After a majestic win over South Africa by 7 runs, Rohit Sharma-led India lifts the T20 World Cup for the second time. Despite having an upper hand in the match, the Proteas men suffered defeat as they lost wickets at regular intervals in the middle order.
The Proteas men’s batting lineup started to crumble with the fall of de Kock, Stubbs, Klaasen, and David Miller. Indian bowlers put up a show on their prowess picking back-to-back wickets in death overs.
South Africa and India are set to play in the finals stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 on June 29 at Kensington Oval, Barbados.
Coming to the toss, India won the toss and chose to bat. Both sides went with the same squad from the semi-finals, which was a nail-biting thriller match at Barbados.
The wait of 17 years comes to an end 🇮🇳
India win their second #T20WorldCup trophy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/z35z54ZQlI
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) June 29, 2024
Coming to the match, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opened the innings while Marco Jansen opened the bowling attack. Virat Kohli gave an impressive start picking up 14 runs in the first over with three fours.
In the fourth ball of the second over, Keshav Maharaj dismissed Rohit Sharma for 9 runs. He was sent out on a full-on off stumps where Rohit leaned across and swept it hard. But the ball went straight to Klaasen at backward Square leg.
In the same over, Rishabh Pant was sent out on a two-ball duck, where he looked for a sweep shot and ended up taking it on the full. The ball went into the hands of de Kock behind the wickets.
In the third ball of the fifth over, Suryakumar Yadav was sent out for three runs by Kagiso Rabada. The Proteas men picked three wickets in the powerplay as Rabada dismissed Suryakumar Yadav on a full-length delivery on off stumps. He tried for a shot deep backward square leg, and it floated down to Klaasen who ran to his left and tumbled before taking the catch. By the end of the powerplay, India lost three wickets for 45 runs.
Meanwhile, Axar Patel came to bat building a partnership with Virat Kohli picking 75 runs in 10 overs. Axar Patel and Virat Kohli forged a 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket and crossed the 100-run mark.
In the 14th over of the match, Axar Patel was sent out on a run-out after scoring 47 runs. He smashed four sixes which changed the course of the match. Virat Kohli smashed fifty and went on to score 76 runs in 59 deliveries. He was sent out on a delivery from Marco Jansen in the 19th over.
Meanwhile, Shivam Dube continued to bat, and Hardik Pandya came to bat after Virat’s dismissal. With Shivam Dube sent out for 27 runs by Nortje, India scored 176 runs by the end of 20 overs.
With the target of 177 runs, Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock opened the innings while Arshdeep Singh opened the bowling attack. Bumrah picked the wicket of Reeza Hendricks for four runs. With the dismissal of Aiden Markram for four runs by Arshdeep Singh, South Africa lost two wickets for 12 runs.
Meanwhile, Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs joined a partnership for 58 runs. With the dismissal of Stubbs for 31 runs, Quinton de Kock was sent out for 39 runs by Arshdeep Singh.
Meanwhile, Heinrich Klaasen scored an impressive fifty and was sent out for 52 runs on 27 deliveries. With the match going in favor of South Africa, Klaasen’s dismissal by Hardik Pandya, India got back and got into the competition.
With the dismissal of Marco Jansen for 2 runs by Bumrah, South Africa scored 156 runs for 6 wickets. with an impressive over from Arshdeep Singh in the death over, South Africa needed 16 runs in the last over.
In the final over, the Proteas men scored only 8 runs and lost the match by 7 runs difference. Hardik Pandya picked up two wickets in the final over which played a crucial moment in India’s victory.
