Antigua: Tabraiz Shamsi’s three-wicket haul and a measured knock of 29 runs off 27 balls by Tristan Stubbs helped South Africa clinch a cliffhanger victory by three wickets (DLS method) against the West Indies, joining England in the semifinals of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
In a rain-curtailed match, Aiden Markram’s men held their nerves to chase down a revised target of 123 with five balls to spare, securing their place in the semifinals for the third time in the tournament’s history, following qualifications in 2009 and 2014.
South Africa’s seventh consecutive win also saw them finish their Super 8 campaign on top of the Group 2 table. The Caribbean team, which won all their Group C matches and subsequently defeated the United States by nine wickets, fell short in the virtual quarterfinal against the Proteas.
The match, played under the looming threat of rain, saw Shamsi deliver a crucial performance with the ball, taking three wickets to stifle the West Indies batting lineup. His efforts were complemented by Stubbs, who anchored the innings with a composed 29, ensuring South Africa navigated the pressure-filled chase.