Dale Steyn and JP Duminy led South Africa to a two-run win over Group One rivals New Zealand at the World Twenty20 championship.

West Indies and hosts Sri Lanka earned hard-fought wins in an exciting start to the Super Eights round in the World Twenty20 on Thursday.

There were no jitters for the big teams in the first round of the World Twenty20 as all eight cruised into the Super Eights starting from Thursday.

England captain Paul Collingwood cited his team’s self-belief as a key factor in their Twenty20 final victory against arch-rivals Australia on Sunday.

Michael Hussey’s rescue mission saw Australia beat Pakistan by three wickets with just a ball to spare to reach the World Twenty20 final on Friday.

Andrew Hudson has called for an intensive review of the Proteas after their disappointing performance in the World Twenty20.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle said he needed more help from his top order batsmen after the Caribbean side exited the World Twenty20 on Tuesday.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said Australia are the favourites for the World Twenty20 title after his own side crashed out before the semifinals.

Ajantha Mendis spun out New Zealand as Sri Lanka roared into the World Twenty20 semifinals with an emphatic 48-run win on Tuesday.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara hit 35 to anchor Sri Lanka to 158-5 against New Zealand in a must-win Super Eights match of the World Twenty20 on Tuesday.

Wayne Parnell’s aim when he was a junior international cricketer was to make sure he was in South Africa’s 30-man squad for the 2011 World Cup.

South Africa maintained their unbeaten record at the World Twenty20 with a 20-run Super Eights win over the West Indies at the Oval on Saturday.

When Mike Procter, the former great SA all-rounder, took over as convener of the country’s selectors last year he faced up to an uncomfortable truth.