T20 World Cup: South Africa quell India’s challenge

The Proteas pacers destroyed the Indian top-order on the bouncy pitch of Perth.

Suryakumar Yadav’s exceptional 68 also went in vain as South Africa chased down the total in the final over. 

South Africa displayed a brilliant performance in all 3 departments of the game to register an outstanding 5-wicket victory against India.

They are now at the top of the points table in Group 2 with 5 points in 3 games.

India and South Africa are now looking the favorites to go into the semi-finals from Group 2.

Ngidi, the man with the golden arm

India won the toss and elected to bat first but they were hammered badly by Lungi Ngidi in the powerplay.

He gave an excellent start to the Proteas by dismissing both the star Indian openers (Rahul and Rohit) in the same over.

In the 7th over of the innings, Ngidi scalped the big fish Virat Kohli for 11 runs followed by the wicket of Hardik Pandya in his very next over.

He finished his spell with the figures of 4-29 from his 4 overs. 

SKY rescued India

India was struggling at 49-5 in the 9th over but Suryakumar Yadav decided to play his natural game and attack the relentless bowling unit of South Africa.

He smashed the ball around the ground and scored a brilliant knock of 68 runs off just 40 balls including 6 fours and 3 sixes.

He seemed to be batting on a different track.

Except Suryakumar Yadav, only Rohit and Virat managed to cross the double-figure mark.

Yadav’s brilliant inning helped team India to reach a respectable total of 133-9 from their 20 overs. 

Swing for the Indian bowlers

Defending a below per total of 134 runs, the Indian bowlers got some swing early on.

Arshdeep Singh used the swing very well and dismissed the two most in-form South batters (de Kock and Rossouw) in the second over.

Shami followed the good start and sent the South African skipper Temba Bavuma back to the pavilion. 

Match-winning partnership between Markram and Miller 

Chashing just 132 runs, South Africa didn’t get to a good start as they were 3 down for just 40 runs in the first 10 overs. But Aiden Markram and David Miller build up a match-winning partnership for the 4th wicket.

Markram was lucky today as he was dropped by Kohli and also survived a runout chance against Rohit Sharma.

He made full use of those two chances and scored a brilliant fifty for his side. 

After Markram’s dismissal, Miller started to take charge against the Indian bowlers.

He took his side over the victory line in the final over. Miller smashed a superb knock of 59 runs off 46 balls (4 fours and 3 sixes).

Arshdeep picked up 2 wickets for India while Shami, Pandya, and Ashwin grabbed a single wicket each.