South Africa advanced into the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy on superior net run-rate after their rain-marred match against the West Indies in Cardiff on Friday ended in a tie.u00a0 <img alt="Marlon Samuels " src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/jun/marlon-samuels.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 705px;" /> Marlon Samuels top-scored for the Windies with 48 off 52 balls. Pic/AFP The West Indies, who had to win this match to go through to the last four, were exactly level on the Duckworth/Lewis system for rain-affected matches at 190 for six off 26.1 overs when Australian umpires Rod Tucker and Steve Davis decided the rain was too heavy to continue and took the players off the field for the final time at 7.43pm local time (1843 GMT). The rain came down at an inopportune time for the Windies -- right after Kieron Pollard was dismissed by Ryan McLaren. With the West Indies on 190 for five after the 26th over, Pollard (28) was dismissed in the first ball off the next over.u00a0It 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. Before Pollard&#39;s dismissal, West Indies were thus in front based on the Duckworth/Lewis system. But after his dismissal (they would have needed 191 in 26.1 overs). u00a0 <img alt="Rain at Cardiff" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/jun/rain-ct13.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 298px;" /> Members of the groundstaff work to protect and drain the pitch as rain delays the start of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy One Day International (ODI) cricket match between West Indies and South Africa at the Cardiff Wales Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales on Friday. Pic/AFP Earlier, 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. But the rain gods had something else in mind. The Proteas thus joined India from Group B to advance to the semi-final courtesy of the higher run-rate. Earlier, South Africa scored an impressive 230 for six against the West Indies in a Group B Champions Troph match, curtailed to 31 overs apiece after heavy rain, at the Sophia Gardens here. <img alt="Colin Ingram" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/jun/colin-ingram.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 368px;" /> South Africa&#39;s Colin Ingram (R) hits a six as West Indies wicketkeeper Johnson Charles looks on at Cardiff, south Wales on Friday. Pic/AFP 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. Dwayne Bravo took two wickets while Ravi Rampaul, Kieron Pollard and Marlon Samuels all took a wicket each for the West Indies.

South Africa advanced to the Champions Trophy semi-finals after their rain-affected Group B match against West Indies in Cardiff on Friday was tied on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Champions Trophy: South Africa into semis after dramatic tie with Windies

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Champions Trophy: South Africa into semis after dramatic tie with Windies

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