Cricket Highlights, June 19: WC 2024 (Match 41) – USA vs South Africa.

USA vs South Africa (Match 41) – Highlights

In this article, we will discuss the thrilling encounter between South Africa and the USA in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024. South Africa, known for their knack for close finishes in this tournament, once again found themselves in a nail-biting match. The USA, making an impressive debut in the Super Eight, pushed South Africa to their limits on a batter-friendly pitch.

South Africa eked out another tight win at the T20 World Cup 2024, this time against the USA, who made an impressive debut in their first Super Eight match. On a batter-friendly pitch, the USA managed to restrict South Africa to under 200, even after South Africa were comfortably positioned at 126 for 1 in the 13th over.

Quinton de Kock, possibly playing in his last international tournament, finally found form after a string of low scores. Although he didn’t hit South Africa’s first boundary—that honor went to Reeza Hendricks with a six over cover—de Kock unleashed a flurry of big hits in the fourth over, hammering Jasdeep Singh for 28 runs.

De Kock’s onslaught set South Africa up with 64 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay. He reached his half-century off 26 balls and posted his highest score of the tournament with 74 runs. USA’s fielding, particularly catches by Corey Anderson and Shayan Jahangir, brought them back into the game, but South Africa still managed to accumulate 53 runs in the last five overs.

Despite a valiant effort from Saurabh Netravalkar and Harmeet Singh, who took three wickets for just 15 runs between them, the rest of the USA attack faltered. Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs provided crucial resistance, sharing a fifth-wicket stand of 53 to set a competitive total for South Africa.

USA began their chase brightly, courtesy of Steven Taylor’s aggressive batting. However, Kagiso Rabada’s double strike during the Powerplay kept the game balanced. Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi then tightened the screws on the USA in the middle overs.

Andries Gous almost turned the game in favor of the USA with an unbeaten 80. His partnership with Harmeet Singh added 91 runs for the sixth wicket, marking the second-highest stand for the sixth wicket or lower in T20 World Cup history. Despite this effort, Rabada and Anrich Nortje’s death bowling ultimately secured South Africa’s victory, earning them their first Super Eight points.

Andries Gous, originally from Welkom, South Africa, showcased his talent against his birth nation. Having moved to the USA during the Covid-19 pandemic, Gous made his international debut three months prior. In this match, he played a crucial role, scoring an unbeaten 80 and hitting multiple boundaries, including back-to-back sixes off Anrich Nortje.

His partnership with Harmeet Singh kept USA in contention, needing 50 runs off the last three overs. Gous’s efforts in the 18th over, where he hit Shamsi for consecutive sixes, left USA needing just 28 runs from the final two overs.

Kagiso Rabada, who had a relatively quiet group stage, stepped up in this crucial match. South Africa opted for Rabada over Ottneil Baartman, valuing Rabada’s experience. He justified this decision by removing the dangerous Steven Taylor early in his spell and later dismissing Nitish Kumar. Rabada’s penultimate over was decisive, breaking the crucial partnership between Gous and Harmeet.

Harmeet’s departure after hitting a Rabada full toss to Tristan Stubbs at midwicket ended USA’s hopes of an upset, sealing South Africa’s narrow win.

South Africa vs USA Scoreboard

South Africa – 194/4 (20.0)

USA – 176/6 (20.0)

Result – South Africa won by 18 runs

Player of the match – Quinton De Kock

Quinton De Kock

South Africa vs USA Playing XIs

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