South Africa managed to defeat England in the final game of Group 1 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the Super 12 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Chasing a steep target of 190, the Englishmen stayed in the chase until the last over. None of the batsmen managed to convert their starts into a big total which turned out to be the reason for the loss eventually.
Tabraiz Shamsi and Dwaine Pretorius were the best of the bowlers. It was a mixed day for Kagiso Rabada. He gave away 45 runs in his first three overs before coming back to bowl the final over where he took a hattrick for his troubles.
Earlier, it was a brilliant 103-run partnership between Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram that helped South Africa to put up a massive total. The duo looked in brilliant touch, targeting specific bowlers and the short boundary.
Rassie fell just six runs short of his century in the end but had done more than enough to get his side into a good position. Chris Woakes and Mark Wood had a horrible time, both being taken to the cleaners by Markram and Rassie.
The semifinalists from Group 1 have now been decided, with England finishing on top of the group while Australia go through in second place. They now await the team that qualifies from Group 2 alongside Pakistan.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to England vs South Africa:
Proud of you manne!
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) November 6, 2021
Sadly, #SouthAfrica won the battle but lost the war!#T20WorldCup21#T20WorldCup#ENGvSA #SAvsENG
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 6, 2021
England's loss to South Africa means that #Pakistan is the only unbeaten team at the T20 World Cup #Cricket #T20WorldCup
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) November 6, 2021
South Africa win the match ??
A great effort from the boys but not quite enough, still through to the semi-final top of the group ?#T20WorldCup #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/J9JKgUFcae
— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) November 6, 2021
South Africa out. Australia to play Pakistan in semis. England will await the second-placed team from the other group #EngvsSA
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) November 6, 2021
Any ideal World Cup format includes genuine quarter-finals. Knockout cricket is so much fun, and when you're already embracing the chaotic decider of NRR, you might as well rejig to allow teams to actually play each other. NRR is fine, but fundamentally skewed by scheduling. https://t.co/70ADO8ZWP9
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) November 6, 2021
Kagiso Rabada……
First 3 overs: 45/0
Last over: W W W 1 1 1First South African player to take a hat-trick in T20 World Cup.
Also, the first to take hat-trick in both ODIs & T20Is for South Africa.#ENGvSA #T20WorldCup #T20WorldCup21
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) November 6, 2021
England will be disappointed to lose that game but effectively Roy’s injury during PP the difference in the chase. South Africa deserved winners and reminder for Morgan & Co that the bowling needs to be on it because batters can’t always bail you out #T20WorldCup
— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) November 6, 2021
What a strange end to things. KG takes a hat-trick after leaking runs earlier in the innings, South Africa beat the best team in the group but don't go to the semi-finals and there's a whole lot of what ifs. Like what if they chased faster against Bangladesh. Eish. #T20WorldCup
— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) November 6, 2021
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