New Delhi: South Africa defeated India in the third match of the 20th World Cup. Africa won this match by 5 wickets. With this win, South Africa has made a solid move toward the semi-finals. South African bowlers wreaked havoc on Perth’s bouncy pitch. India had scored 133 for 9 in 20 overs after playing first. In reply, the African team achieved the target in 19.4 overs for the loss of five wickets.
Aidan Markram and David Miller were the heroes of this victory in South Africa. Aidan Markram scored 52 runs in 41 balls with 6 fours and a six, while, Miller played an innings of 59 runs in 46 balls to put this victory in his team’s lap. This is South Africa’s second win in this World Cup. With this win, this team is on top of the points table.
The reason for India’s defeat was the failure of the top-order batsmen who could not adjust to the fast and bouncy pitch at Optus Stadium. India lost five wickets for 49 runs, followed by Suryakumar Yadav’s 68 off 40 balls, which included three sixes and six fours. Despite this, coming to bat first, India could only manage 133 runs for nine wickets. For South Africa, Ngidi took four wickets for 29 runs and Wayne Pernell took three wickets for 15 runs.
With this win, South Africa has moved to the top of Group 2 with five points while India has slipped to second place. Like India, it was not easy for South African batsmen to bat in front of the new ball. Arshdeep Singh (2 for 25) got India off to a great start by dismissing Quinton de Kock (one) and in-form Riley Rosso (nil) in his first over itself.
Mohammed Shami (1 for 13 in four overs) got captain Temba Bavuma (10) caught behind the wicket and thus South Africa could only manage 24 for three in the powerplay. Indian bowlers bowled tight and allowed South Africa’s score to reach 40 runs in ten overs. Markram and Miller then showed an uptick. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli also dropped Markram’s catch off Ashwin, which both of them celebrated by hitting sixes in the next over of the off-spinner.
Markram completed his half-century off 38 balls, but soon after Hardik Pandya raised India’s hopes by showing him the way to the pavilion. When South Africa needed 25 runs from 18 balls, Rohit handed the ball to Ashwin. Miller ensured his team’s victory by hitting sixes in his first two balls. Earlier, India lost both their openers Rohit (15) and KL Rahul (nine) in the powerplay itself.
Rohit also got a lifeline off Kagiso Rabada but he could not take advantage of it and when Ngidi came to bowl the fifth over, the Indian captain gave the catch back to the bowler. Rahul’s poor form continued. Ngidi gave India the second blow in the same over by getting him caught at slips. India scored 33 for two in the power play. Ngidi dealt India the third major blow in the form of Virat Kohli (12) in his second over. Kohli, who scored half-centuries in the last two matches, hit fours in the first two balls of this over but soon he caught Rabada at fine leg.
Deepak Hooda was dropped at number five but Enrique Norkia did not allow him to open the account. Hardik Pandya could only score two runs. Rabada took his brilliant catch off Ngidi’s ball. Now the focus was on Suryakumar who tried to take the pressure off by sending Norkia for six runs. His six-on spinner Keshav Maharaj was visible. Suryakumar completed his half-century in 30 balls by hitting a six and then a four on Ngidi.
After ten overs, India’s score was 60 for five, and thanks to Suryakumar’s bat, he took his score past 100 runs in 15 overs, but Dinesh Karthik struggled to score runs from the beginning (six off 15 balls). ) lost his wicket soon thereafter. Suryakumar and Karthik shared a 52-run partnership. Suryakumar kept on scoring runs from one end but got no help from the other end. Ravichandran Ashwin also managed only seven runs. Parnell also took the precious wicket of Suryakumar in this 19th over of the Indian innings after dismissing Ashwin.
