WEB DESK: South Africa defeated England by seven runs in their second Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2024 at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia on Friday.
England had a slow start to the run chase after their last match performer Phil Salt 11 off 8 ballswent back in the second over. Jos Buttler 17 off 20 balls
and Jonny Bairstow 16 off 20 balls steadied but lost wickets at the crucial stages.
Keshav Maharaj had the better of both the batters. Moeen Ali 9 off 10 balls also couldn’t put the pressure as the run rate went creeping. He tried to play a big shot but was removed by Ottneil Baartman.
England came back in the chase with Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone forming a crucial stand of 78 runs. Brook took on the South African bowlers while Livingstone attacked in patches.
Livingstone managed 17-ball 33 before being dismissed by Kagiso Rabada
Meanwhile, Brook reached to his first T20 World Cup fifty but couldn’t finish the chase as he departed courtesy of a brilliant catch by skipper Aiden Markram. He made 37-ball 53 runs. The defending champions were restricted to 156/6.
