusted target of 123.
South Africa beat West Indies with significant help from left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, who took 3-27, restricting West Indies to 135-8 before a rainstorm halted play. Spinner Roston Chase gave West Indies a glimmer of hope by taking three late wickets, setting up a dramatic finish.
The other two semi-finalists will be decided on Monday when India faces Australia in St Lucia, and Afghanistan takes on Bangladesh in St Vincent in the final matches of the Super Eight stage.
Earlier in the day, South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first. This decision paid off quickly when danger men Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran were dismissed within the first two overs, with only five runs on the board.
Kyle Mayers, brought into the West Indies squad as an injury replacement on Saturday, steadied the innings with an 81-run partnership for the third wicket with Chase. Both had some tense moments—Chase was dropped on 11, and Mayers survived an lbw call on review—before Shamsi dismissed Mayers in the 12th over for 35 runs.
This was the last significant partnership in an innings full of fits and starts. Chase (52) and Sherfane Rutherford (0) fell to Shamsi’s wrist spin, and Andre Russell hit a couple of big sixes before being run out for 15.
South Africa beat West Indies by overcoming a challenging start. West Indies knew they needed a big bowling effort, and Russell provided it by striking with the first delivery of the innings, removing Reeza Hendricks caught behind. He then had Quinton de Kock caught at backward square leg for 12, just five deliveries later.
The match was interrupted by rain and resumed after a 90-minute delay, with South Africa resuming their chase at 15-2. Despite the hosts’ strenuous efforts to defend their revised 123-run target (originally 135 runs), South Africa beat West Indies in the 17th (last) over, clinching the game and securing their place in the semi-finals.
