Aiden Markram admitted South Africa rode their luck as they maintained their perfect record at the T20 World Cup with a tense four-run win over Bangladesh on Monday.
The Proteas looked to be heading for their first loss in Group D when they toiled to 113-6 in Long Island, but some slow scoring from Bangladesh left the match in the balance late on.
Requiring seven runs from the final three balls for victory, Bangladesh saw both Jaker Ali and Mahmudullah caught by Markram, who was in the right place at the right time on the boundary as South Africa's opponents went in search of a maximum.
The result keeps South Africa top of Group D and on course for a Super-8 berth with six points, four clear of Bangladesh, but Markram acknowledged they had been lucky.
"You're always pretty nervous in the final over in a game like that. It was always on a knife's edge, it can make you mentally tired," he said after the match.
"It's always nice to be in them though. Sometimes you get on the right side of it, sometimes not, but it's very entertaining.
"That 19.5 full toss could've gone anywhere, it could've gone two more metres further and we'd have had a different conversation.
"A few things went our way today, we were very fortunate to get on the right side.
"Today was one of those days where the seamers were bowling well, we wanted to drag it to the end where anything could happen in the last over."
Heinrich Klaasen hit a vital 46 to drag South Africa to 113 after they had been teetering on 23-4, putting up a 79-run partnership with David Miller, who hit 29.
"We're putting Klaasen and Miller under pressure but they've been exceptional," Markram added.
"They've gone back-to-back with crucial partnerships, got us to a score that was luckily enough to win but still one we could defend. It's fantastic for Klaasy to get back in form."
'It was my day' - Pooran makes history in West Indies T20 World Cup win
Nicholas Pooran believes everything went right for him as West Indies got a record-breaking win over Afghanistan to end the T20 World Cup group stage.
West Indies won by 104 runs in St Lucia on Monday as they hit the highest run total at the tournament so far this year, hitting 218, including registering the highest powerplay score in history with 92.
Pooran alone got 98 of those runs off 53 balls, the highest individual total at this World Cup, and broke the record for the most sixes in T20Is for West Indies, with his eight in this game taking him to 128, going past Chris Gayle's 124.
Asked how he felt following his impressive performance, Pooran was quick to turn the praise to the whole team.
"I felt today was my day and I had to take the responsibility," Pooran said. "When it's your day, you have to make it your day. I assessed the conditions early. It was really important for us to not lose wickets in the middle.
"We have been really consistent as a team. The way we have played is wonderful.
"It's just not today, it started 12-14 months ago. We have been consistent as a team; we went to No. 3 in the rankings. In the last game, [Sherfane] Rutherford took the opportunity and played wonderfully. He inspired us."
Captain Rovman Powell hit 26 when he was introduced but had already witnessed history being made in the fourth over – West Indies scored 36 runs, equalling the record for the most expansive over in men’s T20Is.
Powell was pleased with the performances on both sides but singled out the hard work Pooran has done in order to get this result.
"I think it is on the back of hard work," Powell said. "He has had a very good 12 months. Good to see him score runs not only in franchise cricket but also for West Indies.
"The guys were excited to come here. We knew here would be one of the better wickets of the competition. After Guyana and Trinidad, the batters wanted to come here and get runs."
West Indies face reigning champions England next in the Super 8s on Wednesday.
Pooran impresses in statement West Indies win over Afghanistan
Nicholas Pooran starred as West Indies got a statement win in their final T20 World Cup group game, beating Afghanistan by 104 runs in St Lucia on Monday.
Both sides had already qualified for the Super 8s, but West Indies ensured they finished unbeaten in Group C, breaking a few records along the way.
Afghanistan had no answers to the co-hosts' dominant batting performance, with Johnson Charles getting 43 off 27 balls before Pooran plundered 98 off 53 balls, including six fours and eight sixes.
He was run out in the final over while searching for his century, but Shai Hope (25) and Rovman Powell (26) had already helped push West Insides towards the highest total of the tournament so far with 218-5.
West Indies did not let up during the Afghanistan chase, starting strongly when Akeal Hosein had Rashid Khan caught for a duck in a wicket maiden to start.
Obed McCoy was the standout though, as he took 3-14, including Ibrahim Zadran, who was starting to build some momentum with his 38, leaving Afghanistan all out for 114 with 22 balls remaining.
West Indies meet holders England in their first Super 8 match on Wednesday, while Afghanistan face India the following day.
Data Debrief: West Indies finish group in record-breaking style
West Indies' score of 218 was their highest-ever at the T20 World Cup, while they also registered the highest powerplay score with 92, beating the Netherlands' record of 91 against Ireland in 2014.
In the fourth over alone, they scored 36 runs - equalling the record for the most expansive over in men's T20s.
Pooran has scored the joint-most sixes in the tournament so far (13, along with USA's Aaron Jones), and has broken the record for the most sixes (128) in T20s for West Indies, going past Chris Gayle's 124.
His total of 98 was also the highest individual total at this World Cup, carrying him past 2000 runs in T20Is.
All in all, not a bad day for the West Indies.
All the records broken in Windies' breathtaking performance against Afghanistan
In a thrilling display of cricket prowess, West Indies shattered records at all angles, and left fans in awe with a phenomenal 104-run win over Afghanistan in their final Group C contest of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Darren Sammy Stadium, in St Lucia, on Monday.
Here is a look at all the records that were broken during the breathtaking performance.
Highest total of 2024 T20 World Cup
West Indies total of 218-5 was the highest total by any team at this edition of the Men's T20 World Cup, surpassing the 201-6 that Sri Lanka managed against the Netherlands, at the same venue, and Australia's 201-7 against England in Barbados.
|
Team |
Score |
|
West Indies |
218-5 v Afghanistan |
|
Sri Lanka |
201-6 v Netherlands |
|
Australia |
201-7 v England |
|
USA |
197-3 v Canada |
|
Canada |
194-5 v USA |
Highest individual innings of 2024 T20 World Cup
Nicholas Pooran's outstanding innings of 98 was the highest score by any player at this T20 World Cup, eclipsing the unbeaten 94 USA's Aaron Jones put together against Canada in Dallas.
|
Player |
Score |
|
Nicholas Pooran |
98 v Afghanistan |
|
Aaron Jones |
94* v Canada |
|
Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
80 v New Zealand |
|
Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
76 v Uganda |
|
Ibrahim Zadran |
70 v Uganda |
Highest Powerplay in Men's T20 World Cup history
West Indies scored 92 runs during the Powerplay, beating the previous best of 91 by the Netherlands against Ireland at the 2014 edition of the tournament.
|
Team |
Score |
|
West Indies |
92 v Afghanistan (2024) |
|
Netherlands |
91 v Ireland (2014) |
|
England |
89 v South Africa (2016) |
|
South Africa |
83 v England (2016) |
|
India |
82 v Scotland (2021) |
Highest total for West Indies in Men's T20 World Cups
The score of 218-5 by the West Indies was the best they have managed at any edition of the T20 World Cup, going past the 205-6 against South Arica in Johannesburg in 2007.
|
Opposition |
Score |
|
Afghanistan |
218-5 (2024) |
|
South Africa |
205-6 (2007 |
|
Australia |
205-4 (2012) |
|
India |
196-3 (2016) |
|
Australia |
191-8 (2012) |
Equal most runs conceded in one over in Men's T20 World Cup history
An unwanted record for Afghanistan seamer Azmatullah Omarzai, who conceded a total of 36 in one over during the Powerplay. Pooran smashed three sixes and a pair of fours during Omarzai's second over, with some wayward bowling meaning Yuvraj Singh's long-standing record for most runs in one over at a Men's T20 World Cup was equaled.
Pooran overtook Chris Gayle for most sixes by West Indies player in Men's T20I history
Pooran hit eight sixes against Afghanistan, taking his tally to 128 in T20I cricket and past West Indies great Chris Gayle's total of 124.
|
Player |
Sixes |
|
Nicholas Pooran |
128 |
|
Chris Gayle |
124 |
|
Evin Lewis |
111 |
|
Kieron Pollard |
99 |
|
Rovman Powell |
90 |
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