WI vs SA | Proteas exorcise past ghosts in nervy rain-marred chase to win virtual quarterfinal

Brief score: SA 124/7 (16.1) [Stubbs 29(27), Klaasen 22(10); Chase 3/12(3)] defeat WI 135/8 (20) [Chase 52(42), Mayers 35(34); Shamsi 3/27(4)] by three wickets (DLS method)

West Indies got off to the worst possible start in the must-win game with their two most in-form batters Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran falling victim to Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram respectively within the first two overs. However, three dropped catches and a non-review meant the Proteas failed to press home their advantage in the powerplay as Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase ticked the scoreboard along to 47/2. Nevertheless, the visitors kept piling on the pressure with tight lines and lengths, restricting them to just 73/2 at the end of 11 overs. Mayers identified the urgency to break the shackles and successfully dispatched Tabraiz Shamsi for a maximum and a boundary but the wrist-spinner had the last laugh. Three wickets in as many overs, including that of both settled batsmen to end the 84-run stand, suddenly had the Windies reeling at 103/6 with just the death overs to come. Their last hope of a big score, Andre Russell, smashed two glorious maximums before falling victim to a direct hit by Anrich Nortje, meaning the Proteas were handed a paltry target of 136.

Quinton de Kock kicked off the chase with purpose, stroking three boundaries in the first six balls. However, Russell delivered a stunning riposte by accounting for both him and Reeza Hendricks in the ensuing over when stormy showers halted play, revising the target to 123 in 17 overs. Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs seized the chance to turn the tide by propelling the score to 41/2 in the curtailed five-over powerplay with a few classy boundaries. Rovman Powell responded by bringing on his premier pacer Alzarri Joseph and Markram's inexplicable attempt at a slog set up a roller-coaster final quarter. Heinrich Klaasen threatened to put the game to bed by carting Gudakesh Motie around the park for 20 runs in the seventh over, leaving South Africa under 50 runs to get at less than run-a-ball, but Joseph's venomous bumper to dispatch him kept Windies in the hunt. Roston Chase castled David Miller for a 14-ball 4 and Stubbs' crumbled under the pressure with 23 to get from as many balls. Another failed Proteas run-chase looked inevitable when Jansen took over the reins and sealed the game with an emphatic six with five balls to spare.

What a thriller!

They will have to continue doing it!

Hahahaha! LOL xD xD

Almost lost it at one point!

Moye moyeeee! 

He was the hope!

Great achievements!

SA with cup gonna be something else!

Great game!

LOL! That's true!