New Delhi, Feb 18 – Corbin Bosch and Anrich Nortje each took three wickets before Dewald Brevis and Ryan Rickelton scored brisk 30s, helping South Africa maintain their unbeaten record with a six-wicket victory over the UAE in their final Group D match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.
This win ensured that South Africa would advance to the Super Eights as the only unbeaten team from their group, having won all four of their matches. They will face defending champions India in their opening Super Eights game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
The match was played under overcast conditions with floodlights, which favored the bowlers. Bosch bowled effectively using the damp conditions and short balls to take 3-12, while Nortje took 2-28. Left-arm spinner George Linde contributed 1-17, keeping the UAE innings tight after a promising start. The UAE eventually finished on 122/6.
South Africa’s aggressive approach in the powerplay, where they scored 58/2 with 11 boundaries and a six, effectively sealed the match. While Aiden Markram had a quick 28 off 11 balls, Rickelton then played a solid 30 off 16 balls. Brevis contributed 36 off 25 balls, allowing South Africa to reach their target of 123 in 13.2 overs and maintain their unbeaten record in the group stage.
The UAE’s innings began with Kagiso Rabada finding some early success, with Aryansh Sharma top-edging his first delivery for six. However, Muhammad Waseem quickly countered, smashing three boundaries off Rabada. The pair then added 36 runs for the first wicket before Linde bowled Waseem lbw for 22.
Bosch then dismissed Aryansh with a short ball, which was edged to Quinton de Kock for 13. Bosch then removed Sohaib Khan for six, with de Kock taking the catch.
Linde and Nortje then put pressure on the UAE, with Linde dismissing Syed Haider with a pulled shot to mid-wicket. Alishan Sharafu then played a brilliant innings, scoring 45 off 38 balls with five fours and a six, providing the UAE with much-needed support. He even had two reprieves, but Nortje eventually dismissed him, pulling to mid-wicket and being caught by de Kock.
Bosch then dismissed Muhammad Arfan for 11, bringing the innings to a close. The UAE struggled to build on their earlier momentum, finishing on 25/2 in the last five overs.
South Africa’s innings began after a 45-minute rain delay. Dhruv Parashar bowled a tight opening over, conceding only one run. Aiden Markram then broke free, hitting two boundaries off Junaid Siddique. De Kock followed with a third boundary, bringing up three fours in the over.
Markram then continued his aggressive form, smashing three fours and a six off Siddique, before being dismissed for 28 off just 11 balls, caught and bowled by Haider Ali.
De Kock then dominated the middle overs, hitting boundaries off Siddique to keep the scoreboard ticking. Rickelton joined in, scoring four off Parashar and two off Jawadullah, but De Kock was then dismissed, slicing to deep backward point off Siddique.
Brevis then came in and smashed boundaries and a six off Jawadullah, while Rickelton also hit sixes off Muhammad Farooq. Although Rickelton fell for 30 off a mistimed pull to deep square leg, Brevis continued to dominate, hitting a six off Muhammad Arfan and a boundary off Haider Ali.
Tristan Stubbs and Jason Smith then completed the remaining runs, ensuring that South Africa won by six wickets and advanced to the Super Eights. Despite dropping four catches, South Africa had achieved their goal of an unbeaten record in the group stage.
Final Scores: UAE 122/6 in 20 overs (Alishan Sharafu 45, Muhammad Waseem 22; Corbin Bosch 3-12, Anrich Nortje 2-28) lost to South Africa 123/4 in 13.2 overs (Dewald Brevis 36, Ryan Rickelton 30; Muhammad Arfan 1-16, Muhammad Farooq 1-19) by six wickets.
