South Africa continue unbeaten run in T20 World Cup with tense win over England

South Africa bowlers kept their cool to eke out a seven-run win over title holders England in their T20 World Cup Super Eight match in Gros Islet on Friday.

Quinton de Kock looked the most comfortable on another difficult surface as his 65 from 38 balls set the stage for what looked like a 200 plus score.

But as the pitch slowed up, so did the scoring as England spinners and then the seamers used the surface to take the pace off the ball and dry up the runs. A laboured second half of the innings saw South Africa post 163-6.

England found the going equally tough as South Africa's bowlers pegged them back early. But a counter-attacking partnership by middle order batsmen Harry Brook (53) and Liam Livingstone (33) brought the defending champions back into the match.

And just as the match seemed to be slipping away, South Africa's experienced pacers Kagiso Rabada, Marcon Jansen and Anrich Nortje bowled expertly at the death to restrict England to 156-6.

South Africa thus extended their unbeaten run in the tournament; they have won six out of six matches so far.

First time South Africa have won 6 matches in a row in T20 World Cups. The last five were close finishes. They are holding their nerves in thrillers.

Earlier, the Proteas were well-placed at 92-1 after losing the toss, with 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 wicketkeeper 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