All Article Properties:
{
"access_control": false,
"status": "publish",
"objectType": "Article",
"id": "2237359",
"signature": "Article:2237359",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-06-18-proteas-face-tough-challengers-in-t20-world-cup-super-eights/",
"shorturl": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2237359",
"slug": "proteas-face-tough-challengers-in-t20-world-cup-super-eights",
"contentType": {
"id": "1",
"name": "Article",
"slug": "article"
},
"views": 0,
"comments": 0,
"preview_limit": null,
"excludedFromGoogleSearchEngine": 0,
"title": "Proteas face tough challengers as T20 World Cup Super Eights stage is set",
"firstPublished": "2024-06-18 16:53:06",
"lastUpdate": "2024-06-18 16:53:06",
"categories": [
{
"id": "29",
"name": "South Africa",
"signature": "Category:29",
"slug": "south-africa",
"typeId": {
"typeId": "1",
"name": "Daily Maverick",
"slug": "",
"includeInIssue": "0",
"shortened_domain": "",
"stylesheetClass": "",
"domain": "staging.dailymaverick.co.za",
"articleUrlPrefix": "",
"access_groups": "[]",
"locale": "",
"preview_limit": null
},
"parentId": null,
"parent": [],
"image": "",
"cover": "",
"logo": "",
"paid": "0",
"objectType": "Category",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/category/south-africa/",
"cssCode": "",
"template": "default",
"tagline": "",
"link_param": null,
"description": "Daily Maverick is an independent online news publication and weekly print newspaper in South Africa.\r\n\r\nIt is known for breaking some of the defining stories of South Africa in the past decade, including the Marikana Massacre, in which the South African Police Service killed 34 miners in August 2012.\r\n\r\nIt also investigated the Gupta Leaks, which won the 2019 Global Shining Light Award.\r\n\r\nThat investigation was credited with exposing the Indian-born Gupta family and former President Jacob Zuma for their role in the systemic political corruption referred to as state capture.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, co-founder and editor-in-chief Branislav ‘Branko’ Brkic was awarded the country’s prestigious Nat Nakasa Award, recognised for initiating the investigative collaboration after receiving the hard drive that included the email tranche.\r\n\r\nIn 2021, co-founder and CEO Styli Charalambous also received the award.\r\n\r\nDaily Maverick covers the latest political and news developments in South Africa with breaking news updates, analysis, opinions and more.",
"metaDescription": "",
"order": "0",
"pageId": null,
"articlesCount": null,
"allowComments": "1",
"accessType": "freecount",
"status": "1",
"children": [],
"cached": true
},
{
"id": "30",
"name": "Sport",
"signature": "Category:30",
"slug": "sport",
"typeId": {
"typeId": "1",
"name": "Daily Maverick",
"slug": "",
"includeInIssue": "0",
"shortened_domain": "",
"stylesheetClass": "",
"domain": "staging.dailymaverick.co.za",
"articleUrlPrefix": "",
"access_groups": "[]",
"locale": "",
"preview_limit": null
},
"parentId": null,
"parent": [],
"image": "",
"cover": "",
"logo": "",
"paid": "0",
"objectType": "Category",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/category/sport/",
"cssCode": "",
"template": "default",
"tagline": "",
"link_param": null,
"description": "",
"metaDescription": "",
"order": "0",
"pageId": null,
"articlesCount": null,
"allowComments": "1",
"accessType": "freecount",
"status": "1",
"children": [],
"cached": true
},
{
"id": "38",
"name": "World",
"signature": "Category:38",
"slug": "world",
"typeId": {
"typeId": "1",
"name": "Daily Maverick",
"slug": "",
"includeInIssue": "0",
"shortened_domain": "",
"stylesheetClass": "",
"domain": "staging.dailymaverick.co.za",
"articleUrlPrefix": "",
"access_groups": "[]",
"locale": "",
"preview_limit": null
},
"parentId": null,
"parent": [],
"image": "",
"cover": "",
"logo": "",
"paid": "0",
"objectType": "Category",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/category/world/",
"cssCode": "",
"template": "default",
"tagline": "",
"link_param": null,
"description": "",
"metaDescription": "",
"order": "0",
"pageId": null,
"articlesCount": null,
"allowComments": "1",
"accessType": "freecount",
"status": "1",
"children": [],
"cached": true
}
],
"content_length": 6062,
"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the surface, the Proteas’ journey into the Super Eight stage was a breeze: Four victories in four matches and qualifying with a match to spare. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it was far from it. Outside of a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their opening match, South Africa were within a couple of deliveries of possibly losing their matches against the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Nepal. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The match against Nepal was, surprisingly, the closest, as South Africa edged the 18th-ranked team by only one run on Saturday. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2237133\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2157308112.jpg\" alt=\"T20 World Cup\" width=\"720\" height=\"489\" /> <em>Rishabh Pant of India takes a catch to dismiss Corey Anderson of the US during the T20 World Cup at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on 12 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Proteas now play three games in five days starting with the US in Antigua tomorrow (Wednesday) before heading to St Lucia to play defending champions England on Friday. They return to Antigua for co-hosts West Indies in the early hours of Monday South African time.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are three challenging fixtures for South Africa, who have not yet been at their best in the tournament. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s struggles have been mostly with the bat, with their highest team score of 115 coming against Nepal. There has also only been one half-century – David Miller’s undefeated 59 off 51 deliveries against the Dutch. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2237129\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2158046144-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"450\" /> <em>Rovman Powell of West Indies catches out Rashid Khan of Afghanistan during the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 17 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2237128\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2158034236.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"448\" /> <em>Nicholas Pooran of West Indies bats against Afghanistan during the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 17 June 2024 (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s batting has naturally come under scrutiny, but head coach Rob Walter looks unlikely to make any changes at this stage, with only the inexperienced Ryan Rickleton among the squad as a possible replacement. