ENG VS RSA - 45th Match, Super 8 Group 2, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2024

So South Africa pick up yet another scratchy win but they have the points on the board and are unbeaten. As Markram said, they haven't played a complete game yet but the crucial thing is different players have risen in different occasions. They said this was the best pitch for batting here but both teams found out it wasn't the case and this in fact is the lowest team total batting first this World Cup here. That's curtains on this game. Barbados gears up to host West Indies v USA in a few hours from now. The West Indies need a win to stay alive in the comp. But USA have made it tough for all opponents. Can they pull off another upset? We'll see you all for that game. Take care!

Aiden Markram: Last three overs we had a lot against us but the bowlers had good plans and pulled it off. Message after the powerplay was it got slower. If I am greedy we were 10-20 short especially after the start we got. Not quite played a completely game of cricket but we are on the right track. Quinny (de Kock) has been good for us in the last two games. It was a bit nerve-wracking in those overs but it can happen. The plans were there just the execution wasn't. I'm grateful that catch (off Brook) stuck.

Buttler: Powerplay. Quinton came in with a lot of intent and we couldn't quite match that. We pulled it back and were happy to chase that target but his innings was the difference. We came back well with the ball. Brook and Livingstone had a fantastic partnership to get us close and even look like favourites but credit to South Africa for closing out the game. Really valuable. He's very understanding that you don't get to face many balls in T20 cricket at that positions. He's hitting the ball really well in the nets and backing himself. Looking forward to the next one.

Quinton de Kock | Player of the Match: It (the pitch) definitely doesn't play the same as night games. It's completely a different surface compared to the night games. There was a little bit of extra bounce early on. I try to carry on confidence game by game. We bowled really well in the powerplay, and we controlled it very nicely. To be able to defend 160 on a decent wicket is a good effort from us.

Keshav Maharaj spells in T20 WC 2024
2/22(4) vs SL
0/24(4) vs Net
3/27(4) vs Ban
1/24(4) vs USA
2/25(4) vs Eng

- Sixth win on the bounce for South Africa in T20 WC 2004 - the longest for them in the competition surpassing five successive wins in the 2009 edition.

Most consecutive innings with at least one wicket in T20 WCs
16 Anrich Nortje (2021-24*)
15 Graeme Swann (2009-12)
15 Adam Zampa (2021-24*)
11 Ish Sodhi (2016-21)

South Africa should have won this easily. England should have won this easily too. Both played some poor cricket and one eventually lost to nerves. With just 164 to get and Salt getting a small but quick start, all England had to do was take it deep with wickets in hand but they found themselves at 61/4. Maharaj was the pick of the bowlers with KG and Baartman joining hands for a wicket each. But Brook had a clear plan and batted sensibly. Livingstone was middling pretty well and the Proteas started feeling the heat. KG leaked 18 in an over, Nortje followed up with a 13-run over but Baartman dished out five full toss in a 21-run over to literally turn the game on its head. Rabada and Jansen came back for a great 18th and 19th over where they conceded only 11 off the two overs to leave Nortje 13 to defend off the final over. Luckily Brook mishit first ball and Markram took a great catch and Nortje managed to close the game out for his side.

14:00 Local Time, 18:00 GMT, 23:30 IST: Harry Brook played a sensational innings. He came in with his side in deep trouble. Had the idea to take it deep and take calculated risks. He targetted the right balls and zones to hit gaps. He was all set to take England home but a mishit when he just needed to connect to clear the infield and South Africa grabbed the game from his jaws.

Nortje to Jofra Archer, no run, Archer slogs and misses! South Africa get out of jail to remain unbeaten in this comp

Nortje to Sam Curran, 1 run, Nortje manages to get it close to the off-side yorker, Curran smacks but finds mid-off. The South African fans rejoice. That was again a slot ball that could have smashed

Nortje to Sam Curran, no run, full toss, Curran mistimes the flick, finds deep mid-wicket, denies the run and wants to do it himself

Nortje to Sam Curran, FOUR, this is poor from Nortje. It's a short leg-side hit and he's trying to bowl leg-side where the wind will help Curran target leg-side and he's had fine leg in too. Curran says yeah, thanks for that gift and glances it fine to the fine leg fence. England still in it

Nortje to Jofra Archer, 1 run, swings hard, but can only drag it to deep mid-wicket

Jofra Archer, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Nortje to Harry Brook, out Caught by Markram!! In the airrrr, Markram has taken a brilliant catch running back from mid-off. Is this the game now for South Africa? Full and in the slot from Nortje, Brook only tried to chip. Was it the slower ball that deceived him? Definitely didn't go through with the shot. Still was clearing the infield but Markram had his eyes set on the ball running back and looking over his right shoulder. Stretched full length and took completed the catch. If this wasn't pace off, Brook will be livid for missing out on a slot ball. Harry Brook c Markram b Nortje 53(37) [4s-7]

Nortje to Harry Brook, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Anrich Nortje [3.0-0-29-0] is back into the attack

Great work from Marco Jansen to keep 14 for the last over. Brook can still do it single-handedly. If SA need to win they need to get Brook

Marco Jansen to Sam Curran, 2 runs, slogs but drags it off the inside edge to deep mid-wicket but they steal the second run