SA VS ENG T20I

Right then, this is it from this action-packed marquee clash where South Africa took the game away from England. South Africa are now the table-toppers in Group B maintaining a clean sheet, and England on the other hand will be gutted as they were too close yet too far in the end. Well, the clash lived up to its billing, and the fans were treated with an absolute humdinger. The action continues and things are spicing up in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2024 as next up in the Super 8 phase is an exciting clash between both the hosts of this prestigious competition going up against each other. West Indies will be taking on the USA in another highly anticipated clash of Group B. This game will begin on Saturday, 22nd June and the first ball will be bowled at 6 am IST (12.30 am GMT). But you can surely join us for the pre-match build-up. Till then, take care and cheers.

Aiden Markram, the captain of South Africa says that specifically today when it got to the final three overs, the odds were against them but the bowlers held their nerves. Adds that Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks took on the Powerplay well for them and they knew they needed to squeeze in the middle and save runs in the field and are on the right track. Mentions that every match is going to be a challenge and applauds a few of the players who have stepped up and he doesn't want to dig too deep and just trusts the guys and their abilities. Adds that you need to give the bowler the freedom to bowl his best delivery first and then take the pitch into consideration and goes on to laud Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone for their efforts. He ends by reflecting on the crucial catch he took and says that it was one of his most important ones.

Jos Buttler, the skipper of England starts by appreciating Quinton de Kock as says he came in with a lot of intent and they couldn't match up with the bat, and also mentions that they were 20 runs behind in the Powerplay. Adds they did well with the ball and came in brilliantly. He appreciates Liam Livingstone and Harry Brook for putting up a good fight and almost taking away the game from South Africa. Ends up by saying they are still very much in the competition and they have played really good brand of cricket but just couldn't get across the line and that they still believe

Quinton de Kock is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant innings early in the game. De Kock starts by saying that a couple of night games early on have led everyone to believe that it is a very high-scoring pitch but it is quite different in the day game. Adds that his plan was just to bat and score heavily and the wicket was good early on and had a nice bounce too. Mentions that he takes it game by game and starts off from scratch. Reckons that they bowled well, especially in the Powerplay which was the best time to score runs and to defend 160 on a decent wicket was a good effort from them.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, South Africa started off steady, but then Quinton de Kock shifted gears and gave the pacers a rough time. They sailed through the powerplay without any hiccups. Once the fielding restrictions were lifted, and spinners came on, runs were at a premium as they squeezed and stemmed the flow of runs. No batter barring Quinton de Kock was at ease at the crease and wickets kept falling with QDK too perishing eventually on 65. Jofra Archer, expensive in his first over, picked a brilliant 3-fer and the others too chipped in big time and didn't give away too many. Jos Buttler in particular, was sensational behind the wickets and made a solid impact. David Miller and Tristan Stubbs played crucial clutch cameos in the backend, propelling South Africa to get 160. Into the chase, as they call it a game of two halves, the momentum swung in favor of both sides but eventually, it was the South Africans who held their nerves of steel and won this cracker of a game.

The Proteas, looking to recover from their modest batting performance, needed quick wickets. Kagiso Rabada delivered, snaring an early victim thanks to Hendricks' spectacular catch at cover. Marco Jansen provided solid support, maintaining tight lines. England narrowly avoided losing two early wickets when Klaasen couldn't hold onto Bairstow's chance. Despite this, South Africa's pacers kept the scoring in check during the powerplay. Maharaj then struck in his second over, dismissing Bairstow and leveling the contest. Throughout, the Proteas' fielding was top-notch, perfectly complementing their bowlers' efforts. Heinrich Klaasen redeemed himself shortly off Keshav Maharaj's bowling. Maharaj struck gold with a couple of wickets. However, things sharply changed towards the backend as Kagiso Rabada conceded 18 runs in the 15th over. Baartman too, missed his mark and leaked runs right and left. Suddenly the Proteas found themselves under the pump. Kagiso Rabada stepped up strongly to his reputation and struck gold in the very next over and dismissed Livingstone and gave just 4 runs off that over. Marco Jansen then came clutch and delivered an excellent penultimate over. It was all left to Anrich Nortje with the mission to defend 13 runs off the final over. He got a wicket off his first ball but conceded a boundary and bounced back and covered pretty well in the latter balls, restricting the Englishmen.

