SA spurn chance to seal semis spot as Oz punch ticket in last 4

Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Sports Reporter

South Africa earned commiseration while all the congratulations came Australia’s way as the Proteas’ hard luck continued in the World Cup, they defeated England by 10 runs in their last match nevertheless failed to qualify for the semi-final of the showpiece event in Sharjah on Saturday.

In the other match, Australia defeated West Indies by eight wickets earlier in the day to keep their hopes alive. Australia chased down a fighting total of 157 for the loss of just two wickets with 22 balls to spare.

South Africa spurned a chance to thwart Kangaroos and punch their ticket as they choked once again against the mighty England.

After setting up a target of 190, South Africa needed to restrict England to 131 to qualify for the semi-final but they failed to stop a rampaging England and could win the match by a slim margin of just 10 runs.

Chasing, England got off to a fiery start as Jason Roy and Jos Buttler added 38 runs before the former was retired hurt. Buttler played a quick-fire 15-ball 28 run cameo before Anrich Nortje dismissed him.

Tabrez Shamsi trapped Jonny Bairstow in the next over to reduce England to 59/2. With two new batsmen on the crease, South Africa had a chance to mount pressure on them with some tight bowling.

Moeen Ali had different plans as he belted a quick-fire 37 and shared a 51-run partnership to all but end South Africa’s hopes.

Shasmi got rid of him but it was too late as England had already reached 110/3 in just 12 overs, which left South Africa needing to take another seven wickets with in 20 runs to qualify for semi-final.

Kagiso Rabada, who conceded 45 runs in his first three overs, claimed a dramatic hat-trick in the last over, as England could manage to muster 179.

Earlier, Rassie van der Dussen smashed an unbeaten 94 and shared a century stand with Aiden Markram, who also smacked blitzkrieg fifty to propel the score to a fighting total.

Dussen also shared a 71-run partnership with Quinton de Kock to set the tone for a big total after an early wobble.

After South Africa had lost the wicket of opener Reeza Hendricks with just 15 runs on the board, Dussen and de Kock knuckled down to mend the innings.

Both the batsmen played sensibly and kept the scoreboard ticking with singles and doubles, hitting occasional boundaries to maintain the run rate.

Australia’s victory against West Indies earlier in the day, had put extra pressure on South Africa. But the good thing from their perspective was that they exactly knew what should be the victory margin to punch a ticket for the semi-finals.

Both Dussen and de Kock knew another wicket would push them on the back foot and recovery from there on would be an uphill task.

They needed to win the game and win it handsomely to overhaul the run rate of Australia.

Dussen, who had scored a century in a warm-up match against Pakistan, was due to play a big innings and he got into the rhythm when it mattered the most. His previous four scores were 2, 43, 16 and 22.

England needed a wicket to claw back into the game and Adil Rashid did the trick for them. He got de Kock caught by Roy to give England much-needed breakthrough as England heaved a sigh of relief, oblivious of the fact what was in store for them.

Markram joined Dussen in the middle to take the innings forward. He made his intent clear from the beginning as he tonked Rashid for a six. After that there was no stopping as both the batsmen plundered the runs from every corner of the ground.

They tore away the England attack and as Dussen took 23 runs off Chris Jordan’s over with the help of three sixes. They brought up the hundred-run partnership in just 52 deliveries. Markram reached his fifty in style with a six off Mark Wood.

Dussen missed out on century, smashing a 60-ball 94 with the help of five hit to the fence and six over it while Markram’s 25-ball 52 was studded with two boundaries and four sixes.

Moeen Ali was the most successful bowler as he conceded 27 runs in his four overs, taking the prize wicket of Hendricks.