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Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo celebrate the wicket of Quinton de Kock

West Indies secured their spot in the World T20 2016 semi-finals with a third successive win but made hard work of chasing a small target of 123. With just a shave over a run-a-ball needed, West Indies were routinely dragged back, to a point where they needed 20 off the last two overs. However, a solid start from Johnson Charles, a composed innings from Marlon Samuels and a six from Carlos Brathwaite in the final over saw them sneak over the line.

South Africa’s bowling attack did their best to make up for the blunders of their batsmen, who had slumped to 47 for 5 in the ninth over before eking over 120. Aaron Phangiso, playing in his first international match in five months and the first since remodeling his action last month, and David Wiese both conceded at under six runs to the over, but it was Imran Tahir who kept South Africa in the match. The legspinner gave away only 13 runs in four overs and took two wickets off successive deliveries in the 17th over. In the end, it was not enough and South Africa could exit the tournament before playing their final group match. If England beat Sri Lanka on Saturday, South Africa’s campaign will be over.

Unusually for the format, this was a battle of the ball. On a sluggish surface, batsmen from both sides failed to adjust to the pace of the pitch but South Africa’s line-up were also caught unawares by a surprise addition to West Indies’ attack. Chris Gayle proved their nemesis in an unexpected way by removing two of South Africa’s top six, and he played his part in pegging them back in the Powerplay, a situation from which they never really recovered.

The match-day pitch was not the same as the one used for the qualifying phase or the game between India and New Zealand, so there was some uncertainty as to what a good score would be. That’s why Darren Sammy chose to chase and why South Africa were anxious for every run.

Their desperation showed as early as the third ball when Hashim Amla was run out by Andre Russell, who carried his success on the field to his bowling by dismissing Faf du Plessis, caught by Sulieman Benn at mid-off. Russell also took a catch at point when Rilee Rossouw, promoted to No.4 in his first appearance in the tournament, skied the ball.

South Africa held AB de Villiers back after their initial setbacks and he came in at No.5. He saw South Africa to the end of their most meagre Powerplay so far – 39 for 3 compared to scores over 60 in the previous two matches – but could not do too much more.

When Dwayne Bravo, the sixth bowler used by Sammy in the first eight overs, was brought on, de Villiers’ innings ended. Sammy sensed South Africa were shaken and brought Gayle back on, with success. He broke through David Miller’s defences to leave South Africa at 47 for 5.

That score could have become 59 for 6 had Denesh Ramdin completed a stumping off Benn, who foxed Wiese with a flighted delivery. Wiese had come out of his crease and missed, but Ramdin also missed and the reprieve proved a gift for South Africa. — Cricinfo