Twitter Reactions: Nervy South Africa go past West Indies to secure semi-final berth

The T20 World Cup 2024 Super Eight stage’s 10th match witnessed co-hosts West Indies (WI) squaring off against South Africa (SA), at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, on Tuesday, June 24. The Proteas skipper Aiden Markram called it correctly at the toss and chose to bowl first. Being invited to set a total, the Caribbean suffered a big blow at the start of the innings, losing their opener Shai Hope in the third ball. In form wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran was dismissed in the very next over, with the score standing 5/2. 

From that position, Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase put up an important 81-run partnership. Mayers played a crucial knock of 35 runs before finding himself in the dugout. Chase on the other hand smashed his maiden T20I half-century, lacing his innings with three boundaries and two huge sixes. Other West Indies batters looked out of place as they failed to create a big partnership. All-rounder Andre Russell was looking to take his team to a big total but was dismissed by a run-out, making the scoreline read 135/8 at the end of the innings.

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For South Africa, Tabraiz Shamsi was the pick of the bowlers, ending with 3/27 off his four overs. Shamsi was supported by Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada picking a wicket each. 

The chase began with disappointment for the Proteas as they lost their opener Reeza Hendricks on a first-ball duck. His partner Quinton de Kock also walked back after adding a mere 12 runs to the tally. Meanwhile, skipper Markram was expected to control the situation and take his side to a better position, but failed to do so as he added just 18 runs, as South Africa were 50/3 after six overs.

Due to weather delays in the middle of the match, a few overs were reduced using the DLS method, with the revised target of 123 runs in 17 overs. Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs stitched an important partnership after the play began, scoring 22 and 29 runs, respectively.

Big finisher David Miller who was expected to finish the game walked back to the pavilion after scoring just four runs. South Africa’s lower order kept their calm to the very end, leading their team to win. Marco Jansen hit 14 ball-21, including a six in the first ball of the final over, to seal his team’s semi-final spot.

Meanwhile, the social media users did their bit by reacting to the thrilling cricketing action, citing their take on X (formerly Twitter):