Opening batter Quinton de Kock hit his fifteenth T20 International century and quick bowler Kagiso Rabada took 3/18.
South Africa remained unbeaten at the T20 World Cup, holding off a gutsy United States group to safe an 18-run victory of their first match of the Super 8 stage in Antigua on Wednesday night time.
The US aspect, who’re 12 locations beneath the Proteas within the T20 world rankings, put up one other battle after springing a shock by progressing past the group levels.
It was not sufficient, nevertheless, towards a South African group who produced a stable all-round effort however had been unable to fully throttle the Americans.
Set a goal of 195 runs to win, the US struggled to construct partnerships, with the Proteas assault taking common wickets as they contained the event co-hosts of their chase.
While spinner Tabraiz Shamsi gave away 22 runs within the 18th over, providing the US a sniff at what would have been a surprising victory, quick bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje strangled them again within the final two overs.
Rabada took 3/18 to lead the Proteas assault, whereas Nortje, Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj picked up one scalp every.
For the Americans, SA-born opener Andries Gous produced a starring function with an unbeaten 80 runs off simply 47 balls, although his group had been finally restricted to 176/6.
Proteas innings
Earlier, after being despatched in to bat, opening batter Quinton de Kock laid a stable basis for the Proteas as they reached 194/4 of their 20 overs.
De Kock made 74 runs off 40 balls at a strike charge of 185.00 in an innings which featured 5 sixes and 7 fours.
Hitting his fifteenth T20 International century, the skilled top-order star mixed in a 78-run partnership for the second wicket with Proteas captain Aiden Markram.
De Kock was finally eliminated by spin bowler Harmeet Singh within the thirteenth over when he was caught by Shayan Jahangir after making an attempt to clear the ropes again, however a lot of the harm had already been executed.
Markram went on to contribute 46 runs, whereas middle-order batters Heinrich Klaasen (36 not out) and Tristan Stubbs (20 not out) carried them for the remainder of their innings, with an unbroken 53-run stand for the fifth wicket, which finally proved enough for the Proteas to bag a vital two factors within the race for the semifinals.
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