On Saturday, India’s national cricket team defeated South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling encounter that left the outcome up for grabs until the very last over. This victory won the team’s second Twenty20 World Cup championship.
Heinrich Klaasen hit 52 from 27 balls, including five sixes, to put South Africa solidly on pace to reply to India’s 176 for seven. South Africa needed 16 runs to win.
David Miller lofted the opening ball, a full toss from Hardik Pandya, far into the air, but Suryakumar Yadav made a spectacular catch by racing around the long-off boundary, knocking the ball skyward, toppling over the ropes, and backing up.
With the scores equal, two more boundaries off the last two balls would have forced a Super Over, but Kagiso Rabada was caught off the fifth, ending the match as triumphant Indian fans flocked to the field.
Virat Kohli eventually returned to form after Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bat, scoring 76 off 59 balls.
India lost their first three wickets cheaply in the event, so Kohli first steadied the innings before speeding after scoring just 75 runs in seven knocks.
Pacer Marco Jansen gave Kohli a clear indication of his intentions when he hit three boundaries in the first over, but South Africa quickly responded with a wicket from left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.
After mistimulating another sweep, Maharaj had Rishabh Pant caught by Quinton de Kock for a duck after dismissing him for nine.
After the powerplay, India was reeling at 45 for three. Suryakumar (three) lofted pacer Rabada to the square leg boundary, where Klaasen collected an easy catch.
India attempted to accelerate, reaching 75 for three at the midway point of the contest when left-hander Axar Patel lofted the first six of the encounter over mid-wicket in the eighth over.
When De Kock put down the stumps at the bowler’s end with the batter only millimeters short of his ground, Axar was run out for 47.
After hitting two sixes and a four off Shivam Dube, Kohli reached his half century off just 44 deliveries.
Now in full swing, Kohli blasted Jansen for six before Rabada caught him trying to hit the boundary again.
Bumrah happens
India’s strike bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, very certainly struck first, clean bowling Reeza Hendricks in his opening over.
But De Kock went on the attack, hitting Kuldeep Yadav for a four and a six. He also ensured that South Africa reached 39 runs from 31 balls by hitting left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh straight to Kuldeep at fine leg.
With 22 runs needed from 18 balls after Klaasen’s vicious performance put his team in contention, Rohit switched to Bumrah to bowl his last overs.
In response, Bumrah bowled Jansen for two, giving up only two runs to end with a brilliant stint of two for eighteen.
Bumrah, the winner of the player of the tournament award, remarked, “I tried to keep calm.”
“The major stages are why we play sports. You have to contribute more on the big day. I felt quite composed and clear the entire tournament.”
Player of the game India became the first team to win the trophy after remaining undefeated throughout the tournament when they won, and Kohli announced his retirement from T20 Internationals shortly after.
The South African players were disheveled after suffering yet another sorrow, while the Indian players were overcome with emotion at winning their first global championship since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
“It hurt. We need some time to think about this,” said South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram.
“Although our campaign has been fantastic, this stings right now. I am really pleased of each and every one of my players and our team’s members.”
