IT ALL GOES SOUTH

England up against it to retain their title

- MIKE WALTERS

IT’S not just England’s footballers who are putting their supporters through the mill.

On the island where Freddie Flintoff’s maritime misadventure on a pedalo made waves 17 years ago, England were sunk again to leave their Twenty20 World Cup hopes back in the balance.

Chasing a modest 164 to beat South Africa in St Lucia, they fell just seven runs short in a dramatic finish.

Now the holders must beat the United States convincingly in their final Super 8s game in Barbados tomorrow to reach the semi-finals.

After scraping through the rain- affected group stage, they seem determined to take the scenic route to glory.

Despite a swaggering 78-run stand in seven overs between Harry Brook (53 off 37 balls) and Liam Livingstone (33 off 17), the Proteas maintained their unbeaten record.