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Match Report – South Africa 27 – 20 Ireland Sky, Sports, Rugby, Union, News, Guinness, Premiership, Magners, League, Heineken, Cup, Six, Nations, Live, Tri Nations, Danny, Cipriani, London, Wasps, Irish, Bath, Bristol, Gloucester, Harlequins, Leicester, Tigers, Newcastle, Northampton, Sale, Sharks, Saracens, Worcester, Club, World, Cup, Munster, Leinster, Ospreys, Cardiff, Perpignan, Dragons, Biarritz, Stade Francais, Ulster, Scarlets, Watch, video, fixtures, results, scores, aviva
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Ireland’s James Lowe had try ruled out, while South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe saw try stand after critical reviews from TMO Ben Whitehouse; Springboks hold on to beat Ireland in Pretoria; Watch southern hemisphere summer tour action live on Sky Sports

Last Updated: 06/07/24 11:33pm

Highlights of South Africa’s action-packed win over Ireland in their opening Test in Pretoria

Highlights of South Africa’s action-packed win over Ireland in their opening Test in Pretoria

Two crucial TMO decisions fell South Africa’s way as they defeated Ireland 27-20 at Loftus Versfeld in the first of their two-Test series, live on Sky Sports.

Welsh TMO Ben Whitehouse ruled out a James Lowe try for Ireland due to a subjective breakdown call, and then fed back there was ‘inconclusive evidence’ to rule out a Cheslin Kolbe South Africa try, which ensured a two-score lead.

Lowe’s try would have levelled the contest at 13-13, and handed fly-half Jack Crowley a conversion for the lead, while Kolbe’s effort moments later came as a result of Lowe keeping a Handre Pollard penalty kick to touch in-field – though replays suggested he was in touch while playing the ball.

South Africa – Tries: Arendse (3), Kolbe (65), Penalty Try (78). Cons: Pollard (4, 67). Pens: Pollard (18, 29).

Ireland – Tries: Osborne (35), Murray (75), Baird (79). Cons: Crowley (76). Pens: Crowley (13).

A third TMO call then also went against Ireland as No 8 Caelan Doris was denied a try due to lack of evidence on replays.

Conor Murray raced in for a second Ireland try with five minutes to go, but a late South Africa penalty try via a ferocious scrum drive confirmed victory, with Ryan Baird striking a third for Ireland but with time all but up.

Less than three minutes in, South Africa struck the opening try as skipper Siya Kolisi set fleet-footed wing Kurt-Lee Arendse away quickly, who then scorched into space and past debutant Jamie Osborne to touch down.

Kurt-Lee Arendse opened the scoring for the Springboks against Ireland

Kurt-Lee Arendse opened the scoring for the Springboks against Ireland

Kurt-Lee Arendse opened the scoring for the Springboks against Ireland

South Africa No 8 Kwagga Smith knocked on the restart into touch, handing Ireland a lineout attack in the 22. When awarded a penalty, the visitors turned down the chance to kick for points in favour of a five-metre tap attack, but it proved the wrong call and a big chance missed when lock Joe McCarthy knocked on a poor Peter O’Mahony pass by the try-line.

On 13 minutes, a strong Robbie Henshaw carry forced South Africa to infringe at the breakdown. This time, Crowley struck over from 40 metres to get Ireland onto the board.

Fly-half Jack Crowley kicked Ireland's first points of the contest with a penalty

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India beat South Africa to win T20 World Cup after fine death bowling and Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning catch | Cricket News

India beat South Africa to win T20 World Cup after fine death bowling and Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning catch | Cricket News
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India edged South Africa to win their second T20 World Cup title and first since 2007 as an astounding catch from Suryakumar Yadav and excellent death bowling clinched a nerve-shredding seven-run victory in Barbados.

South Africa – playing in their first World Cup final in either T20 or 50-over cricket after winning a semi-final at the eighth attempt against Afghanistan – looked poised to reach their target of 177 when Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27) took Axar Patel’s 15th over for 24, trimming the requirement to 30 from 30 balls.

However, Jasprit Bumrah (2-18) shipped only six runs combined from the 16th and 18th overs, while Klaasen snicked Hardik Pandya (3-20) behind in between and after the Proteas could muster only four runs off Arshdeep Singh’s 19th, the new ask became 16 off six.

Score summary – South Africa vs India

India 176-7 from 20 overs: Virat Kohli (76 off 59), Axar Patel (47 off 31), Shivam Dube (27 off 16); Keshav Maharaj (2-23), Anrich Nortje (2-26), Kagiso Rabada (1-36)

South Africa 169-8 from 20 overs: Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27), Quinton de Kock (39 off 31), Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21); Hardik Pandya (3-20), Jasprit Bumrah (2-18), Arshdeep Singh (2-20)

David Miller (21 off 17) then thought he had crunched Hardik’s first-ball full toss for six, only for the twinkle-toed Suryakumar to pull off a spellbinding grab at long-off as he caught the ball, threw it back into play before his momentum took him over the rope, and then pouched it again when he returned to the field – it was a moment as breath-taking as it was important.

South Africa managed only eight further runs as they ended on 169-8 and India became the first team in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup to go through a whole tournament unbeaten, dashing the Proteas’ hopes of claiming that achievement for themselves.

In the last over of the T20 World Cup final, India’s Suryakumar Yadav produced a stunning, juggling catch on the boundary to dismiss South Africa’s David Miller

India had last won a global ICC event at the 2013 Champions Trophy, with their previous World Cup success the 2011 50-over edition on home turf.

This T20 triumph for India comes seven months after they lost the 50-over World Cup final to Australia in Ahmedabad – their only defeat in that competition. History would not repeat itself.

Watch the moment India were crowned T20 World Cup champions after beating South Africa in Barbados.

Kohli back in the runs in thrilling World Cup final

Earlier, Player of the Match Virat Kohli (76 off 59 balls) – who has now confirmed his retirement from T20 internationals -ended a slump in form, which had seen him average less than 11 in the tournament with 75 runs in seven innings and a best of 37, by underpinning India’s total of 176-7 after his side had sunk to 34-3 inside five overs.

Rohit Sharma’s men were on the back foot as the skipper (9) and Rishabh Pant (0) both fell sweeping Keshav Maharaj in the second over, with their plight worsening when Suryakumar (3) holed out off Kagiso Rabada three overs later.

In his final T20 international before retiring from the format, Virat Kohli returned to form with 76 from 59 balls

But Kohli, who had struck three boundaries in Marco Jansen’s 15-run first over before reining himself in, found a fine ally in the enterprising Axar (47 off 31), with the latter dominating a fourth-wicket stand of 72 from 54 balls before he was brilliantly run out by Quinton de Kock.

Kohli also stitched a half-century alliance with Shivam Dube (27 off 16) as he notched a 38th T20 international fifty from 38 balls prior to being caught at deep midwicket off Jansen in the penultimate over.

India looted the highest score in a Men’s T20 World Cup final, eclipsing the 173-2 Australia posted against New Zealand in the 2021 final in the UAE, but Maharaj (2-23) and Anrich Nortje (2-26) limited their opponents to a gettable score.

Watch Quinton de Kock hit this huge six out of the Kensington Oval during the T20 World Cup final

It looked out of South Africa’s reach as the Proteas plummeted to 12-2 with Reeza Hendricks (4) bowled by a gorgeous out-swinger from Bumrah and captain Aiden Markram (4) edging Arshdeep behind on the drive.

De Kock (39 off 31) and Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21) rallied the first-time finalists with a quick-fire 58, with the sixes they smoked including one from De Kock off Kuldeep Yadav that went out the ground.

Stubbs was bowled around his legs by Axar but De Kock and Klaasen then added 36 off 23 deliveries and when De Kock was pouched at deep fine leg – straight after hitting a four in that area – Klaasen and Miller pounded boundaries, with Klaasen hammering three in a row off Axar to make South Africa favourites.

However, Bumrah’s frugal two-over spell, which also included castling Jansen, dragged India back into the game and his efforts came in a successful cause as Suryakumar’s scarcely believable catch went a long way to breaking South Africa’s hearts in Bridgetown.

