T20 World Cup: South Africa pip USA in Super 8
South Africa beat the United States at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The Proteas sealed the deal in a crucial Super 8, Group B clash in Antigua. Riding on a splendid 74-run knock from the blade of Quinton de Kock, SA managed 194/4. In response, the USA fought valiantly after being 76/5. Andries Gous scored an unbeaten 80 as USA managed 176/6.
Here's the match summary
SA lost Reeza Hendricks early on (13/1) before de Kock and Aiden Markram added 110 runs for the second wicket. SA were reduced to 141/4 thereafter. Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs scored unbeaten knocks to propel the Proteas to 194/4. For the USA, Saurabh Netravalkar claimed 2/21. The USA kept losing regular wickets before Gous and Harmeet Singh added a quality partnership.
Quinton de Kock slams his 15th T20I half-century
De Kock's 74 was laced with seven fours and five sixes (SR: 185). The senior batter has raced to 2,463 T20I runs from 88 matches at 31.57. In addition to 15 fifties, he owns a century. De Kock surpassed 250 fours (252) and is nearing 100 sixes (98). In 23 T20 World Cup games, de Kock now owns 523 runs at 24.18 (50s: 3).
Joint-3rd-fastest fifty in T20 WC 2024
De Kock now owns the joint-third-fastest fifty in terms of balls faced in T20 World Cup 2024. Aaron Jones of USA holds the record (22 balls versus Canada). Marcus Stoinis (25 balls versus Scotland) is next. Scotland's Brandon McMullen (26 balls versus AUS) follows suit.
Other notable records for de Kock
As per ESPNcricinfo, de Kock has raced to 9,785 runs in T20 cricket. He smashed his 62nd fifty (100s: 6). QDK averages a neat 31.56. His strike rate is 137.91. De Kock and Markram's 110-run stand is SA's fourth T20 WC century-plus partnership. De Kock owns 16 fifty-plus scores for SA. He surpassed Reeza Hendricks (15) for most 50-plus scores for SA in T20Is.
Markram and Klaasen chip in for SA
Markram slammed 46 from 32 balls. In 158 T20s, he owns 3,893 runs at 31.65. Notably, 1,195 of his runs have come for South Africa in T20Is at 35.14. He owns 338 T20 World Cup runs. Klaasen scored an unbeaten 22-ball 36. He hit three sixes. Klaasen now owns 830 T20I runs at 23.71. Overall in T20s, he has amassed 4,567 runs at 32.85.
Nortje achieves these records
SA fast bowler Anrich Nortje now has the joint-record for most consecutive innings with at least one wicket in T20 World Cups (15). He equalled former England spinner Graeme Swann. Nortje (1/38) now owns 30 T20 World Cup wickets. He is the joint-highest wicket-taker for SA in the global T20 event, matching Dale Steyn. Nortje averages 10.16 (ER: 5.36).
A sensational three-fer for Rabada
Kagiso Rabada was sensational for SA. He claimed 3/18. In 18 T20 World Cup games, he has 22 wickets at 24.22. In T20Is, Rabada owns 65 scalps at 28.23. Overall in T20s, he has claimed 258 T20 scalps at 23.60.
Gous attains these feats with an unbeaten 80
Gous hit an unbeaten 80 from 45 balls. He clobbered five fours and five sixes. Gous now has the third-highest individual score for USA in T20Is. As per Cricbuzz, Gous became the fourth opening batter to go unbeaten in a losing run-chase in T20 World Cups after Chris Gayle, Salman Butt and Max O'Dowd. Gous hammered his 4th T20I fifty (343 runs at 38.11).
Fifth win on the bounce for SA
This was the fifth win on the bounce for South Africa in T20 World Cup 2024. It's the joint-longest for them in the competition equaling five consecutive wins in the 2009 edition.
Maharaj claims 1/24 from his 4 overs
Keshav Maharaj managed 1/24 from his four overs. The left-arm spinner now has 30 wickets in T20Is at 25.60. His economy rate is 7.18. Overall in T20 cricket, Maharaj has claimed 138 scalps at 27.72.
