Proteas through to semi-finals as hosts stay in the race

By Razeen Gutta

Aiden Markram’s unbeaten 82 off 46 balls powered South Africa to a crushing nine-wicket victory over the West Indies in their ICC T20 World Cup super eight clash on Thursday.

South Africa’s result also kept India’s hopes of progression alive, with the hosts beating Zimbabwe later in the day.

Quinton de Kock’s blistering 47 and Ryan Rickelton’s 45 helped chase down 177 with ease, with Markram’s masterful innings, featuring seven fours and two sixes, sealing the deal with 3.5 overs to spare.

Lungi Ngidi (3-30) and Kagiso Rabada (2-22) restricted the West Indies to 176-8, with Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder’s record-breaking 89-run eighth-wicket stand providing a late flourish.

South Africa remain unbeaten in the tournament, while the West Indies suffer their first defeat.

Sunday’s upcoming clash between India and the West Indies will now be a virtual quarter final with the winner set to progress to the last four.

In Group 2, New Zealand and England will face-off on Friday with the winner likely to claim top spot.

Pakistan still have an outside chance of qualifying. To do so, England would have to win by a large margin and Pakistan would have to beat Sri Lanka well enough to topple New Zealand’s run rate on Saturday.

Pictured above: Quinton de Kock

Source: @proteasmencsa