South Africa’s Quinton de Kock put on a stellar performance in the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2024 Super Eight cricket match against the United States, leading his team to victory by 18 runs. The Proteas posted a formidable total of 194-4 in their 20 overs, with de Kock hitting a blistering half-century off just 26 balls. Captain Aiden Markram also contributed with his tournament-best 46 runs, helping South Africa reach 101-1 in the first 10 overs. However, the USA fought back with Andries Gous (80 not out) and Harmeet Singh (38) putting on a partnership of 91 runs for the sixth wicket.
The United States, who had earlier stunned former champions Pakistan in the first round, got off to a solid start in their chase, reaching 50 runs in the first five overs. But they struggled against South Africa’s pace-spin attack, with Kagiso Rabada removing key batsmen Steven Taylor and Nitish Kumar early on. The American hopes suffered a major blow when skipper Aaron Jones, who had scored a brilliant 94 in the previous match against Canada, was dismissed without scoring. Despite a brief resurgence from Gous and Harmeet, the USA ultimately fell short, finishing on 176-6 in their 20 overs.
In a standout performance, de Kock’s innings of 74 runs off 40 balls included seven fours and five sixes, marking a significant improvement from his previous appearances in the tournament. His partnership with Markram set the tone for South Africa’s innings, with the duo putting on 110 runs for the second wicket. However, Harmeet Singh’s crucial wickets of de Kock and David Miller turned the tide in the United States’ favor briefly before Rabada and Anrich Nortje halted their momentum.
While Gous provided hope for the USA with his aggressive innings of 80 not out, the South African bowlers, led by Rabada, proved too strong in the end. Rabada finished with figures of 3-18, restricting the USA’s scoring rate in the crucial final overs. Despite the loss, the United States displayed resilience and fighting spirit throughout the match, showcasing their potential as a competitive team in the T20 format. With the tournament featuring top teams like West Indies, England, India, and Australia, the competition is expected to heat up in the group stages of the Super Eights.
