5 key highlights from South Africa's impressive defense against England

QdK sets the powerplay on fire

Quinton de Kock got South Africa off to a fiery start, smashing 49* off 20 deliveries in the first six overs. The wicketkeeper-batter hit Jofra Archer for two sixes and a four in the space of three deliveries as South Africa ended the powerplay 63/0, the first time they didn't lose a wicket in the first six-over stage. 

De Kock registered the fourth-highest individual powerplay score in the history of the T20 World Cup. He was eventually dismissed in the 12th over after hitting 65 off 38 balls, studded with four fours and as many maximums.

Rashid stems the Proteas run flow

The Proteas scored at more than 10 runs per over in the powerplay but England, thanks to Adil Rashid, made a stunning comeback in the middle overs (7 -15).

Adil Rashid's spells in T20 World Cup 2024

0/26 (2) vs Scotland, Barbados
1/41 (4) vs Australia, Barbados
4/11 (4) vs Oman, Antigua
0/29 (2) vs Namibia, Antigua
1/21 (4) vs West Indies, Gros Islet
1/20 (4) vs South Africa, Gros Islet#ENGvsSA #T20WorldCup

— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) June 21, 2024

The legspinner took 1/20 in his four overs as South Africa scored at 5.8 in the middle phase. They hit only four fours in that nine-over period as England clawed their way back into the encounter. 

Miller gives some sort of finish

Reeza Hendricks (19 off 25), Heinrich Klaasen (8 off 13), Aiden Markram (1 off 2), and Tristan Stubbs (12* off 11) didn’t do much, but they were bailed out by a David Miller brilliance.

The left-hander, who has been South Africa’s best batter in this event, scored 43 off 28 and propelled his team to 163/6. 

Brook, Livingstone bring England back in the game

England were 63/4 at the end of 11 overs, needing 101 runs in the last nine overs, which soon became 76 off 36 deliveries. However, that’s when Harry Brook (53 off 37) and Liam Livingstone (33 off 17) went berserk and put the pressure back on the Proteas.

Kagiso Rabada was hit for 18 runs in the 15th over, while Anrich Nortje conceded 13 in the very next over. Ottneil Baartman bowled five full tosses in the 17th over, giving away 21 runs. 

Thanks to Brook and Livingstone's brilliance, the Three Lions reduced the equation to 25 off 18. 

Rabada, Jansen, Nortje win it for South Africa

It looked like the two batters would run away with the game, but that’s when South African bowlers finally decided to use the two-paced St Lucia surface.

Rabada gave four runs and took the wicket of Livingstone in the 18th over. Marco Jansen then went for seven runs, leaving 14 for the final over. Nortje delivered the final blow and got rid of Brook on the first delivery of the last over.

AS CLOSE AS IT COULD GET ?

South Africa's defences in T20 World Cup 2024

1 run win vs NEP, St. Vincent
4 runs win vs BAN, New York
7 runs win vs ENG, Gros Islet
18 runs win vs USA, Antigua#ENGvsSA #T20WorldCup

— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) June 21, 2024

South Africa eventually won by seven runs and remained unbeaten in the 2024 T20 World Cup. It was their third win by a margin of single digit this edition. 

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