Super 8 clash: South Africa grab victory against England by 7 runs

• Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone form crucial stand of 78 runs.
• Proteas remain undefeated in competition with 6 straight wins.
• Keshav Maharaj most economical bowler with 2 wickets for 25 runs.

South Africa defeated England by seven runs in their second Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2024 at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia on Friday.

The Proteas are undefeated in the competition with six straight wins.

England had a slow start to the run chase after their last match performer Phil Salt (11 off 8 balls) went back in the second over. Jos Buttler (17 off 20 balls) and Jonny Bairstow (16 off 20 balls ) steadied but lost wickets at the crucial stages.

Keshav Maharaj had the better of both the batters. Moeen Ali (9 off 10 balls) also couldn't put the pressure as the run rate went creeping. He tried to play a big shot but was removed by Ottneil Baartman.

England came back in the chase with Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone forming a crucial stand of 78 runs. Brook took on the South African bowlers while Livingstone attacked in patches.

Livingstone managed 17-ball 33 before being dismissed by Kagiso Rabada

Meanwhile, Brook reached to his first T20 World Cup fifty but couldn't finish the chase as he departed courtesy of a brilliant catch by skipper Aiden Markram. He made 37-ball 53 runs. The defending champions were restricted to 156/6.

Rabada and Maharaj bagged two wickets each for the Proteas.

Earlier, Quinton de Kock gave a flying start to South Africa after being put into bat first by England. The wicketkeeper-batter slammed a 22-ball fifty, the joint-fastest of the ongoing competition.

Meanwhile, Reeza Hendricks (19 off 25 balls) couldn't build on his slow start. He was the first batter to be dismissed by leg-spinner Adil Rashid.

De Kock departed due to England skipper Jos Buttler's acrobatic catch. He made a 38-ball 65 with the help of eight boundaries.

The defending champions returned to the game with Buttler once again contributing but this time with a run out at the non-striker's end to remove Heinrich Klassen (9 off 13 balls).

Meanwhile, Rashid removed skipper Aiden Markram (1 off 2 balls). David Miller took the charge in the later part, scoring a crucial 28-ball 43.

The Proteas managed 163/6 in their 20 overs. Pacer Jofra Archer was the top bowler for England, bagging figures of 3/40.