South Africa defeat spirited US in World Cup Super 8

South Africa defeated the United States by 18 runs in the first T20 World Cup Super 8 game in Antigua on Wednesday, with Kagiso Rabada's experience shining through at the end of a tense match.

After struggling on New York's slow pitches in the group stage, South Africa scored freely at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, posting 194-4 thanks to Quinton de Kock's fine knock of 74.

In response, U.S. opener Andries Gous (80 not out) and Harmeet Singh (38) down the order provided the fireworks, but fast bowler Rabada took crucial wickets in his 3-18 spell and restricted the run rate as the US fell short.

"We've had some tricky wickets coming up to this game and I think it's just nice to spend some time out in the middle," player of the match De Kock said.

The United States won the toss and chose to field first, dismissing Reeza Hendricks early on, but De Kock let loose as South Africa scored at over 10 runs per over during the powerplay.

De Kock reached fifty in 26 balls and shared a 110-run stand with skipper Aiden Markram off 60 deliveries.

Harmeet Singh dismissed De Kock with a mistimed full toss and a catch near the boundary, and the all-rounder was on a hat-trick when he had David Miller caught and bowled.

Markram fell four runs short of his fifty when he chased a wide loose ball, and Ali Khan made a sharp diving catch to give Saurabh Netravalkar his second wicket.

Despite Netravalkar's outstanding performance (2-21), the others were unable to contain South Africa, as Heinrich Klaasen hit sixes and scored a quick 36 in an unbroken 53-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs (20), propelling them to 194-4.

American opener Steven Taylor (24) demonstrated his intent with a boundary off the first ball, but after four fours and a six, he fell to Rabada when a mistimed shot was caught in mid-off.

The fast bowler also dismissed Nitish Kumar, who was caught at deep square leg, and US captain Aaron Jones was out for a duck to spinner Keshav Maharaj.

Gous resisted, hitting back-to-back sixes to reach fifty, but the required run rate increased.

There was hope when Shamsi scored 22 runs in an expensive 18th over, but Rabada returned to dismiss Harmeet, conceding only two runs in the penultimate over.

"It's hard to take the defeat after getting so close. We could have been a little more disciplined bowling-wise," Jones said.

"It could have been a closer game and we could have got over the line."

SportsLigue