September 08, 2024

T20 WC Final: India Turn The Match On Its Head In The Last Five Overs

By Linus Garg
First publised on 2024-06-30 03:45:36

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Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.

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What a match it was!! From near certain defeat, with South Africa comfortably cruising at 147 for 4 at the beginning of the 16^th over and needing just 30 runs from 30 balls with six wickets in hand, the Indian bowlers (and fielders, for how can one forget the mind blowing catch of David Miller by Suryakumar Yadav) scripted a turnaround that will forever be a part of cricketing folklore and won the World Cup for the country. On the other hand, South Africa, undefeated in this tournament and playing like champions till the 15^th over, saw all their hard work going down the drain with each passing over as they choked once again. Kudos to the Indian players, especially captain Rohit Sharma, for not panicking and getting the basics right to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Earlier, it was vintage Kohli as India started in a cavalier fashion with 23 runs coming in less than two overs. But then, first Rohit Sharma and then Rishabh Pant, were out to Keshav Maharaj in the second over and India were pegged back. When Suryakumar Yadav lofted a shot straight into the hands of a fielder in the fifth over and India were reeling at 34 for 3, it seemed the Proteas had taken a firm grip on the match. But Axar Patel had other ideas. Along with Kohli, Patel stitched a partnership of 72 runs for the fourth wicket which brought India back in the game. Patel hit scintillating sixes and fours in his innings of 47 runs off just 31 balls. Shivam Dube kept up the tempo even as Kohli was holding fort at the other end while desptaching the odd bad ball to the boundary in his inimitable style. But Kolhi got out on the penultimate ball of the 19^th over and India could manage only 176, even though at one time 190 looked possible.

South Africa started badly and were quickly two down for 12 in the third over. Then, first de Cock and Stubbs and then de Cock and Klaasen took the score to 106 in the 13^th over. It looked as if South Africa would claim their first World Cup title as Klaasen launched a frontal attack on the Indian bowlers. Axar Patel went for 24 runs in the 15^th over. But from the 16^th over onwards, Bumrah, Arshdeep and Hardik Pandya tightened the screws and the flow of runs dried up. Pandya forced Klaasen to edge one and Rishabh Pant scooped the catch with glee. Bumrah bowled Jansen and then Hardik returned for the last over to induce a lofted drive from Miller which was spectacularly held by Suryakumar Yadav at the boundary. It was all over after that and the Proteas lost by 7 runs.