Sharjah (UAE): South Africa has never been a great T20 side. Though they overcame England by 10 runs on Saturday, South Africa exited the Twenty20 World Cup.
Rassie van der Dussen smashed an unbeaten 94 but that didn’t prevent Group 1 winners England and Australia, who beat West Indies in the first match of the day, made the final four from the six-team pool.
South Africa posted 189 for two after Van de Dussen smashed six sixes in his 60-ball knock but needed to limit England to 131 or fewer to edge out Australia on net run-rate.
England finished on 179-8 after a hat-trick by Kagiso Rabada in the final over. It was England’s first loss in five matches.
Van der Dussen and Aiden Markram, who hit 52 off 25 balls, put on an unbeaten attacking partnership of 103 for the third wicket to give their team a challenging total.
With England and Australia making the last four, it remains to be seen who’s going to be second team from the other group after Pakistan.
2007 champions India need a big win against Namibia on November 8, but Virat Kohli’s men would also expect New Zealand to lose against Afghanistan.
If New Zealand qualifies, Pakistan would be the only subcontinent team in the last four.