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite fantastic efforts by the South African bowlers at the T20 World Cup, their spots for selection are more hotly contested. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tabraiz Shamsi, in his first match of the tournament, took four wickets and only conceded 19 runs in his four overs against Nepal, playing a massive role in South Africa getting over the line. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shamsi came in for Keshav Maharaj. With the pitches in the Caribbean expected to be more conducive to spin bowling, Walter might be tempted to play both left-arm slow bowlers. </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-06-13-proteas-look-ahead-to-super-eight-stage-of-t20-world-cup-as-other-teams-slug-it-out/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proteas look ahead to Super Eight stage of T20 World Cup as other teams slug it out</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deciding who to drop from the formidable quartet of fast bowlers is tricky. Anrich Nortje has found his rhythm and been the side’s highest wicket taker. Ottneil Baartman, despite being the least experienced, has proven to be the best death bowler. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kagiso Rabada, the most experienced T20 bowler by far in the team, has looked the least threatening among the pace bowlers. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marco Jansen hasn’t had much luck in the wickets department thus far but does offer a point of difference with his left-arm option and is the best batter of the lot.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2237126\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2157767188.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"461\" /> <em>Glenn Maxwell of Australia bats as Matthew Cross of Scotland keeps during their T20 World Cup West match at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 15 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2237124\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2157760672-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"1084\" /> <em>Ashton Agar of Australia bowls against Scotland during the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 15 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>A close tournament</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reigning T20 Cricket World Cup champions England only just scraped through to the Super Eight stage of the tournament, hosted in the Caribbean and the US. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perennial World Cup performers Pakistan and New Zealand were not as lucky. Both were knocked out in the initial group stages and won’t move on to the Super Eights which starts on Wednesday. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa open the Super Eight leg of the tournament tomorrow against the T20 World Cup surprise package and co-hosts, the US. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Proteas are also grouped alongside England – who they face on Friday – and the undefeated West Indies in Group B of the Super Eights. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Group A is expected to be tightly contested with three subcontinent sides – Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India – alongside Australia. Australia and India enter the Super Eights as the undefeated teams in Group A. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately for South Africa, West Indies, Australia and India, points accrued during the initial group stages of the T20 World Cup are not carried over to the Super Eights as all eight teams start with a clean slate.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The teams who finish first and second in their respective Super Eight groups will advance to the semifinals. All of the remaining matches in the T20 World Cup will be played in the Caribbean. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2237122\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2157327777-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"461\" /> <em>Suryakumar Yadav of India plays a shot in their T20 World Cup match against the US at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on 12 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Super Eight contenders</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the form of the US, having beaten Pakistan and Canada in the group stage and running India close, the Proteas need to get past the co-hosts to stand a realistic chance of reaching the semifinals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Group B, England have also been in shaky form, only advancing to the Super Eights on net run rate after being tied on points with Scotland who were unfortunate to not advance to the Super Eights of a T20 World Cup for the first time in their history. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If sides are tied on points after the conclusion of the Super Eights, the same principle of superior net run rate will apply to judge which teams will advance to the semifinals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Indies and Australia have looked the most threatening teams in the tournament so far. The former dismantled a very good Afghanistan side by 104 runs in the final group-stage match on Monday evening. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Proteas’ match against the US starts at 4.30pm on Wednesday.</span></i>",
"teaser": "Proteas face tough challengers as T20 World Cup Super Eights stage is set",
"externalUrl": "",
"sponsor": null,
"authors": [
{
"id": "245916",
"name": "Keanan Hemmonsbey",
"image": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG-20230509-WA0020-copy.jpg",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/author/keanan-hemmonsbey/",
"editorialName": "keanan-hemmonsbey",
"department": "",
"name_latin": ""
}
],
"description": "",
"keywords": [
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "5500",
"name": "Australia",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/australia/",
"slug": "australia",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Australia",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "5918",
"name": "Cricket",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/cricket/",
"slug": "cricket",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Cricket",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "6033",
"name": "Proteas",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/proteas/",
"slug": "proteas",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Proteas",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "41678",
"name": "US",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/us/",
"slug": "us",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "US",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "55348",
"name": "Caribbean",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/caribbean/",
