India stunned South Africa to clinch their second ICC T20 World Cup title with a seven-run win at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday.

After being asked to bowl, the Proteas had gotten off to a fine start with three wickets within the Powerplay, including skipper Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav. India, however, made a recovery with Virat Kohli and Axar Patel putting up a 72-run stand for the fourth wicket – the highest by an Indian pair in a final.

While Axar fell after a quickfire 47, Kohli struck a 48-ball half-century – the second-slowest among Indians – before finishing on 76. India, however, put up a competitive 176/7 total – the highest first-innings score in a final across nine editions.

South Africa’s chase stiffened at the loss of the fourth wicket in the chase at 106, but number five Heinrich Klaasen compiled a 23-ball half-century, the quickest in any final, to charge the team towards the target.

India marked a turnaround in the 17th over when Hardik Pandya snapped up Klaasen on 53, conceding only four runs. Jasprit Bumrah followed up with a spellbinding over, conceding only two runs while cleaning up Marco Jansen, leaving South Africa a 20-run deficit. Arshdeep Singh then delivered a spotless over, conceding four runs, leaving South Africa with 16 to get in the final over.

Pandya landed the decisive blow with the first delivery of the over, dismissing David Miller on the back of Suryakumar Yadav’s incredible catch at the long-off boundary. While Kagiso Rabada managed a four and a single off the next three deliveries, Hardik held his nerve and dismissed the left-hander off the penultimate to seal India’s epochal win in Bridgetown.

This is India’s first title since their ICC Champions Trophy win in 2013 and their second T20 World Cup trophy since edging Pakistan by five runs in the inaugural final in Johannesburg in 2007.

India skipper Rohit also became the first captain to win 50 men’s T20Is, appearing in his second T20 World Cup as the skipper of the side. Rohit had previously led India to the World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup final in 2023, finishing runner-up behind Australia on both occasions.

Source: The Indian Express 

BDST: 1227 HRS, JUNE 30, 2024
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