South Africa beats US in Super Eight playoffs at the T20 World Cup

South Africa's Tabraiz Shamsi, right, celebrates an lbw against USA's Shayan Jahangir during the ICC men's Twenty20 World Cup 2024 Super Eight cricket match between the U.S. and South Africa at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda on June 19, 2024. England's Phil Salt, right, and teammate Jonathan Bairstow are congratulated by West Indies' Johnson Charles and Nicholas Pooran, left, following their men's T20 World Cup cricket match at Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia, June 19, 2024.

South Africa had to work hard to earn an 18-run win over the fast-improving United States in the opening game of the Super Eight at the Twenty20 World Cup on Wednesday.