India (Commonwealth) _Even after receiving a severe blow from Heinrich Klaasen South Africa was unable to overcome India’s resolve as they prevailed by seven runs in the T20 World Cup final on Saturday in Bridgetown due to the incredible death bawling by Indian pacers.
With 52 runs from 27 balls, Klaasen was at the pinnacle of his game and the Proteas were on the approach of a historic victory. In the 15th over of the Proteas’ chase, Klaasen struck for 24, turning the tide of the match in favour of the Proteas, who needed 54 runs to win from 36 balls.
It was a part of Klaasen and David Miller’s (21), pivotal 45-run stand. However, Klaasen’s wicket, caught behind off Hardik Pandya’s ball, marked a turning point, as South Africa still needed 26 from 23.
Miller had no luck
It meant that in order to see South Africa across the line, Miller and Marco Jansen (2) had to attempt. But in the 18th over, an inswinging ball by Jasprit Bumrah (2/18) cannoned into the top of leg stump, leaving South Africa needing 21 from 14 to win. Jansen had no response for it.
With Miller on strike and requiring 16 from six overs, it came down to the last over. Miller blasted a full delivery from Pandya over mid-off, but Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning grab on the boundary saw the end of the innings. That would prove to be the last over in which South Africa could muster any kind of comeback, as India proved themselves worthy winners in the end.
Reeza Hendricks (4) was removed in the second over by Bumrah, who delivered a near-unplayable fast ball that clattered into the top of off stump, leaving the Proteas 7/1. With 177 to win, South Africa was off to a rough start.
After 2.3 overs and with South Africa in danger at 12/2, Proteas captain Aiden Markram (4) was the next to go, hitting a reckless drive that found the edge as he was caught behind by Rishabh Pant off the bowling of Arshdeep Singh.
Following that strike, Quinton de Kock (39 from 31) and Tristan Stubbs (31 from 21 balls) were reunited, and just as things were looking promising, Axar Patel struck. Actually, Patel’s straight ball that slammed into the wickets after Stubbs stepped beyond his stumps was more the result of bad shot selection. It restored India’s position in the match and broke a 58-run third wicket stand.
South Africa achieved 81/3 at half of their innings, still requiring 96 runs from 60 balls.
De Kock attempted the identical stroke off the following delivery after hitting a lofted four over fine leg, but Kuldeep Yadav caught him this time on the boundary off the bowling of Singh. De Kock and Klaasen’s 36-year, promising collaboration came to an end with the breakthrough.
Rampage turned downhill
It seems that the turning point was the 15th, when Klaasen went on the rampage. Patel was the bowler on the receiving end as Klaasen single-handedly reduced the chase to 30 runs from 30 balls by launching two fours and two sixes. For the Proteas, however, it was all downhill from there.
With a brilliant stroke of 76 off 59 balls, Virat Kohli shone for India. He set the tone early in his innings and then let loose with some huge blows as his team amassed 176/7.
India got off to a brilliant start after winning the toss and batting. Kohli took full advantage of some full bowling from Marco Jansen (1/49) to score 15 runs in the first six balls, which also happened to be the most costly opening over in T20 World Cup history.
Keshav Maharaj (2/23) was sent in to bowl the second over of the innings in an attempt to surprise India. India lost their first wicket with the score on 23 after Rohit Sharma gave up two boundaries off the opening two balls and smashed one to Klaasen at square leg.
After Pant was out for duck after trying to sweep and sending the ball straight up to wicketkeeper De Kock for the easiest of catches, Maharaj struck again two balls later, bringing India down to 23/2.
