England hopes in balance after South Africa win thriller

T20 World Cup, St Lucia

South Africa 163-6 (20 overs): De Kock 65 (38), Miller 43 (28); Archer 3-40

England 156-6 (20 overs): Brook 53 (37); Maharaj 2-25

South Africa won by 7 runs

Scorecard. Tables

England near their hopes of reaching nan T20 World Cup semi-finals successful nan equilibrium aft losing a final-over thriller against South Africa successful St Lucia.

Harry Brook resurrected a floundering pursuit of 164 connected a tricky transportation to time off 14 runs to get from nan last six balls.

But he was brilliantly caught for 53 by Aiden Markram disconnected nan first shot of nan last complete arsenic nan crippled swung backmost to nan Proteas.

Sam Curran flicked a 4 meaning 9 were required from nan past 3 balls but Anrich Nortje closed retired a seven-run win.

South Africa are now connected nan brink of qualification for nan semi-finals, having won some of their Super 8 matches truthful far.

Their people of 163-6 was helped by a accelerated start, pinch Quinton de Kock hitting 65 from 38 balls earlier England fought backmost done their spinners and immoderate superb fielding.

England return to Barbados to play nan United States connected Sunday and a triumph would still put them successful a beardown position to progress.

There is rainfall forecast, however, and if West Indies hit nan USA later connected Friday (Saturday, 01:30 BST) and travel that by overcoming nan Proteas, England's destiny could again travel down to nett run-rate.

England looked retired of nan crippled for overmuch of nan pursuit pinch Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow each caught cheaply to time off them 61-4.

By nan extremity they could easy person won it.

The pendulum swung England’s measurement erstwhile Ottneil Baartman bowled 5 afloat tosses successful nan 17th complete which costs 21.

That near England, who earlier needed 104 from nan past 10 overs and 77 from nan past six, needing 25 from 18 balls.

But Liam Livingstone deed different afloat toss, this clip from Kagiso Rabada, to heavy square-leg, successful nan adjacent over, pinch nan South Africa speedy only conceding 4 singles.

Marco Jansen did not concede a bound successful nan penultimate complete but still, pinch Brook astatine nan crease, England were correct successful nan game.

It was fitting nan decisive infinitesimal was a portion of superb fielding, successful a lucifer packed pinch specified efforts.

Brook tried to clear long-off but skipper Markram ran back, leapt and held onto nan catch.

Curran turned down a azygous successful nan dying moments, backing himself to clear nan ropes, but Nortje executed his plans to adjacent retired nan win.

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