In their final group match for the T20 World Cup Super 8s, South Africa secured a convincing six-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Delhi. This win refined their preparations and confirmed their qualification for the next stage of the tournament. The UAE, who had already been eliminated, set a target of 123 runs.
Match Overview
South Africa approached the match with strategy in mind. They opted to field first after winning the toss and made four significant changes to their lineup: David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, and Lungi Ngidi were rested. The only disruption during the game came from potential rain delays.
UAE’s Innings
- Aryansh Sharma scored 13 runs.
- Captain Muhammad Waseem contributed 22 runs.
The UAE started steadily but struggled to maintain momentum. Corbin Bosch and George Linde played key roles, removing the openers early. Alishan Sharafu aimed to anchor the innings, but with wickets tumbling around him, the UAE’s total stalled. Sharafu departed just five runs shy of a half-century, and the team finished their innings at 122 for 6, managing only 20 runs in the final four overs.
South Africa’s Response
The Proteas faced a brief rain delay before their innings commenced. Upon returning, captain Aiden Markram set an aggressive tone with a quickfire 28 off 11 balls. Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis contributed 30 and 36 runs, respectively, as South Africa chased down the target comfortably in the 14th over, finishing with 40 balls to spare.
Group Performance
Throughout the tournament, South Africa showcased remarkable form, achieving a perfect record in Group D with four wins from four matches. In contrast, the UAE’s only victory came against Canada.
This match highlighted South Africa’s readiness for the upcoming challenges in the T20 World Cup Super 8s as they look forward to advancing further in the tournament.
