LONDON, June 17 – South Africa set-up a mouthwatering World Twenty20 semi-final against Pakistan after condemning defending champions India to a third successive Super Eights defeat on Tuesday.
Fellow unbeaten side Sri Lanka, meanwhile, ended New Zealand’s hopes of sneaking into the last four and will face the West Indies in the second semi-final.
South Africa beat India by 12 runs at Trent Bridge.
The Proteas hit back after being restricted to 130-5 by keeping error-prone India down to 118-8.
Graeme Smith’s men topped Group E with three straight wins in the Super Eights and now await Pakistan in the first semi-final at the same venue on Thursday.
Sri Lanka, the group F champions, take on the West Indies in the other semi-final at the Oval in London on Friday.
"The bowlers did well but we have a few things to work on when it comes to the batting," said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
South Africa captain Smith praised his team’s ability to adapt to all surfaces and conditions.
"I think 130 on that wicket was a good total. The wicket was slow and the way we defended the total was excellent," he said.
India, who won the inaugural event in South Africa two years ago, collapsed after a bright start when openers Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma put on 48 by the sixth over.
The Indians, 55-1 at one stage, lost four top order wickets for 14 runs against a seven-man South African attack.
South Africa, who elected to bat on a slow wicket, struggled against the Indian attack to make just 130-5.
Man of the match AB de Villiers, who hit 63 off 51 deliveries, said patience was key to building runs.
"It wasn’t the fanciest knock of my life," he said. "The trick is to have a good foundation for the first 20 balls and then express yourself."
Ajantha Mendis spun out New Zealand as Sri Lanka roared into the semi-finals with an emphatic 48-run win, also at Trent Bridge.
The mystery spinner grabbed 3-9 in three overs as the Black Caps failed to chase down a target of 159 in a must-win game and were shot out for 110 in 17 overs.
Martin Guptill top-scored with 43, but New Zealand lost their last eight wickets for 46 runs after being comfortably placed at 64-2 in eight overs.
"Ajantha was brilliant. He is very difficult to read and he has an attacking mindset. It’s a great ability to have," said Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori admitted batting let the side down.
"It was a gettable total but in three major matches our highest score was 120," he said.
"We got off to a decent start, then capitulated in the middle. But thay have a wonderful attack and deserved to win."
Sangakkara made 35 to anchor his side to 158-5 after he won the toss and elected to bat on a good wicket.
Sangakkara put on 62 in 49 balls for the third wicket with Tillekaratne Dilshan and 50 for the fourth with former captain Mahela Jayawardene after he won the toss and elected to bat on a good wicket.
Dilshan hit a pugnacious 48 off 37 balls.
