T20 World Cup 2024: Top 10 Memes from ENG vs SA, Match 45

South Africa got the better of England in a pulsating T20 World Cup 2024 encounter by four runs on Friday, June 21, at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia.

England opted to bowl first after winning the toss but the move didn't pay off right away as the bowlers were taken to the cleaners by a rampant Quinton de Kock. The wicketkeeper-batter blazed his way to his second consecutive half-century, getting to the landmark off just 22 balls. The South African opening pair of de Kock and Reeza Hendricks added 86 runs inside the first 10 overs before the latter fell for a scratchy 19 off 25 balls.

Also Read: Who is South African pacer Ottneil Baartman?

De Kock was dismissed a couple of overs later for a 38-ball 65 and the move to promote the in-form Heinrich Klaasen to No. 3 also backfired. From 86/0, the Proteas slumped to 113/4 after skipper Aiden Markram departed cheaply. The Rainbow Nation desperately needed a partnership to wrestle the momentum back in their favour.

Tristan Stubbs and David Miller joined forces and added 42 runs off 27 balls. The latter played some delightful strokes in his 43-run knock off 28 balls. Eventually, South Africa finished on 163/6, accumulating just 76 runs in their last 10 overs. Jofra Archer finished with figures of 3/40 from his four overs, while Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Valiant partnership between Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone go in vain

South Africa would have felt at the halfway stage that they were 10-15 runs short, especially after the start their talismanic wicketkeeper-batter gave them. However, they were on the money as far as their fielding was concerned and made England fight hard for every run.

Reeza Hendricks' stunning catch to dismiss Phil Salt in the second over set the tempo for the rest of the fielders. Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow spent some time at the crease but couldn't convert their starts. The latter also got a reprieve from Klaasen but could not make it count.

In the 11th over, the defending champions were reeling at 61/4, having just lost the wicket of Moeen. With their backs against the wall, England forged a spirited comeback thanks to a 78-run partnership off just 42 balls between Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone. The latter got out in the 18th over for a 17-ball 33 and England needed 25 runs to win off 16 balls, with five wickets in the bank.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: England vs South Africa, 45th Match - Who Said What?

Eventually, the equation came down to 14 required off the last over. The onus was on the well-set Brook to take the Three Lions over the line alongside Sam Curran. However, the young batter was dismissed off the first ball for a gritty 53 off 37 balls as Markram took a fine catch running backwards from mid-off. Curran hit a boundary off the third ball but Nortje held his nerves and conceded just six in the over. The Proteas got over the line by seven runs to go one step closer to the semifinals. Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada bagged two wickets each, while Ottneil Baartman and Nortje chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Here are some of the best memes from the match: