England are through to the semi-finals and South Africa are out of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021, despite the Proteas winning a run-fest in Sharjah.
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South Africa may not have managed to qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup. However, they have have certainly bowed out of the tournament with their heads held up high, following a fine triumph against England in their final encounter of the prestigious tournament. The Proteas needed to restrict the latter to 131 runs, having posted a total of 189 runs for the loss of two wickets in order to enter the semi-finals. However, England finished with a score of 179 runs having lost eight wickets, resulting in a defeat by a margin of 10 runs.
Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram smashed unbeaten half-centuries to help the team post a total of 189/2 against England. Van der Dussen accumulated 94 runs from 60 deliveries in an innings comprising of five boundaries and six sixes. The tally was accumulated at a strike rate of 156.67. Markram was supremely impressive as well, smashing 52 runs off 25 balls with the innings including two fours and four maximums. Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali were the pick of the bowlers for England, chipping in with a dismissal apiece.
“A lot of credit must go to Rassie and even Quinny, the start they gave, it let us come in and play freely. Allowed us to play our roles and it looks good when it comes off. The wicket is probably better than most of the pitches here, but it’s still holding at times.But I think we can be satisfied with the score we have. We have got something to bowl at, it’s not in our control, but our bowling attack has been incredible right throughout the tournament,” stated Markram as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Pacer Kagiso Rabada has always been hailed for his ability to close out games effectively. He gave an indication of the same capabilities in the 20th over, accounting for a maiden career and World Cup hat-trick. Rabada accounted for the dismissals of Chris Woakes, Eoin Morgan and Chris Jordan in the final over of the innings, having been handed 14 runs to defend. While he was expensive, conceding 48 runs during the spell, the hat-trick will certainly make things all the more sweeter.
All-rounder Moeen Ali was the leading run-scorer among the English batsmen. Moeen scored 37 runs in 27 balls, with the knock including three fours and two maximums. Dawid Malan was the second highest run-getter in the English batting department, accumulating 33 runs off 26 deliveries. Malan’s knock comprised of three boundaries and a six.
“It doesn’t mean too much in the context. We were asking too much from the bowlers to defend that score in order to get into the semis. It was a good performance, beating a good side. It’s a type of a wicket, where the new batters needed time to get in, you saw that in their innings. The three venues are so different. Today it kept low, from the batting point of view it has been quite a challenge to adjust to the three venues,” said Rassie after being named as the Player of the Match.
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