South Africa captain Aiden Markram admit losing the T20 World Cup final to India in the last over will take some time to recover from

What’s next?

The next global event in men’s cricket is the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February and March, at which the host nation will be joined by India, South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Another T20 World Cup will then be held in India and Bangladesh in early 2026.

Bangladesh will also host the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, with that competition beginning in Dhaka on Thursday October 3 and concluding in the same city on Sunday October 20.

The top two teams in each first-round group will qualify for the semi-finals.

Women’s T20 World Cup groups

  • Group A: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
  • Group B: South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Scotland

Every match from the Women’s T20 World Cup will be live on Sky Sports, with England vs South Africa the opening game on Thursday October 3 (10am start UK and Ireland time).

India’s Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retire from T20 international cricket after World Cup win over South Africa | Cricket News

India’s Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retire from T20 international cricket after World Cup win over South Africa | Cricket News
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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have announced their retirement from international T20 cricket after India’s win over South Africa in the World Cup final in Barbados.

Kohli snapped a lean run of form in the tournament, which had seen him score just 75 runs in seven innings at an average below 11, by hitting 76 from 59 deliveries in his side’s total of 176-7.

After India limited South Africa to 169-8 in reply to win their second T20 World Cup and first since 2007, the 35-year-old confirmed in his Player of the Match interview that he was now quitting T20Is.

Captain Rohit, 37, then revealed in his post-match press conference that he was also retiring from the format after striking 4,231 runs in 159 matches with five tons and 32 half-centuries.

Kohli bows out from T20Is with 4,188 runs in 125 games at an average of 48.69, hitting 38 fifties and a sole hundred.

Kohli says it is time for India’s new generation to take the T20I team forward

‘It is time for the new generation to come through for India now’

He said: “This was my last T20 World Cup.

“It is time for the new generation to come through for India now. We have some amazing players coming through and they have to take this team forwards now.

“One day you feel like you can’t get a run but one day, things just click. I am so proud to get the runs for the team the day it mattered most.

“The occasion prompted that change for me. I felt like it was now or never.

Image:
Kohli’s innings underpinned India’s total of 176-7 against South Africa at Kensington Oval

“We have wanted to lift a trophy for a long time and the occasion made me put my head down, respect the situation and play the innings that the team needed from me.

“I wasn’t feeling myself before today. I wasn’t confident. So I am very grateful and humble right now. It has been difficult, so there are a lot of emotions.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in for me yet. It’s an amazing day, I am so thankful.”

Rohit Sharma (Getty)
Image:
Rohit Sharma captained India to their first T20 World Cup title since 2007

Rohit said: “This was my last game as well. There’s no better time to say goodbye to this format. I’ve loved every moment of this.

“I started my India career in T20 and this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to win the cup and say goodbye.”

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India vs South Africa: Captain Aiden Markram ‘gutted’ after Proteas fall agonisingly short of T20 crown | Cricket News

India vs South Africa: Captain Aiden Markram ‘gutted’ after Proteas fall agonisingly short of T20 crown | Cricket News
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South Africa captain Aiden Markram said he was “gutted” after his sides heart-breaking defeat in the T20 World Cup final with Sky Sports Cricket pundit Eoin Morgan saying the Proteas “spectacularly fell apart”.

South Africa were favourites after Heinrich Klaasen (52) smashed 22 runs off the 15th over to slash their required total from 54 runs to 30 after muscling Axar Patel (1-49) for back-to-back sixes over long-on and hitting two boundaries either side of that over too.

However, superb death bowling from Hardik Pandya (3-20) and Jasprit Bumrah (2-18) removed the threat of Klaasen and Marco Jansen (2) respectively, with Suryakumar Yadav taking what commentator Ian Smith described on as “the greatest catch in cricket,” leading India to complete an epic win.

When Klaasen was dismissed in the 17th over, the camera panned to his skipper Markram crying in dugout. He knew with that wicket also fell much of South Africa’s hopes.

