South Africa avoided a late scare to register a deserving 18-run win over the United States of America in their first T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match in North Sound on Wednesday, June 18. Quinton de Kock returned to form with a quickfire fifty to help the Proteas post a 194 total and then Kagiso Rabada took three big wickets to restrict the USA to 176.
The Proteas continued their unbeaten run with their fifth consecutive win in the World Cup and the latest win will further boost their maiden title bid. The USA also impressed with both bat and ball but fell short in their first-ever taste of a Super 8 clash at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
After unexpected and impressive performances in the first round, the USA raised the expectations to cause further upsets but the South African team proved their superiority with a brilliant performance. With England and West Indies also being drawn into Group 2 of Super 8, the Proteas fans will celebrate two big points against the USA.
After being forced to bat first, the Proteas enjoyed a sensational start with Quinton de Kock going berserk despite losing his opening partner Reeza Hendricks in the third over. Quinton and Aiden Markram added 110 runs off just 58 balls for the third wicket to keep South Africa on track for a big total.
Spin all-rounder Harmeet Singh brought the USA back into the game with back-to-back wickets of de Kock and David Miller in the 13th over. Markram also fell after scoring 46 runs off 32 balls as the USA bowlers impressed in the closing stages to deny the Proteas a 200-plus total. Harmeet and Saurabh Netravalkar picked two wickets each for the USA while de Kock top-scored with 74 runs off 40 balls with the help of seven fours and five sixes.
Chasing a big total against an in-form bowling unit, the USA enjoyed a positive start with openers Steven Taylor and Andries Gous adding quick 33 runs for the first wicket. The star pacer Kagiso Rabada gave South Africa a breakthrough with Taylor's wicket in the fourth over and then dismissed Nitish Kumar in the last over of the powerplay to keep the USA in a comfortable position.
The USA struggled for any meaningful partnerships but Gous kept the scorecard moving by smashing unbeaten 80 runs off 47 balls. After impressing with a ball, Harmeet displayed his big-hitting skills by smashing 38 runs off just 22 balls but the USA managed to post 176/6 in 20 overs. Rabada bagged three wickets for just 18 while de Kock clinched the Player of the Match award for his brilliant quickfire fifty.
South Africa Playing XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
United States Playing XI: Shayan Jahangir, Steven Taylor, Andries Gous (wk), Aaron Jones (c), Nitish Kumar, Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar.
