India edge out South Africa in thriller but fail to progress

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – OCTOBER 02: L Balaji of India celebrates the wicket of Morne Morkel of South Africa with team captian M S Dhoni during the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Super Eights Group 2 match between South Africa and India at R. Premadasa Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

A splendid bowling effort from Lakshmipathy Balaji in the final over made sure that India’s exit from the T20 World Cup was on a high note. Put in to bat first, India scored 152 runs for the loss of six wickets, but South Africa ultimately did fall short by one run.

South Africa made couple of changes as they recalled Albie Morkel and Faf Du Plessis in place of Richard Levi and Farhaan Behardien while India played with the same side that gave them victory against their arch-rivals Pakistan.

South Africa won the toss, and rather unsurprisingly opted to bowl first. Gautam Gambhir started the Indian innings with a glorious drive through the covers for four. But he failed to exploit the start he got off to, being castled by Morne Morkel in the fourth over of the Indian innings for eight. The length was a bit full for Gambhir to have stayed in the crease, which resulted in him trying to make room.

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – OCTOBER 02: Gautam Gambhir of India walks back after getting out as Albie Morkel celebrates his wicket during the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Super Eights Group 2 match between South Africa and India at R. Premadasa Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

But the ball thudded on to his bat and on to the stumps. Out then walked in-form batsman Virat Kohli, who started his innings with an outstanding cover-drive, leaning forward to punch the ball through the gap in the infield. Kohli, however was dismissed by Jacques Kallis for a paltry two. He moved across his stumps to a short-length ball that climbed onto him and glanced off his gloves. AB de Villers moved to his left and caught the ball, leading to another Indian dismissal. Kohli, in retrospect, might have been cramped for room by how much that ball rose.

The burden ultimately shifted to Virender Sehwag, who was batting with Yuvraj Singh. Having struck a magnificent six off Alviro Peterson in his first over, was castled the very next delivery as he came down the pitch once again and swung in hope. The ball, however, was much slower. Sehwag was beaten by its flight and pace, which meant Peterson had dismissed yet another Indian batsman. That meant that Yuvraj Singh had to stay and bat for the entirety of the remainder of the Indian innings, which did not actually happen as he was knocked off by Morne Morkel for 21.

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – OCTOBER 02: Virender Sehwag of India bats during the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Super Eights Group 2 match between South Africa and India at R. Premadasa Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

It was now two young batsman at the crease, and their job was to take India past the 150-run mark. Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma put on a constructive partnership of 51 runs before Sharma was struck in front by Peterson for 25. He tried to sweep an off-stump directed delivery that was much too full, missed it and was the victim of an absolutely plump LBW decision, leaving before he could actually get into gear. The final push came from MS Dhoni who clobbered a 13-ball 23.

India posted 152 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

That meant India had to dismiss the Proteas for a score below 121 to seal their semi-final berth.

India did get off to a good start with the ball as Zaheer Khan struck in his first over to get rid of Hashim Amla, who he nicked the ball just outside off-stump to first-slip fielder Sehwag who dismissed him with a safe, low catch. Irfan Pathan then grabbed the wicket of the dangerous Kallis (6) as the latter tried to clear short-mid wicket but didn’t middle it, leaving Rohit Sharma to dismiss him with a brilliant catch.

From then on, India’s hopes of sealing a semi-final berth gradually began to decrease as AB De Villers and Faf Du Plessis looked to be in fine nick, scoring at the quick rate as they shared a handy 30-run partnership before Yuvraj Singh got rid of the Proteas skipper for 13.

A splendid partnership of 45 runs between Faf Du Plessis and Jean Paul Duminy ultimately brought them back into the contest before Du Plessis was caught at long off by Raina off Yuvraj Singh for a well-made 65.

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – OCTOBER 02: Faf Du Plessis of South Africa bats during the ICC World Twenty20 2012 Super Eights Group 2 match between South Africa and India at R. Premadasa Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

At this stage you would have forgiven for thinking the game was over and that South Africa were on the verge of pulling off an easy victory. But India played their hand and kept chipping away with regular wickets, which brought the contest even closer, despite the fact that India had already been knocked out of the competition at the time.

The contest opened up when Balaji grabbed the wicket of Duminy in the 15th over as the latter swept it to deep square leg but picked out a fielder in Gambhir. The Proteas kept losing wickets at regular intervals and the contest came down to the wire, with 14 required off the last over.

Dhoni tossed the ball to Balaji, his key man during India’s death overs. Despite being clobbered for a six in the first ball, Balaji came back to produce the wicket of Albie Morkel off the next delivery. He then got rid of Morne Morkel off the fifth ball to ensure India left this tournament on a winning note.

India, despite being knocked out of the tournament, must be proud of their efforts. This young team has shown lot of character against some of the strongest sides that have travelled to Sri Lanka.