IND vs SA HIGHLIGHTS, T20 World Cup: South Africa beats India by five wickets; Miller, Markram, Ngidi shine in Perth

We expected the pitch to have something in it with the weather around. We knew there will be help for the seamers. Which is why you saw that 130 was not an easy chase. I thought we fought well till the end but South Africa played well in the end. The pitch is such that the wicket can come any time for the seamers. It was a match-winning partnership from Miller and Markram. But we were not good enough on the field. 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. [On that Ashwin over] I have seen what happened at the last with the spinners. So I wanted to finish with Ashwin before the last over. I wanted to see that the seamers bowl the right overs. Given the new batter came in, I felt it was the perfect time for Ashwin to bowl.

[On the finish] 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.

Six needed off six. Parnell on strike, Bhuvneshwar up with the ball.

• Dot to start. Bhuvneshwar hits high on the pad and the ball falls to the backward point fielder.
• One run. Parnell pushes the ball through cover for a single.
• FOUR. Short ball and Miller gets a top-edge over Pant to the fence. 1 off 3.
• FOUR. Miller lifts the ball over cover and helps South Africa beat India by five wickets.

Miller slashes hard and finds a FOUR first ball off Shami. Shami proceeds to pin Miller to the crease. Two dots and Miller gets a single. Dot ball to finish and Shami helps India to take the chase to the last over.

Ashwin tosses on in and Miller pumps the ball down the ground for SIX! Ashwin comes over the wicket and Miller tonks the ball over long-off for another SIX. Ashwin to Stubbs, OUT! Ashwin traps the batter with a straight delivery as Stubbs goes for the reverse-sweep. Ashwin bowls two dots, leaving SA requiring 12 from two.

Tristan Stubbs lbw b Ashwin 6 (6b 1x4)

Arshdeep to bowl. Miller gets a single first ball. Stubbs directs a fuller ball to the point fielder, dot ball. Short ball and Stubbs pummels the ball past wide long-on for FOUR. Two singles to follow. Seven from the over.

Dinesh Karthik walks off the field with some discomfort and Rishabh Pant walks in as the sub keeper. Miller slices Hardik past backward-point and finds two runs. Hardik to Markram, OUT! Short ball angling in and Markram pulls it straight to Suryakumar Yadav at deep mid-wicket. A couple of more runs seep through from the over.

Aiden Markram c Yadav b Pandya 52 (41b 6x4 1x6)

Arshdeep is back. A couple of singles to start the over and Arshdeep concedes a wide. Short ball and Markram belts the ball through cover for FOUR. Short ball and Markram goes for the pull and it lands in between square-leg and mid-wicket. Markram takes two and brings up his FIFTY.

Ashwin comes around the wicket. He overpitches and Miller wallops it down the ground for a SIX. Ashwin slides the ball in and Markram re-adjusts himself to lift the ball over long-on for another SIX. South Africa has pulled back the momentum with two huge strikes.

Shami is back. Miller flat-bats Shami through cover and finds two runs. Shami responds with a ball that slides in quickly on length to Miller who blocks it out. Shami continues to attack the off-stump and Miller is content by just pushing the ball off the strip. Rohit misses a run out! Shami surprises Miller with a sharp bouncer and Rohit gathers the ball from cover and runs to hit the stumps as the batter attempt a single. Rohit’s under-arm throw goes a foot past the stumps and Markram gets a reprieve. The Indian skipper is livid with himself.

Markram steps out and blasts a full ball from Ashwin straight past him for FOUR. Carrom ball on length and Markram slaps it straight to Kohli at deep mid-wicket. Oh NO, Virat! What have you done? Kohli fumbles with a regulation catch and slips it straight to the ground. Ashwin is in absolute disbelief as Kohli lets out a wry smile.

Hardik to continue. Hardik sends in a quick bumper and Markram gets a top-edge over the keeper for FOUR. Markram follows up with a single. Short ball onto the ribs and Miller pulls it past fine-leg for another FOUR. Another bouncer from Hardik and it sails over Markram’s blade and Karthik for FOUR byes.

Ashwin into the attack. Sharp lengths from Ashwin and the batters rotate strike with singles. Tight over from Ashwin. Just the five from the over. South Africa needs 94 runs in the last 10 overs.

Hardik rises one sharply past Markram’s outside-edge to the keeper. Markram gets a single. Hardik surprises Miller with a fiery bouncer that hits the helmet. Fuller ball and Miller pushes the ball to cover while Markram sets off on a risky single. Rohit steams in from cover and sends him back but a poor back-up from Hardik helps Makram get away.

