T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8: Heartbreak For 'Spirited' USA As Proteas Prevail With An 18-Run Win

T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8: USA start their Super 8 with an agonizingly close defeat to Proteas and here are the highlights and key takeaways from the fixture. Read below.

Kagiso Rabada's heroics helped South Africa clinch an important victory against USA in the Super 8 opener ( Image Source :@CricCrazyJohns / X )

T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8: South Africa have started their Super 8 campaign on a winning note, as they clinch a hard-fought 18-run victory over a spirited USA side. The Proteas are pinned alongside co-hosts USA and West Indies, and England in the Super 8 Group 2, and the top two sides will be qualifiying for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024. 

The Proteas have prevailed in an humdinger 🇿🇦

Kagiso Rabada's heroics with the ball help South Africa register their first win in the Super Eight stage 🙌#T20WorldCup | #USAvSA | 📝: https://t.co/B9ixaLfSqV pic.twitter.com/oFpYXt1F6S

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) June 19, 2024

🟢🟡The perfect start to the Super 8!

We beat the USA by 18 runs in Antigua#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt#OutOfThisWorld #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/pRb4P8usSA

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 19, 2024

South Africa started the match on a positive note, as they smashed USA bowlers right from the word go. Inspite of losing Reeza Hendricks early in the innings, skipper Aiden Markram carried the run-scoring rate alongside Quinton De Kock, as the pair registered a 110-run partnership for the second wicket in merely 60 balls.

Twin wickets in quick succession from Harmeet Singh slowed things down for thr Proteas, but Heinrich Klassen and Tristan Stubbs saw the side beyond the 190-run mark, as USA were set a hefty target of 195.

USA never seemed to be in the competition, as ruthless bowling from the Proteas restricted the side to 76/5 inside 11.1 overs. However, Andre Gous had other plans, as his unbeaten 80 off 47 balls took USA almost beyond the finish line, until a 'certain' Kagiso Rabada appeared out of the blue and broke the American hearts by recording the figures of 3/18 in his 4 overs.

 

Here's What 'Man Of The Match' Quinton De Kock Said During Post-Match Presentation Ceremony 

"Obviously, it was a nice day out. A decent wicket finally. We have had tricky wickets coming here. The boys fought well. The USA also played well and put a good fight till the end. The focus was to score runs with the wind and the shorter boundary. We have had a tricky wickets coming up to this game. It was nice to get in and hit some balls and get some runs under our name," said De Kock.

"We still have a couple of more games to win. We will be coming up against some big teams. Different venues and different surfaces and don't know what we will be coming up against," he added.