England, Australia advance to T20 WC semis

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SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, Nov 6, (AP): Kagiso Rabada claimed a last-over hat trick and South Africa exited the T20 World Cup in style with a 10-run win against previously unbeaten England on Saturday. Put in to bat and needing a convincing win, South Africa scored 189-2 and restricted England’s chase to 179- 8. Rabada (3-48) claimed the wickets of Chris Woakes, Eoin Morgan and Chris Jordan in the 20th over, all of them catches as England desperately sought big runs. But ending England’s four-game winning streak at the tournament wasn’t enough for South Africa. The result means Group 1 winners England and second-place Australia advance to the semifinals with a superior net run rate. All three teams finished on eight points. Pakistan are the only team to have advanced from Group 2 so far. England’s bowlers expected an onslaught from South Africa, and got it.

Australia’s Mitch Marsh bats during the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup match between Australia and the West Indies in Abu Dhabi, UAE. (AP)

Rassie van der Dussen hit an undefeated 94 off 60 balls, including five fours and six sixes. Aiden Markram smashed a 25-ball 52 not out. Pacer Mark Wood went for 0-47 in four overs after being the only change made by England from its win against Sri Lanka. Wood came in for Tymal Mills, who is injured and out of the tournament. South Africa stayed unchanged from their win over Bangladesh. David Warner smashed 89 not out to lead Australia to an eight-wicket victory over West Indies, with Dwayne Bravo — definitely — and Chris Gayle — probably — playing their last games for West Indies. Put in to bat, the already-eliminated West Indies did well to reach 157-7, led by captain Kieron Pollard’s 31- ball 44 and Andre Russell’s explosive finish. Australia replied with 161-2 in 16.2 overs in what proved to be a comfortable chase. West Indies started with a rapid 30 runs before collapsing to 35-3, including the wicket of 42-year-old Chris Gayle. He was out for 15, including two inevitable sixes, in what looked like the cricket great’s last innings for West Indies. Gayle’s teammate, Bravo, had already announced his retirement from international cricket. All-rounder Bravo scored 10 in his last innings Saturday with bowling figures of 0-36 in four overs. Like Gayle, the 38-year-old Bravo won the T20 World Cup with West Indies in 2012 and 2016.

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