Shami continues. Clipped into the pads and a loud appeal from Shami and Co. Umpire Kettleborough is unmoved but Rohit goes for the review. A contentious decision from the third-umpire as he suggests a small spike on review as an inside-edge. Miller guides the ball down to third for a single. Shami tails the ball in and hits Markram on the pad, but it is soaring above the stumps.

Hardik into the attack. Hardik clips Markram’s outside-edge and the ball moves past the slip cordon for a single. A couple of dots. Miller is off the mark with a push to mid-on. Sumptuous from Markram. Hardik goes a touch full and Markram eases into a push past mid-off for FOUR.

Mohammad Shami into the attack. Makram and Bavuma get a couple of singles first-up. Shami to Bavuma, OUT! Bavuma shuffles across the off-stump and attempts to flick the ball down leg. The ball flies to Karthik who takes a superb low-catch to his left. India has maximised the PowerPlay with three wickets. David Miller in at 5. Shami comes around the wicket and thuds one into the groin. Shami moves fuller and Miller leaves the ball on length.

Temba Bavuma c †Karthik b Mohammed Shami 10 (15b, 1x6)

Bhuvneshwar nearly squares up Bavuma with a ball that pitches straightens from length. Bavuma steps forward to push a length ball through cover but misses it altogether. Bhuvi strays to the pads and Bavuma gets a leg-bye down to fine leg. Beaten! Bhuvneshwar cramps Bavuma with another skiddy deliver off the length. Bavuma shuffles across and sends a short-ball for SIX over the keeper from a top-edge.

Arshdeep offers some room for Markram outside the off-stump. Markram goes for a swin and misses. Short ball and Markram nicely manoeuvers the ball past point for FOUR. Arshdeep cuts the ball across yet again and beats Markram’s outside-edge. Arshdeep constricts Markram to the crease with a couple of more dots to finish the over.

Bhuvneshwar on the money again. Markram and Bavuma are forced to keep the anchors down. India attempting to build the pressure. Just the two runs from the over.

Arshdeep to de Kock, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN first ball. A cracking outswinger from Arsdeep on the fuller length and de Kock’s outside-edge falls sharply in Rahul’s hands at second slip. Rilee Rossouw in at 3. Rossouw keeps out the first ball as it shapes away from length. Rapped on the pads. Loud appeal from the fielders but Arshdeep is not interested. Rohit goes for a last-gasp review. THREE REDS on reviee and Rilee Rossouw falls for a duck! Arshdeep has swung this in sharply to hit the middle-stump. Aiden Markram is in at 4. Low full-toss onto the pads and Markram flicks it through mid-wicket for FOUR.

Quinton de Kock c Rahul b Arshdeep Singh 1 (3b); Rilee Rossouw lbw b Arshdeep Singh 0 (2b)

de Kock on strike. Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes the new ball. Comes around the wicket and slides the ball into de Kock who blocks it out. de Kock steps out and flicks the ball to mid-wicket for a single. Beaten. A shaky waft of the blade from Bavuma off the backfoot as Bhuvneshwar gets some late movement off the deck. Another outswinger and Bavuma takes his bat out of the line. Short ball and Bavuma mistimes the ball over mid-wicket for two runs. Cracking line yet again from Bhuvneshwar as he nearly chips the outside-edge.

Rohit Sharma leads the talks in the Indian huddle before they walk out to defend 133.

Nortje starts with a length ball and Bhuvneshwar slides it past short-third for two runs. Swing and a miss as Nortje goes full while angling in. Bhuvneshwar opens the face of the bat and guides the ball towards point for a single. Nortje to Shami, OUT! Nortje hits the pads and Shami attempts to squeeze in a run. Nortje gets the ball and turns to roll the it back to the stumps at the other end. Simple run out in the end. Arshdeep is in. Bhuvneshwar manages to find a bye. Arshddeep pulls the last ball towards deep mid-wicket and sneaks in two runs. India finishes on 133/9 after being blown by the SA seam attack.

Mohammed Shami run out (Nortje) 0 (2b)

Parnell to bowl out. Parnell to Ashwin, OUT! Mistimes the pull and Ashwin sends the ball straight to Rabada at mid-on. Bhuvneshwar Kumar walks in at 9. Parnell beats the blade with a length delivery that moves across the surface. Bhuvneshwar slaps the next ball down to deep cover for a single. Suryakumar mistimes a slog just over the cover fielder and reels in two runs. Parnell to Suryakumar, OUT! Slower-ball and Suryakumar Yadav miscues it straight to mid-off. He walks back dejected after a outstanding knock on a fiery surface. Shami in at 10.