In the last over of the T20 World Cup final, India’s Suryakumar Yadav produced a stunning, juggling catch on the boundary to dismiss South Africa’s David Miller

“Obviously gutted for the time being, it will take us some time to have a reflection on the good campaign that we’ve had,” said Markram in the post-match interview.

“For the time being, like I’ve mentioned, it hurts quite a bit but having said that, I’m still incredibly proud of this group of players and everyone that’s involved in this team.

“We bowled well. I don’t think there was a lot to work with in the pitch so I thought they did well to restrict India to what we thought was a total we could chase.

“Thought we batted well and it came down to the wire. It was a really good game of cricket on all fronts. I’m really chuffed with the guys and incredibly proud of them.

“It did seem possible, we’ve seen with a lot of our games that it’s not over until it’s over. We never got comfortable and there was always that element of scoreboard pressure.”

South Africa captain Aiden Markram admitted losing the T20 World Cup final to India in the last over will take some time to recover from

South Africa reached the final with an unbeaten record throughout their campaign, winning over associate teams Nepal and USA, as well as Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Bangladesh, England, West Indies and Afghanistan.

Previously, South Africa had lost seven World Cup semi-finals across 20-over and 50-over cricket and overcame what seemed like an impossible hurdle in reaching the final.

“We got into a good position which proves that we’re worthy finalists,” Markram added.

“It’s gut-wrenching… the way this game went only adds to the emotions.

“I think one thing that is guaranteed about South Africans, wherever they are in the world, is that they are really competitive, respectful, and they go down with a fight. That’s something we pride ourselves on.

“Hopefully moving forward we can draw a lot from these things but it’s still a proud moment for us.”

Highlights of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup final as India fought back with the ball to beat South Africa by seven runs in a Barbados thriller

South Africa certainly did not go down without a fight.

Their bowlers exposed a nervy India side, reducing them to 34-3 within the powerplay after skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat.

Virat Kohli smashed a vital 76 in his final ever T20 World Cup to help India post 176-7, an above par score, and despite this South Africa still managed to get within touching distance of victory helped by Quinton de Kock (39), David Miller (21) and Klaasen.

“South Africa quite spectacularly fell apart,” said Sky Sports Cricket pundit Morgan.

“It wasn’t nice. You see the quality of the players they have in their line up with the likes of Quinton de Kock at the top of the order and Tristan Stubbs, it felt like the momentum was with South Africa today.

“They basically took the game to the brink of winning it and got so close, you’ve got to stick to the process for as long as possible and the process will take you to where you want to be. It’s incredibly disappointing for them.”

Image:
South Africa players after their loss against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown

With India’s T20 greats Kohli and Rohit bowing out after this campaign, as well as head coach Rahul Dravid, it felt like the stars had aligned for them to leave crowned as champions.

A 20-year-old Rohit Sharma was part of the India side that won the inaugural campaign in 2007.

Seventeen years later, he was able to lift the trophy once again.

This time as a captain, with his children celebrating alongside him, on his final day in international T20 cricket.

For South Africa, their silverware search continues. One that they hope is not too far away. As Ian Bishop said: “There is no doubt, Aiden, that your time will come in the future.”

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India’s Virat Kohli retires from T20 international cricket after World Cup win over South Africa | Cricket News

India’s Virat Kohli retires from T20 international cricket after World Cup win over South Africa | Cricket News
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Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from international T20 cricket after hitting a half-century in India’s win over South Africa in the World Cup final in Barbados.

Kohli snapped a lean run of form in the tournament, which had seen him score just 75 runs in seven innings at an average 11, by hitting 76 from 59 deliveries in his side’s total of 176-7.

After India limited South Africa to 169-8 in reply to win their second T20 World Cup and first since 2007, the 35-year-old confirmed in his Player of the Match interview that he was now quitting T20Is.

Kohli bows out from the format with 4,188 runs in 125 matches at an average of 48.69, with 38 fifties and one century – against Afghanistan in September 2022 – at a strike-rate of 137.04.

Kohli says it is time for India’s new generation to take the T20I team forward

He said: “This was my last T20 World Cup.

