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![oppn parties](https://indiacommentary.com/icadmin/media/article/1719719136a.jpg)
By Linus Garg
First publised on 2024-06-30 03:45:36
What a match it was!!
From near certain defeat, with South Africa comfortably cruising at 147 for 4
at the beginning of the 16th 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 15th 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 19th 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 13th
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 15th over. But from the 16th 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.