England's innings began with Jos Buttler and Phil Salt cautiously testing the pitch. Salt managed a powerful six and a boundary, but fell shortly after for 11. Buttler and Jonny Bairstow then kept the score moving, skillfully rotating the strike. Bairstow got an early reprieve when he was dropped, but couldn't capitalize and departed soon after. As a result, England crumbled inside the Powerplay with two men down early and were comparatively behind their opponents. Jos Buttler too struggled during his time at the crease and eventually got out on a sedate 17. England were in all sorts of trouble with the rescue work left on the shoulders of the middle order. Harry Brook settled himself first and then got off the blocks punishing poor deliveries with disdain. Liam Livingstone provided solid support from the other end. And as they say, cricket is a funny old game, the pendulum swung sharply to their side as this partnership progressed towards the backend. Brook looked unstoppable and scored a resiliently fought 50. Liam Livingstone put Baartman to the cleaners and fetched 21 runs from his over before getting out eventually. With 14 needed off the last over, Brook departed in the first delivery and couldn't see his team through. Sam Curran struck a boundary in the third ball but couldn't finish in style in the end.

SOUTH AFRICA WIN THIS CRACKER OF A CONTEST BY 7 RUNS AND MAINTAIN THEIR UNBEATEN RUN IN THIS 2024 ICC T20 WORLD CUP! What an absolute humdinger this has been, going down to the wire. Two excellent sides going toe-to-toe against each other, with no one ready to concede, but it was the mighty Proteas who ended on the winning side. England fought hard but the last few overs toward the backend didn't go as planned and that made the difference and it was too little too late in the end.

That's it, South Africa have done it! Anrich Nortje hits the deck hard and bowls it around middle and leg, angling it in with pace on. Jofra Archer stays back in the crease, clears the front leg and swings across the line but misses and the ball goes through to the keeper for a dot ball. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 7 RUNS!

That should do it for South Africa and that's brilliant bowling from Anrich Nortje. Goes pace on and nails it in the blockhole around off. Sam Curran hangs deep but can't get under it and only jams it out to mid off for a single. 8 needed off the final ball.

A golden dot ball and Sam Curran has denied the single to Jofra Archer. Anrich Nortje misses his mark and serves a full toff over middle and leg, Sam Curran does get cramped up a bit and ends up heaving it straight to deep mid-wicket.

FOUR! That is a poor delivery from Anrich Nortje but Sam Curran still had to put it away. Putched up full on the legs, Curran flicks it away and gets it fine of the man at short fine leg as the ball races away into the fence. 9 needed now off 3 balls.

Goes full and quick and attacks the toes well, Jofra Archer clears the front leg and whips it away in front of square leg for a single.

This was Harry Brook's first T20 World Cup fifty off his seventh innings

Jofra Archer is the new man in. England still need 14 off the last 5 deliveries.

OUT! CAUGHT! Unbelievable take from skipper Aiden Markram and he could have just won the game for his side. Anrich Nortje steams in from over the stumps and rolls his fingers over the ball before pitching it up around off stump. Harry Brook is on the front foot and looks to hit through the line but is early in the shot and the ball gets lofted over mid off. Markram backtracks and keeps his eyes on the ball before diving over his shoulder and grabbing a stellar catch with both hands. Markram even manages to keep the ball in his grasp when his elbows thud into the ground. What a turnaround this could be!

OUT! CAUGHT! Unbelievable take from skipper Aiden Markram and he could have just won the game for his side. Anrich Nortje steams in from over the stumps and rolls his fingers over the ball before pitching it up around off stump. Harry Brook is on the front foot and looks to hit through the line but is early in the shot and the ball gets lofted over mid off. Markram backtracks and keeps his eyes on the ball before diving over his shoulder and grabbing a stellar catch with both hands. Markram even manages to keep the ball in his grasp when his elbows thud into the ground. What a turnaround this could be!

Anrich Nortje (3-0-29-0) to bowl the final over of the chase. England need 14 off the last 6 deliveries. This has been a cracker of a contest so far and it is coming down to the wire. Brace yourselves!