South Africa remained unbeaten at the Twenty20 World Cup after they defeated reigning champions England by seven runs in a thrilling second-round Super Eights clash in Saint Lucia Friday.
The Proteas were restricted to a modest 163/6 after losing the toss but England, having recovered from a top-order collapse, could not manage the 14 runs they needed off the last over before finishing on 156/6.
The Proteas were well-placed at 92/1, with Quinton de Kock having struck Jofra Archer for 21 in the fourth over, including two sixes off successive balls.
But De Kock was brilliantly caught by leaping England captain and wicket-keeper Jos Buttler off Archer for 65 to end a 38-ball innings featuring four fours and four sixes.
And from 92/1 in the 12th over, South Africa lost three wickets for 21 runs to be 113/4, with the big-hitting Heinrich Klaasen brilliantly run out by Buttler's direct hit on the stumps at the non-striker's end.
David Miller made a rapid 43 before he was well caught in the deep off fast bowler Archer, who finished with 3/40 from his maximum four overs.
Both teams won their opening match of the second round Super Eights.
Reigning champions England were unchanged from the team that defeated co-hosts West Indies by eight wickets in St. Lucia Wednesday.
South Africa made one change from the side involved in a tense 18-run win over the United States, with paceman Ottneil Baartman replacing leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.
This was the first match between the teams since South Africa thrashed then champions England by a colossal 229 runs in the 50-over World Cup in Mumbai in October - one of six defeats in nine games for Buttler's men as they failed to reach the knockout stage in India.
45TH MATCH
South Africa 163/6 (De Kock 65, Miller 43) beat England 156/6 (Brook 53, Livingstone 33) by 7 runs