“It is time for the new generation to come through for India now. We have some amazing players coming through and they have to take this team forwards now.

“One day you feel like you can’t get a run but one day, things just click. I am so proud to get the runs for the team the day it mattered most.

“The occasion prompted that change for me. I felt like it was now or never.

Kohli says it is time for India’s new generation to take the T20I team forward

“We have wanted to lift a trophy for a long time and the occasion made me put my head down, respect the situation and play the innings that the team needed from me.

“I wasn’t feeling myself before today. I wasn’t confident. So I am very grateful and humble right now. It has been difficult, so there are a lot of emotions.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in for me yet. It’s an amazing day, I am so thankful.”

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India beat South Africa to win T20 World World Cup after Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning catch | Cricket News

India beat South Africa to win T20 World World Cup after Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning catch | Cricket News
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India edged South Africa to win their second T20 World Cup title and first since 2007 as an astounding catch from Suryakumar Yadav and excellent death bowling clinched a seven-run win in Barbados.

South Africa – playing in their first World Cup final in either T20 or 50-over cricket after winning a semi-final at the eighth attempt against Afghanistan earlier this week – looked poised to reach their target of 177 when Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27) took Axar Patel’s 15th over for 24, trimming the ask to 30 from 30 balls.

However, Bumrah conceded only six runs combined from the 16th and 18th overs, while Klaasen snicked Hardik Pandya behind in between and after the Proteas could muster only four runs off Arshdeep Singh’s 19th, the new requirement became 16 off six.

David Miller then thought he had crunched Hardik’s first-ball full toss for six, only for Suryakumar to pull off a spellbinding grab at long off as he caught the ball, threw it back into play before he tumbled over the rope, and then pouched it again when he returned to the field.

South Africa managed only eight further runs as they ended on 169-8 and India became the first team in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup to go through a tournament unbeaten, dashing the Proteas’ hopes of claiming that achievement for themselves.

More to follow.

T20 World Cup final: Unbeaten sides India and South Africa collide in Barbados, live on Sky Sports | Cricket News

T20 World Cup final: Unbeaten sides India and South Africa collide in Barbados, live on Sky Sports | Cricket News
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Ahead of Saturday’s Men’s T20 World Cup final between South Africa and India, Sky Sports pundits Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton and Eoin Morgan assess where the match may be decided.

South Africa skittled Afghanistan for just 56 en route to a nine-wicket victory on a spicy track in Trinidad as they won a World Cup semi-final after seven failed attempts, while India thumped 2022 champions England by 68 runs on a slow surface in Guyana.

One of these teams will become the first to win the Men’s T20 World Cup having gone through the tournament unbeaten, so will it be a first World Cup success for South Africa or first since 2011 for India?

Highlights as India thrashed England by 68 runs in their T20 World Cup semi-final in Guyana

Watch how South Africa stormed into their first Men’s T20 World Cup final with a nine-wicket win over Afghanistan in Trinidad

Here is our pundits’ take ahead of the Barbados showdown, which you can watch on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm (3.30pm first ball).

Is the pressure on India?

Sky Sports Cricket’s Nasser Hussain:

“You’d be a fool to say India beat England because of the conditions. They played on a bouncy pitch against Australia, who love those conditions, in St Lucia and won.

“Their batting line-up. Their pace attack. Their spinners. They have every base covered. And a slight advantage is that they have played a game here in Barbados and South Africa haven’t.

“South Africa have got that monkey off their back of seven semi-finals lost and if the pressure can be off, then it shifts to India.

India skipper Rohit Sharma hit eight sixes during his swashbuckling 92 from 41 balls against Australia in the Super 8s

“India have not won a title for a very long time. For all their resources and the players they have, they feel it is about time to win it and all of India will be expecting them to win it.

“As for South Africa, they made some difficult decisions, focusing on their franchise T20 competition and choosing not to send players to New Zealand for Test cricket.

“They took a gamble and copped a lot of stick for that [but it has paid off]. It would mean so much to South Africa but it means so much to India as well.”

