ICC Men's T20 WC'24: South Africa Stays Undefeated, Edges England by Seven Runs

South Africa maintained their unbeaten streak in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 by holding off a late surge from Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone, securing a seven-run victory over England in the Super Eight stage at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium. Despite England limiting South Africa to 163/6 in 20 overs, the defending champions faced adversity at 61-4, needing 101 runs from their final nine overs. However, Brook's composed 53 and a dynamic partnership of 78 runs off 42 balls between him and Liam Livingstone, who scored a rapid 33 off 17 balls, kept England in contention until the end.

England required 25 runs from the final 18 balls to complete their chase, but South Africa conceded only 17 runs in the last three overs, clinching a thrilling victory in the last over and ascending to the top of Group 2. Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada claimed two wickets each for the Proteas, supported by a superb performance from Anrich Nortje and a wicket from Ottneil Baartman. In pursuit of 164 runs, Phil Salt made a strong start with a pulled six and lofted four before Reeza Hendricks dived to his left at cover to dismiss him off Rabada's bowling. Rabada nearly claimed his second wicket when Jonny Bairstow edged towards deep third man, but the fielder failed to grasp the opportunity.

After England’s Power-play ended at 41/1, the defending champions suffered a meltdown as Bairstow cut straight to diving backward point and Jos Buttler pulled straight to deep mid-wicket off Maharaj. When Baartman had Moeen Ali pulling to deep mid-wicket, England were in deep trouble at 61/4 in 10.2 overs. But Livingstone and Brook began to accelerate – the former began by slogging Nortje’s pacy ball for four, while the latter swept Maharaj and cut Jansen for a brace of fours.

England took full advantage of Rabada’s pace-on deliveries as Livingstone swiped him with the wind for six, followed by Brook cutting and scooping for two fours to take 18 runs off the 15th over. Nortje continued to bowl pace-on balls and Brook made merry by lofting over mid-off and nailing back foot drive to take two fours. Baartman missed his lengths as he bowled three full tosses, which Livingstone duly dispatched for two fours and a six. Brook then chipped him over mid-on for four as 21 runs came off the 17th over.

Despite Liam Livingstone miscuing a full-toss from Rabada to deep backward square leg, Harry Brook reached his fifty in 35 balls with England needing 14 runs from the final over. However, Aiden Markram's exceptional catch over his right shoulder, while running backward from mid-off, off Anrich Nortje's slower ball, effectively ensured South Africa's victory in the match.