Windies beat Proteas to storm into World T20 semifinals

West Indies beat South Africa by three wickets in a low-scoring thriller in their World Twenty20 Super 10 match on Friday to join New Zealand in the semi-finals.

The West Indian attack responded brilliantly to captain Darren Sammy's decision to bowl first on a slow pitch offering help as they restricted South Africa to 122 for eight.

Johnson Charles hit 32 at the top of the order as the 2012 champions seemed in control of their run chase until leg-spinner Imran Tahir struck twice in consecutive deliveries in his last over to haul his side back into the game.

Marlon Samuels, named man of the match for his 44, was then removed by paceman Chris Morris in the penultimate over.

Carlos Brathwaite calmed West Indian jitters, however, when he hit a six off paceman Kagiso Rabada as West Indies clinched a third successive victory, with two balls to spare.

"I was smiling ... but inside there were some butterflies," Sammy said. "We came here to win this match to qualify and we have done that so I am very happy."

Earlier, opener Quinton de Kock (47) played a disciplined innings to rescue South Africa after they slumped to 47 for five in the ninth over.

De Kock added 50 for the sixth wicket with David Wiese (28) to give his team a competitive total to defend.

"It felt like all game we were just behind West Indies and trying to catch up," said South Africa skipper Faf Du Plessis. "It was a 135 pitch but it was a great fight by the boys.

"This game makes us all very old very quickly. West Indies were just a little bit better than us today."

Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo picked up two wickets apiece for West Indies who retained the same side that beat Sri Lanka in their last match in Bangalore.

South Africa, who have never lifted the trophy but were one of the pre-tournament favourites, have two points from three Group One games and look like going out.

Second-placed England have four points and can claim a spot in the last four with a win on Saturday over Sri Lanka who are also on two points. Afghanistan are bottom with no points.

West Indies sealed their berth in the World T20 semifinals coasting to a three-wicket win with two balls to spare against South Africa on Friday.

Chasing a target of 123, West Indies made 123-7 in 19.4 overs despite losing a flurry of wickets at the end.

Needing nine of the last over, Brathwaite sealed it with a massive six off Rabada.

South Africa clawed back into contention when Tahir claimed Russell and Sammy in successive balls in the 17th over while Samuels fell in the penultimate over.

Marlon Samuels c de Villiers b Morris 44 (44b 6x4)

Darren Sammy b Imran Tahir 0 (1b)

Andre Russell c Miller b Imran Tahir 4 (8b)

Samuels has thumped Morris down the ground for a boundary as Windies cruise towards target.

Bravo perishes failing to give the fielder at point slashing at Phangiso. WI

DJ Bravo c Wiese b Phangiso 8 (6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 133.33

Bravo completes 1000 run in T20 internationals.

Proteas get another breakthrough as Fletcher is run out by miles. WI 34-2, 5.3 overs.

Andre Fletcher run out 11 (11b 1x6)

Fletcher muscles Rabada over long on for the first maximum of the innings. WI 19-1, 3 overs.

Rabada draws first blood after being hit for a boundary by Gayle whose stumps are clattered. WI 5-1, 0.5 overs.

Chris Gayle b Rabada 4 (2b 1x4)

South Africa innings

West Indies bowlers restricted South Africa to 122 for eight wickets after captain Darren Sammy won the toss and opted to field in their World Twenty20 Super 10 match on Friday.

The Caribbean side, who need a win to guarantee a place in the last four, responded brilliantly to their captain's call to put South Africa in on a pitch offering assistance for the slow bowlers.

Opener Quinton de Kock (47) played a disciplined knock to prop up his team's innings after the South Africans were reduced to 47 for five in the ninth over.

De Kock added 50 for sixth wicket with David Wiese (28) to give South Africa some sort of a total to defend.

Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo picked up two wickets apiece for the 2012 champions, who retained the same side that beat Sri Lanka in their last match in Bangalore.

The Proteas, one of the pre-tournament favourites to win their maiden World Twenty20 title, lost their opening match against England in batting-friendly conditions in Mumbai before beating Afghanistan at the same venue.

They added an extra spinner to the team that beat Afghanistan in their last Group One match, bringing in Aaron Phangiso for paceman Kyle Abbott while Rilee Rossouw came in for injured all-rounder JP Duminy.

