#2 South Africa vs West Indies (Cardiff, 2013)
In a match reduced to 31 overs, South Africa flew to 230/6. Colin Ingram smashed 73, and quick fire cameos by AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis and David Miller proved to be the perfect complementing act. Du Plessis and Miller plundered the bowlers and strung together 58 rapid runs in under six overs, which propelled South Africa’s total.
De Villiers decided to open the bowling with JP Duminy, but the move backfired. Chris Gayle dispatched him to all parts of the ground before falling for 36 off 27 balls. A cluster of wickets stemmed the chase, and West Indies were left at 104/4. But the experienced pair of Marlon Samuels and Kieron Pollard was not to back down. They plundered the pacers in a match-defining partnership of 58 in under six overs.
Just when it seemed that the chase was on track, the Caribbean party was spoiled by superb bowling from Dale Steyn. Samuels’ middle-stump was ripped, and Pollard fell three overs later. Before new man Darren Sammy could face a ball, the heavens opened up again and play never resumed again. West Indies were 190/6 after 26.1 overs. Then interfered the D/L method – the match ended in a tie, South Africa qualified for the semi-final, though West Indies would have won had Pollard not departed.
