R Ashwin 'Agrees' South Africa May Just Go All The Way This Time on Championship Form

Ravichandran Ashwin believes South Africa have it in them to go all the way this time after the Proteas held their collective nerve to edge West Indies by three wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-disrupted shootout for a semi-final spot at the 2024 T20 World Cup in Antigua on Monday.

The unbeaten Proteas joined England in the last four as Group 2 winners when Marco Jansen (21 not out) smashed a six down the ground off the first ball of the final over to get South Africa to their adjusted target of 123.

Left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi had earlier taken 3/27 as tournament co-hosts West Indies were restricted to 135/8 before the rainstorm swept in to stop play. Spinner Roston Chase (3-12) took three wickets late in the South African innings to set up a dramatic finish and give a glimmer of hope that West Indies might keep alive their quest for a third title. But Jansen held on to help South Africa remain unbeaten in the tournament.

“There’s a lot of relief ultimately to get through to get to the semi-final. I suppose it’s been the story of our (tournament), get ourselves into tricky positions and sort of by hook or by crook get over the line,” said South Africa captain Aiden Markram.

“I think credit must be given to the boys, I think they fought to the very end,” said West Indies skipper Rovman Powell.

“As a batting group, this is one performance we’ll try our best to forget. It was a commendable bowling effort, we said that we’re just gonna give it our all and whatever happens, happens,” he added.

The other two semi-finalists will be decided on Monday and Tuesday when India and Australia meet in St Lucia and Afghanistan take on Bangladesh in St Vincent in the last two matches in the Super Eight stage.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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