T20 World Cup, June 1-29

[Durhamfootman]

Hat trick for Jordan.... I hadn't noticed

well done him

[Durhamfootman]

Buttler scored 30 runs off 5 balls in the 9th over

The big boys are coming up next, for England, though

[Arthur Crabtree]

I said England should pick Jordon.

[Durhamfootman]

not necessarily for entirely altruistic reasons

[bigfluffylemon]

So somehow we've bumbled our way into the semis. Weird tournament - we've lost to two of the three decent teams we've faced, failed to win three games, and thrashed three minnows, and that's enough for a SF berth, while India or Australia could go home with a single loss on their books.

Can't see us beating India or Australia next round, but it's T20, anyone can win on their day. And after the last WC, and compared to a number of other teams, a SF berth is at least par performance given our world ranking pre tournament.

I may be eating these words, but I reckon WI might complete a dark horse win here - beat SA now, then get Afghanistan again in the semis.

[bigfluffylemon]

WI SA in the balance between both sides and the rain.

[bigfluffylemon]

Klaasen playing a blinder since the resumption. SA's to lose now.

England likely to be facing India in the semis, one way or another.

[bigfluffylemon]

Two quick wickets and the runs are drying up. Not over yet.

Surely the dreaded C word won't come for South Africa again?

[bigfluffylemon]

13 needed off the last 2 overs and SA lose more wickets. 3 wickets left now. Going to the wire...

[bigfluffylemon]

5 needed from the last over.

Surely SA can't lose it from here?

[bigfluffylemon]

And they do get over the line.

SA top the group, West Indies are out.

[mikesiva]

Damn!

Sounds like it was a close one.

West Indies 135-8

Chase 52
Mayers 35

Shamsi 3-27

South Africa 124-7

Stubbs 29
Jansen 21*

Chase 3-12
Russell 2-19

South Africa won by three wickets on DLS.

[alfie]

Close one indeed...but West Indies couldn't overcome BFL's jinx

In truth a couple of fielding errors possibly did for them as SA were either (a) trying hard to choke one match early ; or (b) once again demonstrating their cool in a crisis mentality... Can they now go all the way at last ?

Sad for WI home fans ; but would have been hard for SA to go out with just one loss. Rain arguably hurt West Indies more as it seemed to undo Hosein and Motie - though Chase didn't seem to mind bowling with a wet ball.

Two more big games tomorrow and then the KO's ... some underwhelming and/or weather spoiled games so far ; but also one or two good contests , like this one. Hope to see more of the latter in this last week...

[alfie]

Looking back to England's semi- clinching win : have to call that a good job ; though really USA were hopelessly out of their depth. Power play bowling not outstanding , but Rashid was excellent as ever and Livingstone an encouraging spell. And Jordan of course did a great job cleaning up the tail - though he'd already bowled well earlier. Then Buttler at last got out of second gear and eviscerated the bowling - a timely return to his best after some slightly underwhelming efforts (for a player of his class) in earlier games.

The caveat to all this is that it was only USA ; so what it all means for a contest against a good team remains to be seen. I think they have their XI settled ; a bit bowler heavy but Curran and Jordan aren't rabbits and it looks a good top six , even if Moeen and Livingstone perhaps haven't had a lot of time at the crease yet. The bowling still worries me a bit : apart from Rashid - and Topley for economy - the others (even Jofra ) have been a bit up and down . But with seven bowlers and three wicket keepers in the team they don't lack for options

[Durhamfootman]

I was backing WI, but SA got over the line. It doesn't sound as though they were wholly convincing.

SA might get lucky and end up playing Afghanistan in the SF

could be 3 teams on 4 points in that group. Afghanistan will have the advantage of knowing exactly what they have to do by the time they play BD

Australia really do have to beat India today and they may even have to win big, because if they scrape a win there will still remain the possibility of Afghanistan thrashing BD and qualifying ahead of them on NRR