Resilient Andries Gous led a sensational fightback for USA however South Africa’s skilled professionals pulled off an 18-run victory of their Group 2 Tremendous Eight match of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday. South Africa-born Gous led a surprising fightback for USA with a 47-ball 80 not out studded with 5 sixes and as many fours to maintain his facet alive within the contest proper till the ultimate over, however the Proteas had the ultimate chuckle as they opened their account with two factors in kitty.

Chasing 195 even on a batting-friendly deck right here at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was going to be a monumental job for USA towards South Africa’s bowling assault, however the Affiliate nation confirmed unimaginable gumption in ending with 176 for six in reply.

The South African-born Gous waged a lone battle of kinds for almost all of USA’s reply, placing on an unimaginable 91-run stand for the sixth wicket with Harmeet Singh (38, 22 balls, 2x4s, 3x6s)m, however South Africa had simply too many on the board.

Despite the fact that Steven Taylor (24 off 14 balls, 4x4s, 1x6s) set the tone early for the USA on the high, others like Nitish Kumar (8), skipper Aaron Jones (0), Corey Anderson (12) and Shayan Jahangir (3) flopped with the bat which nearly shut the doorways on their facet.

Diminished to 76/5 within the twelfth over with one other 119 runs to win, USA appeared down and out.

However Gous, who has performed U-19s for South Africa, and colts World Cup winner Harmeet went on a carnage of kinds to take their facet as shut as doable. He swung his bat at will and located gaps with precision as South African bowlers, who had nearly arrange a snug win, had been scurrying for canopy.

In tow, the left-handed Harmeet additionally dealt a couple of lusty blows, particularly towards Tabraiz Shamsi in the direction of the top to maintain USA within the hunt even when the asking price hovered round 15 runs per over.

However on the finish, it was Kagiso Rabada’s (4-0-18-3) brilliance which ensured Proteas’ win after he broke their cussed partnership and allowed a mere two runs within the penultimate over.

USA’s resistance additionally ate into a big chunk of South Africa’s margin of win which might have been far larger had the 2 not added 91 for the sixth wicket.

Earlier, Quinton de Kock led the cost with a 40-ball 74 which set the tone for South Africa, whose high order lastly got here via with a strong present to energy them to 194 for 4 within the first half.

On a pitch anticipated to be sluggish and spin-friendly, De Kock defied odds to place the USA bowlers to sword whereas citing his maiden fifty within the event, whereas South Africa placed on 194 for 4 in 20 overs.

De Kock’s fireworks on the high and skipper Aiden Markram’s fluent 46 additionally helped South Africa banish their top-order woes after the frontline batters had flopped collectively within the group stage.

In the direction of the top, Heinrich Klaasen (36 not out) and Tristan Stubbs (20 not out) added 53 runs unbeaten for the fifth wicket in simply 5 overs.

De Kock led South Africa’s cost following a meek begin which noticed Reeza Hendricks (11) being Saurabh Netravalkar’s (2/21) newest sufferer within the powerplay, placing on 110 runs from a mere 60 balls for the second wicket with Markram.

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)