IND vs SA, T20 WC 2022 talking points: South Africa beats India by five wickets in Perth to take the top spot in the Group 2 points table.
We expected that the pitch will have something in it. We knew that there’ll be a lot of help for the seamers, that’s why it wasn’t an easy target to chase. We fell a little short with the bat. We fought well, but South Africa were better today. When you see that score, you’ll always think you’re in the game. That was a match-winning partnership from Markram and Miller. We were a little poor on the field, we gave so many chances in the field and we weren’t clinical. We were just not good enough. The last two games, we were pretty good in the field. We couldn’t hold our chances, we missed a few run-outs. We need to keep our heads high and take a learning from this game. We have played in such conditions so conditions are not an excuse. We want to be consistent in that department. We could not hold on to our chances, we misses a few run-outs including myself.
At the 10-over mark the discussion was to try and up the intent. When you do that, that’s when opportunities come your way. Fortunately things did go our way and we were able to get that momentum. Our batting line-up is in good form barring myself. It’s a batting unit that’s been together for a while. To come through in pressure moments will boost the guys’ confidence. We watched the games that were being played here and decided on the lengths. The variable bounce assisted us. We backed our execution, fortunately it came off for us. We don’t like that tag (favourites), we’ve come into the tournament as not the favourites. We’ll keep flying under the radar. It’s important we keep improving and that’s exactly what we are doing.
It was very nerve-wracking. When games get so close, you cannot do much as a bowler but just sit. It is one of my biggest wins – to win an award at the World Cup. It comes down to watching a lot of games being played here. We have also played here earlier. We saw Pakistan bowl and it helped. Just after the ten-over break, Markram moved the game forward and Miller followed him.
David Miller and Aiden Markram hit brilliant half-centuries as South Africa beat India by five wickets to go top of the table. Chasing a paltry score of 134 runs to win, India started well with Arshdeep picking a couple of wickets and Mohammed Shami packing off Temba Bavuma. But Miller and Markram saw through a tricky period of play, and forged a match-winning 76-run partnership to take the game away from India. The fielding was sloppy from India as there were drop catches and run-out chances missed on a chilly night. Markram and Miller capitalised on the start and then launched the attack on India after the drinks break by going over the top and targeting Ashwin. Although Markram was bounced out by Hardik Pandya, Miller finished the job to hand India its first defeat of the tournament. Suryakumar Yadav produced his most accomplished knock in extremely adverse conditions but India only managed a sub-par 133 for 9 after South African pacers exposed the top-order’s inadequacies against pace and bounce .
David Miller holds key as South Africa needs 25 runs in 18 balls and India needs to pick wickets to take the game till the last over. Ashwin will finish his quota as both Arshdeep and Hardik have finished their job and Rohit Sharma has taken a big gamble.
Hardik Pandya strikes and finally India has managed to pack off Aiden Markram but he has done the damage with a 41-ball 52. In a pressure match, Markram played according to the situation and to the merit of the ball but credit to Hardik but sticking to his strength and inviting the batsman to go for the pull shot. Markram goes for the pull but hits it straight down the throat of Suryakumar Yadav and India will believe a couple of more wickets could really turn the tide in their favour.
What a knock Aiden Markram has produced under pressure and the last overs have produced 55 runs and things have moved in south Africa’s direction with Markram leading the charge with an excellent half-century. Riding on the luck provided by the Indians, Markram took full advantage and after seeing off the attack, forged a partnership with Miller and almost tilted the match in South Africa’s favour. Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik has walked off the field and in walks Rishabh Pant as the substitute wicket-keeper.
Interesting passage of play as Aiden Markram and David Miller are working the ball around with Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya steaming in, threatening to break the stand. Shami almost had Miller trapped, India went for a review but there was an inside edge that saved Miller. While Bhuvneshwar, ARshdeep and Shami have bowled full, Hardik is hitting the back of a length, extracting bounce and troubling the batsmen with pace. The required rate is slowly climbing, touching exactly 9rpo with the current standing at 3.89rpo. India needs wickets to stay in the game as spin will come into play at some stage and South Africa will cut loose. Read More News…
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
South Africa Playing XI: Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje
