Quinton de Kock’s explosive start and a committed fielding effort helped the Proteas secure another nail-biting win at the T20 World Cup, defeating England by seven runs and maintaining their unbeaten streak.
Fast Start for the Proteas
Put in to bat by England, the Proteas got off to a flying start with Quinton de Kock leading the charge. By the end of the tenth over, the Proteas were 87/1, having lost only Reeza Hendricks, who was caught by Harry Brook off Moeen Ali.
England fought back with Jos Buttler taking a brilliant catch to dismiss De Kock and executing a direct hit to run out Heinrich Klaasen. Despite the setbacks, South Africa managed to post a challenging total of 163 for 6 in their 20 overs.
Proteas Bowlers Shine
The bowlers backed up De Kock’s efforts with a great team performance. England managed 60/3 in the first ten overs of their chase as the Proteas kept the pressure on. However, Ottniel Baartman’s 17th over conceded 21 runs, bringing England back into the game.
Anrich Nortje bowled the final over with England needing 14 runs from five balls. Aiden Markram’s brilliant running catch to dismiss Brook was a turning point, and Nortje successfully closed out the match.
Markram’s Post-Match Reflections
“I’m grateful it stuck! Your mind races as a captain, but I’m happy to hold onto it. It certainly made a difference,” Markram said about his crucial catch.
Reflecting on Baartman’s over, Markram added, “It’s always a tricky one. You want to see the bowler’s best skills. It was nerve-wracking, but it happens.”
Proteas Eye Semi-Finals
With two Super 8s wins under their belt, the Proteas have one foot in the semi-finals, with a match against the West Indies remaining.
“Once again, we’ve had a few tight contests in this competition! Getting to those last three overs, the odds looked against us, but the bowlers showed great skill and fight,” Markram said.
“As a whole, we’re getting closer to playing a complete game of cricket. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting there.”