Ravichandran Ashwin c Rabada b Parnell 7 (11b), Suryakumar Yadav c Maharaj b Parnell 68 (40b 6x4 3x6)

Rabada starts with a length delivery that nearly clips the middle-stump off Ashwin. Short ball and Ashwin flat-bats it over mid-on for two runs. Ashwin attempts a fancy swivel flick but gets the ball just down to the on-side for a leg-bye. Short ball and Suryakumar swats the ball down the ground for FOUR. A couple of singles to end the over and Ashwin will be on strike.

Maharaj up for his third over. Suryakumar flicks a ball across to long-on for a single. Ashwin tucks the ball towards mid-wicket and gets one run. Short from Maharaj and Suryakumar deftly cuts the ball past de Kock for FOUR. Supreme from Suryakumar! He finishes the over with a classic paddle-sweep for FOUR.

Parnell to Karthik, OUT! Miscues the pull straight to the backward point fielder. Karthik’s first big swing is gobbled by the fielder as Parnell sends in a deft leg-cutter. R Ashwin in at 8. He drives Parnell through cover for two runs. Short ball and Ashwin pulls the ball down to fine leg for a single. Suryakumar retains strike with a single.

Dinesh Karthik c Rossouw b Parnell 6 (15b)

Ngidi is back. Short ball and SKY wallops the ball onto the top tier behind fine-leg for SIX! Beaten! Change of pace from Ngidi to beat Suryakumar who attempts a slog across the line. Full and Suryakumar drives down the ground for FOUR and brings up his FIFTY in just 30 balls! Another sensational innings from Suryakumar. A single brings up the 100 for India.

Markram into the attack. Suryakumar drives the ball down to long-on for a single. Karthik and SKY playing it safe with a couple of more singles. Markram skims through an excellent over, conceding just five from this over.

Suryakumar starts with a push to long-off for a single. Maharaj wafts the ball in and Suryakumar dances down and pumps the ball over the bowler for SIX! Suryakumar works the ball towards mid-wicket and reels in two more runs and retains strike with a single.

Rabada is back. A wide down the on-side against Karthik. Karthik gets a single. Rabada attempts to cramp Suryakumar with a back-of-a-length delivery and Suryakumar flicks it through mid-wicket for three runs.

Maharaj into the attack. Short and Suryakumar cuts the ball in between backward point and short-third for FOUR. Suryakumar follows up with a drive down to long-off for a single. A lot straighter from Maharaj and Karthik blocks it out. Karthik works a ball through the on-side for a single. Seven runs from the over.

Suryakumar chips the ball in front of cover and finds two runs. Nortje tails the ball in sharply and SKY flicks it with disdain behind square for SIX! Nortje in the high 149ks. He corrects his line and beat Suryakumar on consecutive deliveries. A tad short and Suryakumar cuts the ball off the backfoot to deep point for a single.

Ngidi to Hardik, OUT! Rising delivery to the shoulder and Hardik swivels to pull the ball down to fine-leg. A brilliant dive from Rabada moving forward and India is in absolute tatters inside the first-half. Dinesh Karthik in at 7. FIFTY up for India with a couple of singles.

Hardik Pandya c Rabada b Ngidi 2 (3b)

Hooda is clearly out of depth against Nortje’s pace. Nortje hits the deck hard and continues to beat Hooda’s outside-edge. Nortje to Hooda, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Nortje sends in a wobbled-seam delivery on a similar line and Hooda nicks it to de Kock. Hardik Pandya in at 6. Nortje welcomes him with a fiery bouncer and he gets a single with some bat down to short-third. IN THE AIR! Suryakumar survives as he parries a short ball over first-slip for FOUR. This is high-octane stuff.

Deepak Hooda c †de Kock b Nortje 0 (3b)

Ngidi offers a hint of room and Kohli drills the ball through extra cover for FOUR. FOUR more! Ngidi strays to the pads and Kohli clips it gloriously through mid-wicket. He completes 1000 runs in T20 World Cups - the first Indian and second overall to the feat. Ngidi to Kohli, OUT! Top-edge and Kohli sends the ball straight to fine-leg. Kohli is wobbly on the pull off the front-foot and India is sent its first major blow in this World Cup. Deepak Hooda in at 5.

Virat Kohli c Rabada b Ngidi 12 (11b 2x4)

Anrich Nortje into the attack. WOWZA! Nortje beats Kohli with a crackerjack of an inswinger that slides past Kohli’s inside-edge and past de Kock’s gloves for FOUR byes. A couple of singles to Kohli and Suryakumar.