"slug": "caribbean",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Caribbean",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "56718",
"name": "America",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/america/",
"slug": "america",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "America",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "228972",
"name": "T20 World CuP",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/t20-world-cup/",
"slug": "t20-world-cup",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "T20 World CuP",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "353304",
"name": "West indies",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/west-indies/",
"slug": "west-indies",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "West indies",
"translations": null
}
},
{
"type": "Keyword",
"data": {
"keywordId": "419878",
"name": "Super Eights",
"url": "https://staging.dailymaverick.co.za/keyword/super-eights/",
"slug": "super-eights",
"description": "",
"articlesCount": 0,
"replacedWith": null,
"display_name": "Super Eights",
"translations": null
}
}
],
"short_summary": null,
"source": null,
"related": [],
"options": [],
"attachments": [
{
"id": "117919",
"name": "Suryakumar Yadav of India plays a shot during the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 match between USA and India at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on June 12, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the surface, the Proteas’ journey into the Super Eight stage was a breeze: Four victories in four matches and qualifying with a match to spare. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it was far from it. Outside of a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their opening match, South Africa were within a couple of deliveries of possibly losing their matches against the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Nepal. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The match against Nepal was, surprisingly, the closest, as South Africa edged the 18th-ranked team by only one run on Saturday. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2237133\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2237133\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2157308112.jpg\" alt=\"T20 World Cup\" width=\"720\" height=\"489\" /> <em>Rishabh Pant of India takes a catch to dismiss Corey Anderson of the US during the T20 World Cup at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on 12 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Proteas now play three games in five days starting with the US in Antigua tomorrow (Wednesday) before heading to St Lucia to play defending champions England on Friday. They return to Antigua for co-hosts West Indies in the early hours of Monday South African time.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are three challenging fixtures for South Africa, who have not yet been at their best in the tournament. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s struggles have been mostly with the bat, with their highest team score of 115 coming against Nepal. There has also only been one half-century – David Miller’s undefeated 59 off 51 deliveries against the Dutch. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2237129\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2237129\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2158046144-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"450\" /> <em>Rovman Powell of West Indies catches out Rashid Khan of Afghanistan during the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 17 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2237128\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2237128\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2158034236.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"448\" /> <em>Nicholas Pooran of West Indies bats against Afghanistan during the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 17 June 2024 (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s batting has naturally come under scrutiny, but head coach Rob Walter looks unlikely to make any changes at this stage, with only the inexperienced Ryan Rickleton among the squad as a possible replacement. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite fantastic efforts by the South African bowlers at the T20 World Cup, their spots for selection are more hotly contested. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tabraiz Shamsi, in his first match of the tournament, took four wickets and only conceded 19 runs in his four overs against Nepal, playing a massive role in South Africa getting over the line. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shamsi came in for Keshav Maharaj. With the pitches in the Caribbean expected to be more conducive to spin bowling, Walter might be tempted to play both left-arm slow bowlers. </span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-06-13-proteas-look-ahead-to-super-eight-stage-of-t20-world-cup-as-other-teams-slug-it-out/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proteas look ahead to Super Eight stage of T20 World Cup as other teams slug it out</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deciding who to drop from the formidable quartet of fast bowlers is tricky. Anrich Nortje has found his rhythm and been the side’s highest wicket taker. Ottneil Baartman, despite being the least experienced, has proven to be the best death bowler. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kagiso Rabada, the most experienced T20 bowler by far in the team, has looked the least threatening among the pace bowlers. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marco Jansen hasn’t had much luck in the wickets department thus far but does offer a point of difference with his left-arm option and is the best batter of the lot.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2237126\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2237126\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2157767188.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"461\" /> <em>Glenn Maxwell of Australia bats as Matthew Cross of Scotland keeps during their T20 World Cup West match at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 15 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2237124\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2237124\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2157760672-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"1084\" /> <em>Ashton Agar of Australia bowls against Scotland during the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 15 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>A close tournament</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reigning T20 Cricket World Cup champions England only just scraped through to the Super Eight stage of the tournament, hosted in the Caribbean and the US. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perennial World Cup performers Pakistan and New Zealand were not as lucky. Both were knocked out in the initial group stages and won’t move on to the Super Eights which starts on Wednesday. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa open the Super Eight leg of the tournament tomorrow against the T20 World Cup surprise package and co-hosts, the US. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Proteas are also grouped alongside England – who they face on Friday – and the undefeated West Indies in Group B of the Super Eights. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Group A is expected to be tightly contested with three subcontinent sides – Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India – alongside Australia. Australia and India enter the Super Eights as the undefeated teams in Group A. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately for South Africa, West Indies, Australia and India, points accrued during the initial group stages of the T20 World Cup are not carried over to the Super Eights as all eight teams start with a clean slate.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The teams who finish first and second in their respective Super Eight groups will advance to the semifinals. All of the remaining matches in the T20 World Cup will be played in the Caribbean. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2237122\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2237122\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2157327777-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"461\" /> <em>Suryakumar Yadav of India plays a shot in their T20 World Cup match against the US at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on 12 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Super Eight contenders</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the form of the US, having beaten Pakistan and Canada in the group stage and running India close, the Proteas need to get past the co-hosts to stand a realistic chance of reaching the semifinals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Group B, England have also been in shaky form, only advancing to the Super Eights on net run rate after being tied on points with Scotland who were unfortunate to not advance to the Super Eights of a T20 World Cup for the first time in their history. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If sides are tied on points after the conclusion of the Super Eights, the same principle of superior net run rate will apply to judge which teams will advance to the semifinals.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Indies and Australia have looked the most threatening teams in the tournament so far. The former dismantled a very good Afghanistan side by 104 runs in the final group-stage match on Monday evening. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Proteas’ match against the US starts at 4.30pm on Wednesday.</span></i>",
"focal": "50% 50%",
"width": 0,
"height": 0,
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2156963888.jpg",
"transforms": [
{
"x": "200",
"y": "100",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/BCX2QwX5BkfaNzmOhwJ914cKBxw=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2156963888.jpg"
},
{
"x": "450",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/6w-FhRxwtPWw1e5jvCRvMgnlif8=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2156963888.jpg"
},
{
"x": "800",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/xGGHtzpZkrXESLv23k2nEA0Vsc0=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2156963888.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1200",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/zhzaqF_sda-Yn2AQXCU0YKj-wiI=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2156963888.jpg"
},
{
"x": "1600",
"y": "0",
"url": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/4QQ4aZrxwgQxILEGYlBLKsGJtyM=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2156963888.jpg"
}
],
"url_thumbnail": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/BCX2QwX5BkfaNzmOhwJ914cKBxw=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2156963888.jpg",
"url_medium": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/6w-FhRxwtPWw1e5jvCRvMgnlif8=/450x0/smart/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2156963888.jpg",
"url_large": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/xGGHtzpZkrXESLv23k2nEA0Vsc0=/800x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2156963888.jpg",
"url_xl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/zhzaqF_sda-Yn2AQXCU0YKj-wiI=/1200x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2156963888.jpg",
"url_xxl": "https://dmcdn.whitebeard.net/i/4QQ4aZrxwgQxILEGYlBLKsGJtyM=/1600x0/smart/filters:strip_exif()/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2156963888.jpg",
"type": "image"
}
],
"summary": "There are tough decisions to be made as the Super Eight stage of the tournament gets under way with the Proteas taking on surprise package US.",
"template_type": null,
"dm_custom_section_label": null,
"elements": [],
"seo": {
"search_title": "Proteas face tough challengers as T20 World Cup Super Eights stage is set",
"search_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the surface, the Proteas’ journey into the Super Eight stage was a breeze: Four victories in four matches and qualifying with a match to spare. </span>\r\n\r\n<span styl",
"social_title": "Proteas face tough challengers as T20 World Cup Super Eights stage is set",
"social_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the surface, the Proteas’ journey into the Super Eight stage was a breeze: Four victories in four matches and qualifying with a match to spare. </span>\r\n\r\n<span styl",
"social_image": ""
},
"cached": true,
"access_allowed": true
} 
Rishabh Pant of India takes a catch to dismiss Corey Anderson of the US during the T20 World Cup at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on 12 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)
Rovman Powell of West Indies catches out Rashid Khan of Afghanistan during the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 17 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)
Nicholas Pooran of West Indies bats against Afghanistan during the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 17 June 2024 (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)
Glenn Maxwell of Australia bats as Matthew Cross of Scotland keeps during their T20 World Cup West match at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 15 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)
Ashton Agar of Australia bowls against Scotland during the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 15 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)
Suryakumar Yadav of India plays a shot in their T20 World Cup match against the US at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on 12 June 2024. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)