West Indies see T20 World Cup dream ended by semi-finalists South Africa

The Proteas join England in the last four and maintain their unbeaten record with a three-wicket victory as the Windies miss out on a slice of history

Nick Howson | 24/06/2024 at 06:11

Antigua: West Indies 135-8, South Africa 124-7 - South Africa won by three wickets (D/L/S method)

South Africa ended co-hosts West Indies' T20 World Cup hopes with a nervy DLS-assisted victory in Antigua.

The Proteas moved into the semi-final, their third in this competition, with their unbeaten record intact after reaching their amended target of 123 with five balls and three wickets remaining.

Tristan Stubbs (29) and Heinrich Klaasen (22) underpinned the chase, which was cut short by three overs after a 75-minute delay due to a rain shower.

Both departed prematurely but it was left to Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, who had earlier both been involved in a nasty collision in the field, to secure the win.

They join fellow Group 2 qualifiers England in the last four and will face the runners-up from Group 1 - likely Australia, Afghanistan or Bangladesh - for a place in the Barbados final.

West Indies meanwhile are left to reflect on failed attempts to become the first host nation (they shared duties with the United States during the first group stage) to win the men's T20 tournament.

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^{Roston Chase and Alzarri Joseph dragged West Indies back into the contest but it was not to be (Getty Images)}

Inserted amid a raucous atmosphere, Windies will have regrets over their approach with the bat. Kyle Mayers justified his recall with 35 and Roston Chase (52) played a superb hand as the pair put on 81 for the third wicket having lost Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran inside the first seven deliveries.

South Africa turned the screw in the middle overs with their spinners before the 18th over from Rabada saw Andre Russell (15) run out and Akeal Hosein (6) caught and bowled.

A chase of 136 started with openers Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks falling in the second over to Russell before a rain delay lasting over an hour removed three overs and saw the target revised to 123.

South Africa found scoring difficult but took the equation down to less than a run-a-ball after Klaasen whacked Gudakesh Motie for 20 runs from the seventh over.

Alzarri Joseph and Roston Chase both struck so it was left to unlikely sources, Jansen and Rabada to guide them to victory with five deliveries to spare.