Ngidi replaces Parnell. Slower-ball and Rohit mistimes a hit over cover for two runs. Ngidi to Rohit, OUT! Straight up and into the bowler’s hands. Ngidi has bounced out Rohit with a delivery that rose well onto the top of his blade as he goes for the pull. Easy catch for Ngidi. Virat Kohli in at 3. Kohli’s off the mark with a glide down to third-man for a single. Ngidi to Rahul, OUT! Edged and taken! Poor shot on such a wicket. Rahul simply directs a length delivery outside the off-stump to first-slip.

Rohit Sharma c & b Ngidi 15 (14b 1x4 1x6); KL Rahul c Markram b Ngidi 9 (14b 0x4 1x6)

Rabada goes full and Rohit punches it to point for a single. Rabada slips the ball in and Rahul nudges the ball across the pitch for another single. Rabada tails the ball in and Rohit flicks it off his pads through square-leg for FOUR. Rabada brings the ball in sharply off the deck and Rohit gets an inside-edge onto his thigh. Rohit flicks the next down to fine leg for a single and retains strike.

In the slot and Rahul clears his front leg and pummels the ball over wide long-on for SIX! Both batters get off the mark with maximums. IN THE AIR and over the square-leg fielder. Rahul is quick to see the short ball coming but ends up in an awkward position with the extra bounce and almost pulls it straight to the fielder. A single nevertheless. Rohit blunts a yorker down to the off-side and he gets a single. Parnell slides the ball into Rahul who cops one on his grain and goes down in pain. Parnell cramps Rahul with another delivery that slides in. Rahul is beaten and the ball soars to de Kock.

Kagiso Rabada into the attack. BEATEN! Rabada hits the deck straightaway and tucks the ball under Rohit’s sliding blade a shade outside the off-stump. Rabada follows up with a straighter delivery and Rohit prods forward to push it back to the pitch. Another delivery on the middle-stump line and Rohit pushes it back to Rabada. Short and angling in and Rohit pummels the ball over fine-leg for SIX. Low full toss and Rohit attempts to slap it back and Rabada stops it with some quick reflex. Was that a catch? Fingertips!

KL Rahul on strike. Wayne Parnell takes the new ball. Sharp start from Parnell as he attempts to swing the ball in as he treads close to the off-stump with two deliveries. Not a lot of moment on offer for the left-armer. Parnell overpitches and Rahul drives the ball to cover. Ooh! Parnell squares up Rahul with a skiddy delivery on length. It nearly nibbles Rahul outside-edge as he moves forward. Maiden over for Parnell!

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul walk out for India to the centre.

India and South Africa players walk out for the national anthems.

India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Deepak Hooda, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arsdheep Singh, Mohammad Shami

South Africa XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Keshav Maharaj, Wayne Parnell, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje

TOSS: India wins toss, opts to bat

Rohit Sharma: We will bat. It’s a good surface, we know what to expect and what to do on this pitch. We had a camp across at the WACA, helped us get used to the bounce for both batters and the bowlers. But this is an important game from where the tournament is, we just have to follow the routine and trust the process, just stay calm and execute the plans. One change, Axar misses out, Hooda is in

Temba Bavuma: Big game for us, have had a good start to the tournament, it;’s a big opportunity to test our skills against a strong Indian team. We would have probably batted as well, could be slightly tough to bat under lights, but we now need to bowl well and restrict them to a low score. The conditions are similar to what we have at home and it’s a surface which our pacers can exploit. One change, Shamsi misses out, Ngidi comes in.

Rohit Sharma and Temba Bavuma in readiness.

South Africa’s fiery pacers versus India’s mighty top-order: who will come out on top tonight?

Live visuals have Virat Kohli warming up for another fine outing.

Here’s a look at the Dream11 fantasy team for the match:

Wicketkeeper: Quinton de Kock

Batters: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, David Miller

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Aiden Markram

Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada (vc), Marco Jansen

Team Composition: IND 6:5 SA Credits Left: 8.0

Pakistan beats Netherlands by six wickets in the first match held at Perth on Sunday. Babar Azam’s men have finally gotten off the blocks and they will have their eyes fixed on India vs South Africa.

Axar Patel’s left-arm option may not be one that could be effective on paper against a Proteas line-up that poses three devastating left-handed batters in Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw and David Miller. Instead, would an additional bat in Rishabh Pant make the cut?

