South Africa’s cricketers can consider themselves the most unfortunate team in the T20 World Cup as they beat England by 10 runs while defending 189 recording their fourth win but failed to qualify for a berth in the semi finals in Sharjah last night.
To book a place in the semi finals the South Africans needed to beat England by restricting them to a total of 131 or less, but won by conceding 179.
England who have already qualified for a place in the semi finals needed to score 14 runs in the last over bowled by Kagiso Rabada to win the match with five wickets in hand.
But Rabada could not believe his eyes when he grabbed a hat-trick by taking the wickets of Chris Woakes, Eoin Morgan and Chris Jordan as South Africa restricted England to 179 for 8.
South Africa were only defeated by Australia who qualified to the semi finals with a win over the West Indies which gave them a superior run-rate.
Earlier put into bat South Africa made a rousing total of 189 for 2 in the 20 overs after an initial setback when they lost opener Reza Hendricks for 2 bowled by spinner Moeen Ali.
But Rassie van der Dussen lit up the South African innings and gave it plenty of clout with an unbeaten 94 from 60 balls with five fours and six sixes.
He added 103 runs for the second wicket in just 8.4 overs with Aiden Markram who chipped in with 52 in 25 balls with four sixes.
Scores:
South Africa 189 for 2 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 34, Rassie van der Dussen 94 not out, Aiden Markram 52 not out)
England 179 for 8 in 20 overs (Jason Roy 20, Jos Buttler 26, Moeen Ali 37, Dawid Malan 33, Liam Livingstone 28, Kagiso Rabada 3 for 48, Tabraiz Shamsi 2 for 24, Dwaine Pretorius 2 for 30)