T20 World Cup 2024: South Africa join England in semi-finals

South Africa joined England in the T20 World Cup semi-finals and topped the group after coming through a tense finish to beat West Indies.

The co-hosts could manage only 135 for eight off their 20 overs, but South Africa stuttered in response to what had looked like a comfortably attainable total.

They were reduced to 15 for two and were then set a revised target of 123 off 17 overs following a heavy downpour, which delayed play by an hour and a quarter.

Any hopes for a fervent home crowd in Antigua, though, were denied as Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada sealed the required runs at the start of the final over.

It means that England, as group runners-up, now face whoever tops the other Super Eights group.

India are the favourites to do that and face Australia on Monday afternoon. Defeat would likely mean Australia’s exit from the tournament.

Following their win, South Africa captain Aiden Markram said: “A lot of relief to get through, but I’m not going to be brainwashed by that. We’d have liked to be a lot more convincing in getting the job done.

“It’s been the story of our competition, to get ourselves into tricky situations, then, by hook or by crook, get over the line.”

England have not had the easiest of times, but were a class apart against co-hosts United States in their final match of the Super Eight stage.

The US could manage only 115 as Chris Jordan took four wickets, including a hat-trick to round off the innings, at the Barbados ground where he “first fell in love with the game”.

England picked off the US total inside 10 overs, captain Jos Buttler starring with a rapid, unbeaten 83, bludgeoning his runs off just 38 balls alongside Phil Salt, who scored 25 from 21 balls.