Cardiff, June 15 (IANS) Rain gods came to the rescue of South Africa as they secured their berth in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy after sharing points with the West Indies in the Group B encounter here Friday.
The match had to be called off after the heavens opened for the umpteenth time with the game ending in a tie (D/L method).
With the West Indies on 190 for five after the 26th over, Kieron Pollard (28) was dismissed in the first ball off the next over.
It started raining again as Darren Sammy walked out to bat with Windies on par with score according to the Duckworth/Lewis method. Had Pollard not got out the Windies would have been home and dry with them requiring to be on 187 for five.
South Africa had scored 230 for six after 31 overs and the West Indies were left stranded on 190 for six in 26.1 overs.
Earlier, South Africa, put into bat, got off to a flyer courtesy an 80-run stand between Hashim Amla (27) and Colin Ingram (73) for the opening wicket.
Captain AB de Villers added another 44 runs along with Ingram as the South Africans reached 124 for one in 17.2 overs.
However, the West Indies pulled things back removing JP Duminy (2) early and Darren Bravo taking a stunning catch to get rid off the dangerous de Villers.
Faf du Plessis (30) and David Miller (38) strung together a 68-run partnership to give South Africa the push they needed to achieve a daunting score.
Chris Gayle started the chase in aggressive fashion, smashing 36 off 27 balls. His opening partner Jonathan Charles, though, could never get going and was dismissed by Chris Morris.
West Indies were reduced to 87 for three after 15 overs, losing Gayle and Devon Smith (30) in quick succession.
Marlon Samuels smashed his way to 48 off 38 balls, including six fours and two sixes, to put the Caribbean side in the driving seat.
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