South Africa are restricted to 122-8 by West Indies.

Wiese falls holing out to Sammy. SA 112-7, 17.2 overs.

David Wiese c Sammy b Bravo 28 (26b 2x4)

Morris cracks a couple of boundaries off Badree. SA 108-6, 17 overs.

Russell strikes a deadly blow as Quinton de Kcok finds his leg stump clattere after giving himself room to sweep. SA 97-6, 15.4 overs.

Quinton de Kock b Russell 47 (46b 3x4 1x6)

Gayle has struck another deadly blow knocking the stumps of Miller. SA 47-5, 8.2 overs.

David Miller b Gayle 1 (4b)

Bravo strikes a major blow castling AB de Villiers with a slower ball. SA 46-4, 7.4 overs.

AB de Villiers b Bravo 10 (12b 1x4)

De Kock dances down the track and hoists Badree for a huge straight six. SA 36-3, 5 overs.

AB de Villiers opens his account by punching Russell down the ground. SA 28-3, 4 overs.

South Africa are reeling as Gayle strikes with the ball to remove Rossouw. SA 20-3, 3 overs.

Faf du Plessis hammers Russell for a six over mid-on before miscuing to Benn. SA 13-2, 2 overs.

Faf du Plessis c Benn b Russell 9 (7b 1x6)

A bullet return from Russell accounts for Amla as Windies strike early blow. SA 1-1, 0.3 overs.

Hashim Amla run out 1 (1b)

West Indies have won the toss and opted to bowl first against South Africa.

South Africa: Q de Kock, HM Amla, F du Plessis, AB de Villiers, DA Miller, RR Rossouw, D Wiese, CH Morris, AM Phangiso, K Rabada, Imran Tahir

West Indies: J Charles, CH Gayle, MN Samuels, ADS Fletcher, D Ramdin, DJ Bravo, AD Russell, DJG Sammy, CR Brathwaite, S Badree, SJ Benn

Preview

Chris Gayle is set to return to the top of the batting order as the West Indies seek to clinch a World Twenty20 semi-finals spot Friday against a South African side who can ill afford to lose.

The Windies big-hitting opener tweaked a hamstring while fielding against Sri Lanka on Sunday night and was dropped down to number six, much to the disappointment of the Bangalore crowd.

Gayle's services weren't required as replacement opener Andre Fletcher hit 84 not out to power the Windies to a seven-wicket victory.

It was the West Indies' second win of the tournament after a Gayle century, which included 11 sixes, inspired them to a six-wicket triumph over England in their opening match.

They sit top of Group One on four points and a defeat of South Africa in Nagpur would see them become the second team to qualify for the last four, after New Zealand.

Gayle and Fletcher are expected to open the Windies' with Johnson Charles moving down.

"I've opened the batting with him on many occasions so I know what sort of a player he is, he is very dangerous and he's capable of getting big scores as well," Gayle said of Fletcher.

South Africa desperately need a victory after picking up one win from two games as they bid to show the world that they have what it takes to clinch a first international trophy.

They are yet to get up to full-steam after a stunning opening defeat to a record 230-run chase by England was followed by a win over minnows Afghanistan, leaving them precariously placed in third spot, two points behind England.

If South Africa fail to beat the Windies then England would be in pole position to qualify from the group going into the last round-robin game.

The Proteas' preparations were dealt a blow after all-rounder JP Duminy was ruled out of the match with a hamstring injury he picked up in the 37-run win over Afghanistan on Sunday.

The right-arm spinner, who bats left-handed, has been in fine form, making scores of 54 and 29 without being dismissed.

"JP is a big player for us. Not having him is a big blow and does upset the balance of the side," South Africa coach Russell Domingo said in quotes carried by Cricinfo.

The absence of Duminy however means the tournament debut of Aaron Phangiso's new bowling action.

The left-arm slow bowler was cleared to play just days before South Africa left for India after it was earlier announced that he had been banned from bowling in domestic cricket.

Domingo said spin was going to be important in Nagpur and that he was confident Phangiso would get "game time".

Teams

South Africa (from): Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Imran Tahir, Chris Morris, David Miller, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, David Wiese.

West Indies (from): Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Braithwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Evin Lewis.

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