BARBADOS: South Africa received early blows as Indian pacers struck, sending two top-order batters back to the pavillion in T20 World Cup final at the Kensington Oval Barbados, on Saturday.
Indian opener Virat Kohli starred as they posted a 177-run target against the Proteas in Saturday’s thriller. The former skipper top-scored for his side adding 76 runs off 59 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes.
Earlier, Markram-led side made early gains sending Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and top-order batter Rishabh Pant to dugout in the first two overs, despite a dashing start.
Kohli smashed multiple boundaries during the first two overs, but the second two went for South Africa as they took two wickets in each.
Later, top-order batter Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed cheaply but Axar Patel managed to post 47 runs off 31 balls on the scorecard before being run-out.
The match is expected to be an absolute cracker as both teams looking to end long waits for glory after weeks of thrilling matches and finest cricket in the shortest format.
Rohit and his South African counterpart Aiden Markram both named unchanged line-ups from the teams which won their respective semi-finals.
The final concludes a near month-long tournament, held in the USA and the Caribbean and features two teams who have yet to lose in the competition.
The event which has been a mixed bag in terms of quality, entertainment and attendances has certainly succeeded in setting up a final between the two best teams in the shortest format.
India crushed defending champions England by 68 runs in Guyana on Thursday, the day after South Africa thrashed Afghanistan by nine wickets in Trinidad to end a long and agonising wait for a title game.
Since their first appearance at a World Cup in 1992, following the end of apartheid, South Africa had lost seven semi-finals in the two limited overs formats.
This will be South Africa’s first senior men’s final since the inaugural Champions Trophy in Bangladesh in 1998 when the Proteas beat the West Indies.
India experienced the double disappointment last year of defeat in the World Test Championship final and the 50-over World Cup — losing both to Australia.
The country which more than any other popularised the shortest form now stands on the brink of their second T20 World Cup title and first since the inaugural edition in 2007.
More to follow…