England needed just 87 to confirm their place in the semi-finals of this T20 World Cup. They took only 10.4 overs to first get those required runs, and then went well past the 131-run mark comfortably that knocked South Africa out of the race for a last-four spot. The Proteas, however, won the game by 10 runs at the Sharjah on Saturday.

South Africa’s inability to restrict England to 131 or a lesser total meant Australia were the third team to secure a semi-final berth by virtue of a superior net run rate, after their thumping eight-wicket win over West Indies earlier in Abu Dhabi. In fact, what transpired after England went past 131 was completely of academic interest. It included Kagiso Rabada’s hat-trick in the final over when he dismissed Chris Woakes, Eoin Morgan and Chris Jordan off successive balls to guide South Africa to a win.

That said, the mood in the English camp wouldn’t be too good as opener Jason Roy, one of the vital cogs of their batting line-up, sustained a leg injury and had to leave the field after scoring 20 runs.

Roy was down on the ground after taking a single off the first ball of the fifth over of England’s run chase. Soon after, he was seen to be in tears when back at the dugout.

No wonder it would a huge blow to England if Roy is unavailable for selection going forward in the competition.

To speak of the Proteas, one would only feel for captain Temba Bavuma and his men. Despite winning four matches on the trot after losing narrowly to Australia in the opening game of the Super 12 stage, they still had to bow out.

After being put in, their batsmen did wonderfully well to post a formidable total of 189/2 with Rassie van der Dussen (94 not out) and Aiden Markram hitting an unbroken 103-run stand.

The Proteas need to look back in that Bangladesh game, where they should have tried to chase down the below-100 total faster, which then would certainly have boosted their net run rate.