Image:
Watch the Men’s T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm on Saturday (3.30pm first ball)

‘Hopefully the pitch has pace’

Sky Sports Cricket’s Michael Atherton:

“The best two teams are in the final.

“On a slow, low holding pitch, India would be much stronger favourites, so I hope there is a pitch with pace. If it goes through, South Africa’s pace battery comes into it.

“It is a significant pace battery. We saw against Afghanistan that if there is a bit in the pitch, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen are dangerous.

Jasprit Bumrah, T20 World Cup cricket (Getty Images)
Image:
India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has taken 13 wickets in the T20 World Cup an an average of 8.15 and economy rate of 4.12

“However, Jasprit Bumrah has been the bowler of the tournament. He is not the leading wicket-taker but when he has ball in hand, he has been incredibly difficult to get away.

“As a chasing side, you almost fashion your chase around him. You can’t afford to get too far behind the rate for the 17th and 19th overs that he bowls.”

‘South Africa must go blow for blow with India’

Sky Sports Cricket’s Eoin Morgan:

“I think India, having been in finals before, are better equipped to apply pressure than South Africa and South Africa will have go blow for blow with the bat.

“If they don’t, India could bat them out of the game as they did to England in the semi-finals. Rohit Sharma embodies that shift in attacking mindset for India.

Reeza Hendricks hit the winning runs as South Africa beat Afghanistan in the semi-final in Tarouba

“India have had a short turnaround from playing in the second semi-final but they will be used to that from the IPL. You may play three games in five days and be dotted around all four corners of India.

“South Africa had quite a light workout against Afghanistan and should be fresher, but India will be immune to [the tiredness].”

Watch the T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa, at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm on Saturday (3.30pm first ball).

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T20 World Cup: Jonathan Trott annoyed by Trinidad pitch as Afghanistan knocked out by South Africa in semi-finals | Cricket News

T20 World Cup: Jonathan Trott annoyed by Trinidad pitch as Afghanistan knocked out by South Africa in semi-finals | Cricket News
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Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott said the “unfair” pitch in Trinidad was “not what you want to have in a World Cup semi-final” after his side were thumped by South Africa.

Afghanistan, playing in the last four of any World Cup for the first time, were rolled for 56 – their lowest T20I score – on a tough surface as some balls leapt up off the surface and others scuttled through low.

South Africa reached their target in 8.5 overs to qualify for their maiden World Cup final and will play England or India in Barbados on Saturday (3.30pm UK and Ireland).

Score summary – South Africa vs Afghanistan

Afghanistan 56 all out in 11.5 overs: Tabraiz Shamsi (3-6), Marco Jansen (3-16), Anrich Nortje (2-7), Kagiso Rabada (2-14); Azmatullah Omarzai (10)

South Africa 60-1 in 8.5 overs: Reeza Hendricks (29no off 25), Aiden Markram (23no off 21); Fazalhaq Farooqi (1-11)

Highlights as South Africa stormed into their first Men’s T20 World Cup final with a nine-wicket win over Afghanistan on a difficult Trinidad pitch

Former England batter Trott said: “I don’t want to get myself into trouble, I don’t want to come across as bitter or sour grapes but that’s not the pitch that you want to have in the semi-final of the World Cup. Plain and simple.

“It should be a fair contest. I’m not saying it should be flat completely with no spin and no seam movement, but you shouldn’t have bets, worrying about going forward and the ball flying over your head.

“T20 is about attacking, scoring runs and taking wickets, not looking to survive.”

It was a tough match for us as a team. We might have done a bit better than that, but the conditions didn’t let us.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan

Trott ‘proud’ of beaten Afghanistan

Trott was also frustrated by the quick turnaround Afghanistan faced, having played in the final Super 8s match on Monday night and then featuring in the first semi-final in Tarouba 48 hours later, although he stressed that was not cause of his side’s defeat.

South Africa had an extra 24 hours to prepare for the match, having concluded their Super 8s campaign with a win over host nation West Indies in Antigua on Sunday.

Trott said: “Playing the last group game and then playing the first semi-final isn’t ideal – travelling and not really having, a day off if you like. But that’s not a reason we didn’t win.

“We knew the schedule, so that’s not an excuse as such. In tournaments you can’t have everything your own way, you’ve got to fight and play against the odds. We have done that at times and I’m very proud of that.”

Reeza Hendricks hit the winning runs as South Africa beat Afghanistan by nine wickets in Tarouba

Afghanistan’s stellar tournament included wins over New Zealand and Australia, with Trott adding that their heavy loss to South Africa will not “define” their last few weeks.

‘Defeat gives us indication of what we need to work on’

Trott said: “I think whenever you lose a game like this it’s always going to hurt. And it should hurt. We put so much into it, there’s so many sacrifices made by the players, coaching staff, management officials.

“We arrived in high spirits, ready to take on a strong South African side and make sure we gave a good account of ourselves.

“I feel like we haven’t done that today so that’s the most disappointing thing. But I’m very proud of the guys.

Highlights from Afghanistan’s historic 21-run win over Australia in the Super 8s at the T20 World Cup

“This one performance doesn’t necessarily define the tournament, but it also gives us an indication of where we need to work on and what we need to get better at if we’re going to be competitive more consistently.

“And who we can rely on, who’s going to get us over the line.”

Watch South Africa take on England or India in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup final live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm on Saturday (3.30pm first ball).

South Africa reach first Men’s T20 World Cup final after skittling Afghanistan for 56 on tricky pitch in Trinidad | Cricket News

South Africa reach first Men’s T20 World Cup final after skittling Afghanistan for 56 on tricky pitch in Trinidad | Cricket News
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South Africa dismantled Afghanistan for just 56 on a difficult pitch as they stormed into their first Men’s T20 World Cup final with a nine-wicket win in Trinidad.

The Proteas had lost all seven of their previous World Cup semi-finals across the T20 and 50-over events but are now one victory away from a maiden trophy after an eighth win out of eight at this year’s competition.

Aiden Markram’s side – who now face England or India in Barbados on Saturday – rolled Afghanistan in 11.5 overs on a surface offering extreme bounce and ample seam movement with Azmatullah Omarzai (10) the only batter to make double figures as the first-time semi-finalist were demolished for their lowest T20I score.

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Ibrahim Zadran was bowled by South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada as Afghanistan were rolled for their lowest T20I score of 56

Pacemen Marco Jansen (3-16), Anrich Nortje (2-7) and Kagiso Rabada (2-14) razed the Afghanistan top order – Rashid Khan’s side were 28-6 in 6.3 overs after electing to bat – before spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3-6) polished off the lower order.

South Africa reached their target in 8.5 overs as Reeza Hendricks (29no off 25) followed a hooked six off Azmatullah with the match-clinching four down the ground as he took his stand with Markram (23no off 21) to an unbroken 55 off 43 deliveries.

Score summary – South Africa vs Afghanistan

Afghanistan 56 all out in 11.5 overs: Tabraiz Shamsi (3-6), Marco Jansen (3-16), Anrich Nortje (2-7), Kagiso Rabada (2-14); Azmatullah Omarzai (10)

South Africa 60-1 in 8.5 overs: Reeza Hendricks (29no off 25), Aiden Markram (23no off 21); Fazalhaq Farooqi (1-11)

Quinton de Kock (5), bowled by Afghanistan quick Fazalhaq Farooqi’s in-swinger in the second over after being struck on the body by Naveen-ul-Haq in the first, was the only Proteas player to be dismissed in the chase.

But Markram and Hendricks still had to deal with deliveries flying through dangerously high as well as scuttling through low before securing South Africa’s landmark victory.

Markram’s men will now become the first side to win the T20 World Cup having come through the tournament unbeaten if they see off England or India in Bridgetown this weekend, with the second semi-final in Guyana from 3.30pm on Thursday.

Afghanistan – who finished ahead of Australia in Super 8s Group 1 to reach the semi-finals – were simply blown away by South Africa on the sketchy surface, losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0) to the sixth ball of the match as the opener edged Jansen behind.

Jansen bowled Gulbadin Naib (9) with a nip-backer in the third over, while Rabada then castled Ibrahim Zadran (2) and Mohammad Nabi (0) in the fourth before Jane struck again in the fifth when Nangeyalia Kharote (2) gloved a short ball down the leg-side.

Top-scorer Azmatullah hold out at deep cover off Nortje in the seventh but South Africa had to wait another three overs for their next breakthrough as Rashid (8) and Karim Janat (8) added 22 from 18 deliveries in partnership.

However, Shamsi took two wickets in three balls in the 10th, removing Janat and Noor Ahmad (0) lbw, before Nortje knocked Rashid’s off stump out of the ground in the 11th and Naveen (2) was then lbw to Shamsi on the sweep from the fifth ball of the 12th.

‘Conditions didn’t let Afghanistan do better’

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan:

“It was a tough, tough match for us as a team. We might have done a bit better than that, but the conditions didn’t let us. That’s what T20 is about, you’ve got to be ready for any situation. They bowled exceptionally well, we couldn’t bat well.”

South Africa skipper Aiden Markram:

“It feels good. It’s not really the captain that gets you to this stage of the competition, it’s a massive squad effort and people behind the scenes. I’m chuffed we have one more crack at winning a trophy.”

Watch the second T20 World Cup semi-final between England and India, in Guyana, live from 3pm on Sky Sports Cricket (first ball at 3.30pm). Then catch the final in Barbados from 3pm on Saturday (3.30pm first ball).

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Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt dismisses South African comments ahead of summer Test series | Rugby Union News

Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt dismisses South African comments ahead of summer Test series | Rugby Union News
On: By: admin


Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt dismissed the significance of potentially provocative comments from the South Africa camp ahead of next month’s tantalising two-match series.

Springboks trio Eben Etzebeth, Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe are among those to have stoked the flames of a growing rivalry between the world’s two top-ranked sides since last year’s Rugby World Cup in France.

Ireland are due to fly to Johannesburg on Tuesday ahead of facing the world champions on July 6 in Pretoria and seven days later in Durban, both live on Sky Sports.

“People can say what they want. It means nothing to us. It’s something we don’t particularly worry about,” South Africa-born attack coach Catt told reporters.

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Ireland are back-to-back winners of the men’s Six Nations

“Let them keep talking. It’s not a problem. It doesn’t fuel anything. It doesn’t make it any or worse. We know exactly what we need to do to go down there and be successful.”

Ireland have won the past three meetings between the two nations and five of the last seven.

Former Munster centre De Allende said the Springboks felt “disrespected” by heavy media criticism after a crushing 38-3 defeat in Dublin in 2017.

Lock Etzebeth branded Andy Farrell’s players “arrogant” for their behaviour following September’s 13-8 World Cup pool-stage victory in Paris.

While South Africa recovered from that Stade de France defeat to retain the Webb Ellis Cup, Ireland suffered a familiar quarter-final exit, losing 28-24 to eventual runners-up New Zealand.

“The rivalry’s been good, that’s what you want at Test level, it’s why you play the game,” continued Catt. “We’ve been pretty successful over the past three times we’ve played them, they’re champing at the bit.


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“There’s been a lot said in the press and this and that. It’s getting rid of all the white noise. What’s important for us is to put in a hell of a performance, and go and challenge to win a series down in South Africa.

“It’s healthy, you want that rivalry. You want that – not hatred – but whatever it is that stirs it all up. It’s good.”

Catt, who will leave his role following the tour, confirmed Ireland have no fresh injury concerns in their 35-man squad after Jamison Gibson-Park was last week ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Sky Sports News’ James Cole and Megan Wellens discuss Ireland’s dominant Six Nations defence and the legacy Peter O’Mahony will leave following what was rumoured to be his last game.

While Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks warmed up for the series with a 41-13 win over Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, the Irish have not played since retaining the Guinness Six Nations title in March.

“It’s exciting to go and challenge yourself against the best in the world,” said Catt. “That’s the opportunity these guys have got. Hopefully we can go make the most of it.”

Watch Ireland’s two-Test tour of South Africa this July live on Sky Sports. Stream rugby’s summer internationals in 2024 and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.