Meanwhile, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been average against LHBs in T20s since 2021. On the other hand, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who is yet to start in the Indian XI in the World Cup has racked up relatively impressive numbers.

In all T20Is since 2021, Chahal has picked up 22 wickets of left-handed batters at an economy of 7.44. In the same period, Ashwin has picked up 18 wickets at an economy of 6.13.

​​​​

India will be playing South Africa for the 17th time in 2022. India’s year began with a multi-format tour to South Africa earlier this year. In January, Team India lost two Tests and three ODIs under Virat Kohli and KL Rahul respectively.

It was then followed by two more losses in India’s home T20I series against the Proteas right after the IPL 2022 season. India, led by Rishabh Pant, then won two matches to square the five-match series 2-2.

The two teams then featured in three more T20Is in India earlier this month where the Men in Blue won the series 2-1. A second-string team led by Shikhar Dhawan then beat South Africa 2-1 in a three-match ODI series.

• Virat Kohli needs 12 runs to become the first Indian and second batter to score 1000 runs in T20 World Cups. He will surpass Mahela Jayawardena’s tally for most runs if he gets 28 runs.
• Rohit Sharma will surpass Tillakaratne Dilshan for having played the most matches in T20 World Cups.
• Rohit Sharma needs five sixes to reach 500 international sixes.

India has had the edge over South Africa in T20 World Cups. Their last meeting, however, was a long time ago in the 2014 semifinal. Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 72 had then powered India into the final.

Here’s a breakdown of India’s record against the Proteas in the T20 World Cup.

Virat Kohli is back to what he does best: breaking and hunting new records. He is on the verge of clinching another massive milestone in the T20 World Cup.

A brief shower has hit the Pakistan vs Netherlands game in Perth. Will the weather affect the India v South Africa match as well? Here are the latest updates:

Located on the west coast and 3934 kilometres by road from Sydney in the east, Perth is also three hours behind in terms of time-zone. Cricketers need to cope with a long flight besides adjusting their body-clocks. The vagaries of the weather have to be countered too. With rain becoming a permanent shadow in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, a feathery drizzle often moisturised the turf at the Optus Stadium, while the temperature on Saturday noon hovered around 14 degrees.

Later as Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma walked towards the centre square, they were clad in full-sleeved windcheaters while their hands were tucked into their pockets. The pitch had a mild green tinge, the coach crouched low and touched the surface while the Indian captain shadow-practised a glide towards the off-side. After the duo left, the covers were back at a gargantuan venue in a laid-back city with its road signs warning motorists of ducks crossing from the nearby Swan River.

Familiar opponent

In this urban milieu infused with the slow-life, India will take on South Africa in a Super 12 Group 2 match on Sunday night. With two back-to-back victories, the Men in Blue have begun well. Meanwhile, South Africa’s contest against Zimbabwe was washed out, and against Bangladesh, Rillee Rossouw’s ton set the platform for a win. Having hosted South Africa for three T20Is and three ODIs recently, India has a fair knowledge of the rival unit even if the conditions are different and the context is a global tournament with its attendant pressures unlike a bilateral skirmish.

However, there could be warm memory cues from the earlier battles. K.L. Rahul, who did well in the T20Is against South Africa, may draw strength from that, and it is no different for Rossouw, who struck a hundred in Indore. With Pakistan and the Netherlands clashing before India and South Africa turn up, the think-tanks will also get enough live clues on what’s on offer from the 22 yards and tailor their playing elevens.

Firming up chances

With Group 1 enmeshed in the rains, clarity about the semifinalists may take time, but in Group 2, India and South Africa hold the edge. If the weather stays clear, Rohit and his counterpart Temba Bavuma get a chance to further their respective team’s chances for the last-four sweepstakes. Against South Africa’s pace attack, Indian batters need to stay firm and counter-punch. The same holds true for the rival willow-wielders too.

Eternally chasing glory in ICC events, South Africa will bank on its big-game stars like Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada to sparkle. India may have had it easy against the Netherlands in Sydney, but the latest opposition is of a higher mettle. If this hurdle can be handled, Rohit’s men can look ahead at the championship’s business-end. Before that the grim clouds should vacate the skies in a city famous for its fast bowling history at the old WACA Stadium, where men like Dennis Lillee and the West Indies spearheads fired their lightning bolts.

SQUADS and officials

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), K.L. Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda, R. Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Rillee Rossouw, Heinrich Klaasen, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen.

Match officials: Umpires: Langton Rusere and Richard Kettleborough; TV umpire: Richard Illingworth; Match referee: David Boon.

Match starts at 4.30 p.m. IST.