T20 World Cup: De Kock, Rabada lead the way as South Africa overcome brave challenge from USA

South Africa staved off a spirited challenge from USA in the first match of the Super 8s on Thursday to collect their fifth win on the trot in the ongoing T20 World Cup.

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Wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock starred in South Africa’s 18-run victory in North Sound, Antigua with a 40-ball 74 that helped the two-time semi-finalists post a challenging 194/4 on the board after stand-in USA captain Aaron Jones opted ot field.

Aiden Markram (46 off 32 balls) and Heinrich Klaasen (36 not out off 22 balls) also made valuable contributions to the South African total, the former adding 110 for the second wicket with de Kock after the Proteas were off to a shaky start.

Incidentally, it was a South African wicketkeeper-batter who headlined USA’s batting performance with Andries Gous remaining unbeaten on 80 off 47 balls and taking the game that appeared dead and buried at the halfway stage of the chase to the last over.

The 30-year-old from Welkom, who represented the Proteas at the U-19 level before shifting base to the United States and eventually qualifying to represent them at the international level, added 91 runs for the sixth wicket with bowling all-rounder Harmeet Singh (38 off 22).

The pair gave the Americans a glimmer of hope of pulling off their second big upset of the tournament after their stunning victory over Pakistan in Dallas. The Proteas, however, maintained their composure and ensured the US fell well short of the target once Harmeet was dismissed and the partnership was broken, starting the Super 8s on a winning note as a result.

Pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada finished the pick of the bowlers with a haul of 3/18 from four overs, conceding just two singles in a tense penultimate over besides dismissing Harmeet to virtually seal the contest in his team’s favour.

De Kock leads the way

Opening batsman de Kock, his country’s leading run-maker in the format, reached his 15th T20 international fifty off 26 balls.

He was eventually dismissed for 74 with seven fours and five sixes in a 40-ball innings which was comfortably his best performance of the tournament.

In four previous visits to the crease at the World Cup, the 31-year-old had a best of just 20 against Sri Lanka.

Skipper Markram also hit his tournament best of 46 from 32 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Markram and De Kock put on 110 for the second wicket and helped their team reach 101-1 off the first 10 overs.

Slow left-armer Harmeet brought the United States back into the match by removing De Kock and fellow dangerman David Miller (0) in the space of two balls.

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Markram’s innings was ended by impressive fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar who finished with 2-21 from his four overs.

Gous, Harmeet give hope

Heinrich Klaasen (36 not out) and Tristan Stubbs (20 not out) added an undefeated 53 for the fifth wicket.

The United States enjoyed a bright start to their reply on Wednesday, reaching 50 in the first five overs before they struggled to contain the Proteas’ pace-spin attack.

Rabada removed Steven Taylor (24) and Nitish Kumar (eight) before American hopes suffered a major blow when skipper Jones was out without scoring.

Jones had smashed an undefeated 94 in the first round win over Canada but lasted just five balls Wednesday when he edged spinner Maharaj to de Kock.

Former New Zealand international Corey Anderson made a quick 12 before his stumps were scattered by Anrich Nortje one ball after cracking a six over midwicket.

The USA limped to 73-4 off the first 10 overs before opener Gous and Harmeet suddenly reignited their team’s hopes.

Gous smashed leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi for three sixes in the 18th over to leave his team needing 28 off 12 balls.

Rabada, however, conceded just two runs off the 19th over while also dismissing Harmeet to finish with 3-18.

Harmeet made his runs from 22 balls with two fours and three sixes.

Gous’s runs came off 47 balls and featured five fours and five sixes.

Shamsi went for 50 runs off his four overs.

West Indies and defending champions England are the other teams in Group 2 of the Super Eights.

India, Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh comprise Group 1.

With AFP inputs