Good evening friends, I hope you’ve all had a good day! I spent mine packaging and despatching real ale……..it’s not all bad!
The much talked about Super 8’s got underway today, with co-host USA facing off against triers and triers again, South Africa.
There’s lots of high-fiving in the picture above and the score line would certainly seem to suggest a comprehensive Proteas victory, things did not quite play out quite like that!
Being played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on the, seemingly from the pictures, beautiful island of Antigua (a quick note, all the remaining matches will be played in the Caribbean, thank you America, it was fun while it lasted!), the USA won the toss and elected to field. I’m not sure if USA did their homework but SA are a team not known for liking a chase, they much prefer to set a massive score. Either way, the Bald Eagles must have felt confident in chasing down whatever the Proteas set them…….dubious thinking I fear.
I sat down this afternoon with 2 newish kittens curled up on my lap and looked forward to an absolute belter, I wasn’t disappointed.
SA, who despite being a huge force in world cricket, have never won a major tournament of any type. Somehow they always manage to cock it up! Indeed, so far in this tournament, despite winning all of their games they haven’t looked strong…….they only got past Nepal by 1 run!
Wanting to change the much warn narrative, SA started well today, Quinton de Kock (stop laughing!) scored a quick 74, as well as a 46 from Markram and 36 from Klaasen. SA finished on 194. That’s not however the full story. The Proteas were on for a much higher score and were well pegged back by USA in the latter overs.
The USA, after another rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, were bringing all the feels! The Bald Eagles, looking to carry their qualifying momentum into the supers, came out slow and steady but on the rate. Former South African under 19’s player Andries Gous topped scored with 80 and carried his bat (opened the batting and finished not out, one of my favourite cricketing phrases!). The game ebbed and flowed and on more than one occasion USA genuinely looked like they might get over the line.
Today though SA didn’t come down with a case of the collywobbles and once again, won the game without looking particularly fantastic. A win is a win though and points are points!
South Africa are first off the mark in the supers. The next game is between England and West Indies at 1.30am GMT tomorrow! I doubt I’ll still be awake so will wake up tomorrow to the result. Rest assured, I will fill you in.
All the best,
Nick
All The Cricket 
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