T20 World Cup Super 8 points table: England and South Africa qualify for semi finals

NEW DELHI: In a stunning display of bowling prowess, England's fast bowler Chris Jordan claimed a hat trick, while the American cricket team crumbled, losing five wickets in just six deliveries.
This remarkable performance propelled England into the semifinals of the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday, as they overwhelmed the United States by a massive margin of 10 wickets with 62 balls to spare in their final Super Eight encounter.

Meanwhile, South Africa secured a long-awaited spot in the semi finals for the first time since 2014, following a nail-biting three-wicket victory over co-host the West Indies in a rain-affected match at North South, Antigua. The Proteas will advance alongside England from Group 2, while both co-hosts, the West Indies and the United States, have been eliminated from the tournament.
At North South, Antigua, the towering fast bowler Marco Jansen emerged as an unlikely hero with the bat, guiding South Africa to a thrilling three-wicket triumph over the West Indies in a match disrupted by rain. For nearly an hour, as heavy rain poured down in the middle of the game at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, both teams were left in a state of anxious uncertainty.

The West Indies had posted a total of 135-8 after being asked to bat first, and South Africa found themselves at 12-2 after two overs when a fierce squall of rain and wind swept across the ground. Upon the players' return, three overs had been lost, leaving South Africa with a revised target of 123 runs from 90 balls.
Afghanistan kept its Twenty20 World Cup semifinal hopes alive on Saturday by stunning previously unbeaten Australia with a 21-run victory. Despite Pat Cummins' second successive hat-trick, Afghanistan posted 148-6 after being asked to bat first on a tricky pitch. Afghanistan's superb bowling restricted Australia to 127 runs in their chase.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran forged a 118-run opening partnership, scoring 60 and 51 respectively, before Australia’s bowlers, including Cummins, rallied. Cummins’ hat-trick highlighted Australia's bowling performance, but it wasn't enough.

In response, Australia faltered with the bat. Glenn Maxwell top-scored for Australia with 59 runs. He was the only Australian batter who managed to handle Afghanistan's bowling attack.
Man of the match Gulbadin Naib led the destruction, taking four wickets to stall Australia’s chase, while Azmatullah Omarzai claimed the final wicket in the last over. The win places Afghanistan level with Australia on two points in Group 1, with India leading the group.
T20 World Cup super 8 India vs Bangladesh
At North Sound, Antigua, Hardik Pandya blasted Bangladesh with a 27-ball half-century, and Kuldeep Yadav's three wickets secured India's victory earlier on Saturday. Pandya struck four boundaries and three sixes in an unbeaten 50, leading India to 196-5. Yadav then took 3-19 in four overs, limiting Bangladesh to 146-8.
India topped Group 1 in the Super Eight with two wins from two matches. Afghanistan moved to two points after beating Australia by 21 runs later Saturday but remained third on net run rate, behind Australia. Bangladesh stayed winless.

Batting first, India started quickly with captain Rohit Sharma scoring 23 off 11 balls, and Virat Kohli adding 37 off 28. Sharma was caught in the fourth over, while Kohli and Rishabh Pant added 32 off 27 balls. Despite a mid-innings slump, Pandya took charge in the death overs, scoring 62 runs in the last five overs and earning player of the match honors.
Bangladesh's reply started steadily but unraveled when Yadav dismissed key players. Jasprit Bumrah (2-13) and Arshdeep Singh (2-30) helped seal India’s win, their fifth over Bangladesh in T20 World Cup history.
Final group standings will be decided on Monday when Afghanistan plays Bangladesh and Australia faces India.
T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 Points table:
In Group 1, India has played 2 matches, winning both, resulting in a perfect record with no losses. They have a Net Run Rate (NRR) of +2.425 and 4 points. Australia has also played 2 matches, winning 1 and losing 1, with an NRR of +0.223 and 2 points. Afghanistan, like Australia, has played 2 matches, winning 1 and losing 1, but has a negative NRR of -0.650 and 2 points. Bangladesh has played 2 matches but has not won any, resulting in 2 losses, an NRR of -2.489, and no points.


In Group 2, South Africa leads, having played 3 matches and won all of them, with an NRR of +0.599 and a total of 6 points. England, with 3 matches played, has won 2 and lost 1, boasting a high NRR of +1.992 and 4 points. The West Indies have played 3 matches, winning 1 and losing 2, with an NRR of +0.963 and 2 points. The USA, having played 3 matches, has not won any, resulting in 3 losses, an NRR of -3.906, and no points.



Also see: T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8: Group 2 semi-final qualification scenarios