South Africa ended India’s 12-match profitable streak on the T20 World Cup with a crushing 76-run win in Ahmedabad on Sunday within the opening Group 1 Tremendous Eights match.
After a counter-attacking 63 by David Miller and a few late hitting from Tristan Stubbs took South Africa to 187-7, the defending champions had been all out for 111 in 18.5 overs, failing badly of their first chase of the match.
Left-arm fast Marco Jansen completed with 4-22, whereas left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took 3-24 because the South African bowlers uncovered India’s fragile batting line-up.
“Nice efficiency. Very completely different kind of wicket to what we have had right here, so nice to see the boys assess that fairly early and adapt their expertise to execute their plans,” stated South Africa captain Aiden Markram.
“We’re actually pumped for the bowling group. They have been working arduous, began the comp a bit robust, however the way in which they rocked up tonight was an excellent effort.” Sizzling favorites to defend their crown on dwelling soil, India might want to win their two remaining Tremendous Eight video games in opposition to Zimbabwe and the West Indies to have an opportunity of qualifying.
However the magnitude of the defeat means they’ll take a poor internet run price ahead and that might show pivotal if their Tremendous Eights group is tight.
“We bowled very well, however we might have batted a little bit higher,” stated India captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Fans silenced
“Sometimes you’ve got to think, if you’re chasing 180-185, you can’t win the game in the power play, but you might lose it.
“We lost too many wickets in the power play.” Both teams were unbeaten in the group phase and the game was a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados, which India won.
India’s unbeaten run in the tournament had stretched back to their defeat in the semi-final against eventual winners England in 2022.
South Africa struck immediately in India’s chase when Markram opened the bowling and dismissed Ishan Kishan with his off-spin.
Abhishek Sharma got his first runs of the tournament, after three ducks, with a four off Markram to get the 82,000 crowd on their feet in the cavernous stadium, which has a reported capacity of 130,000.
The joy of Indian fans was short-lived, and they were silenced as left-arm quick Marco Jansen had Tilak Varma caught behind for one in the next over and removed the left-handed Abhishek for 15.
India needed a partnership, but Corbin Bosch dismissed Washington Sundar and Suryakumar, who toe-ended to midwicket, as the hosts slumped to 51-5.
Left-arm spinner Maharaj took three wickets in one over to dismiss Hardik Pandya (18), Rinku Singh (0) and Arshdeep Singh (one) to shut the door on India.
Shivam Dube made 42 at the end, but it was too little too late, and when he fell off Jansen, last man Jasprit Bumrah followed the next ball.
Batting first after winning the toss, South Africa slipped to 20-3 before Miller and Dewald Brevis, who hit 45, put on 97, to guide South Africa to 187-7.
Tristan Stubbs had a late cameo that saw him crash an unbeaten 44 off 24 balls and launch the final two balls of the innings both for six off Pandya.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah took 3-15.
