Game One West Indies 135/8 v 124/7 South Africa South Africa WIN

In a must win game South Africa edged out hosts West Indies in a rain affected match in Antigua.

South Africa did the hard work in the first part of the game by screwing the lid down tight on batters who had home field and support advantage. West Indies weren't going to surrender easily though and when the Proteas were 15-2 in the second over it seemed the game could very much be afoot. A 75 minute rain delay robbed them of the impetus the early wickets had given. South Africa scored quick boundaries and seemed to be scampering towards the revised target but more qickets, including 3 from Roston Chase, made for a tense conclusion. With 9 requireed from the last seven balls Kagiso Rabada smote a beautiful cover drive, and the game was over with another 4 at the start of the final over.

Game Two India 205/5 v 181/7 Australia India WIN

There have been more sub-100 innings than plus-200 ones this tournament. India lit up St Lucia with one of the latter. While Kohli again struggled - out for a duck off 5 balls - Captain Rohit Sharma delighted the crowd with a 41 ball 92. In reality everyone else were bit parts to this powerful innings and it says something of Australian resolve that a score of 160 in 15 overs was restricted to only 205. Josh Hazelwood's 4 overs for 14 runs were the only brakes applied, but they were important ones.

And Australia showed resolve in batting. Until the 12th over they were there or there abouts with the run rate and began the 13th with a wicket in hand and only 6 runs behind. But, while not having a Hazelwood, India's bowlers were tighter as a group and made scoring difficult. As wickets fell in the 14th, 15th, 17th, and 18th overs the momentum fell away from Australia's charge and they were left waiting for the final game of the Super Eight round to see if they would make the semi-finals.

Game Three Afghanistan 115/5 v 105 all out Bangladesh Afghanistan WIN
With Australia's defeat to India this match suddenly had major significance as either team could qualify for the semi-final. If either of them made it it would be momentous.

On winning the toss Afghanistan elected to bat and started well, if slowly. They didn't lose a wicket until the eleventh over, but were only on 59 at the time. Three Bangladesh bowlers took their full allotment of 4 overs each, and only conceded 48 runs between them. The combination of Bangladesh tightness and Afganistan timidity making for a low total which at the mid-way break offered Bangladesh a real route to the semi-finals if they could bat bravely and score the runs swiftly enough.

Bangladesh tried to get away quickly, but at 23-3 in the third over had to move more circumspectly. Litton Das anchored one end and scored at a little over a run a ball, which could have been the foundation required, but with regular showers interrupting play, Bangladesh's chances of progressing dribbled away. As did their wickets.

Still, reaching a revised 108 would prevent Afghanistan progressing. But, in the 18th over, with only three runs required, Naveen-Ul-Haq took two-in-two to bowl Bangladesh out, sent Australia home, and Afghanistan through - the first Association team to reach a T20 World Cup knock out stage.

Their next opponents, South Africa, should beware Naveen-Ul-Haq's first ball - it will be for a hat trick.

Game	4's	6's	Total
West Indies v South Africa	22	9	31
India v Australia	30	24	54
Afghanistan v Bangladesh	16	5	21
Tournament	898	493	1201

Tomorrow there'll be a small round up of the Super Eight's and a preview and forecast for the Semi-Finals, both of which occur on Thursday in my time-zone.

text by stuartcturnbull. graphic by Mir Rammez Raja & edited by stuartcturnbull via postermywall