Heartbreak for Proteas as India claim victory in gripping T20 World Cup final

Quinton de Kock on his way to scoring 39 off 31 balls. India won by seven runs at Kensington Oval on 29 June, 2024. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia/Gallo Images)

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

29 Jun 2024

South Africa suffered a seven-run loss to India in the final of the T20 World Cup on Saturday. India 176-7 (Virat Kohli 76, Anrich Nortje 2-26); South Africa 169-8 (Heinrich Klaasen 52; Hardik Pandya 3-20).

Two magnificent overs — the 16th and 18th of the innings by India’s premier seamer Jasprit Bumrah, and an otherworldly catch by Suryakumar Yadav to dismiss David Miller — were the difference as India won the T20 World Cup by seven runs.

Bumrah conceded only six runs in those two vital overs at a time the Proteas needed 30 runs from 30 balls, after a blistering innings by Heinrich Klaasen. In the biggest moment, India captain Rohit Sharma turned to his biggest gun in Bumrah, and the bowler delivered.

It was gutsy captaincy to give his star bowler the vital 18th over instead of holding him back for the 20th. But bravery won the day and when Yadav completed a mind-boggling catch on the deep long-off boundary with the first ball of Hardik Pandya’s over, the game was up.

India claimed their second T20 World Cup, 17 years after winning their first, defeating South Africa by seven runs in the final in Barbados.

Read more in Daily Maverick: South Africa will play in the T20 World Cup final on Saturday after trouncing Afghanistan

After winning the toss, India posted 176 runs for the loss of eight wickets — the highest-ever innings score in a T20 World Cup final — thanks to an inspired 76 run 59 ball innings by Virat Kohli.

The Proteas looked on track to chase it down when Klaasen struck a magnificent 23-ball half-century with finisher Miller at the other end.

South Africa needed 30 runs off 30 balls with Klaasen and Miller at the crease. But a terrific over by Bumrah, conceding only four runs, followed by another four-run over by Hardik, which included Klaasen’s wicket, saw the momentum shift back to India.

Bumrah castled Marco Jansen in the next over and only conceded two runs, and all of a sudden South Africa needed 20 runs off the last two overs.

Another economical over by Arshdeep Singh followed, conceding only four runs to Keshav Maharaj and Miller in the penultimate over.

South Africa needed 16 off the last over, but hope remained with Miller on strike.

India captain Rohit Sharma rejoices at the moment his side sealed a seven-run T20 World Cup final victory over South Africa at Kensington Oval on 29 June 2024 in Bridgetown, Barbados. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)

Final over

A full toss by Pandya followed in the first ball of the final over, which Miller hit long and hard straight down the ground and went soaring toward long off.

It looked like it could possibly sail for six but Yadav took an outstanding catch. His momentum took him over the boundary rope as he threw the ball in the air, stepped back into the field, and caught it again.

The game was over at that moment as Pandya picked up Kagiso Rabada as well, and only conceded eight runs in the final over as India claimed their first T20 World Cup trophy since they won the inaugural tournament in 2007 in South Africa.

“I tried to keep calm. We play the sport for this, I am really over the moon. My son is here, … family is here. We’ve been working really hard towards this, no better feeling than that,” Bumrah said on television after the match.

“We play sport for the big stages. On the big day, you have to give more. Throughout the tournament I felt very clear and calm. At my peak mindset I think of one ball at a time.

“The emotions can take over, but now the job is done. That over I thought length ball was the option; it was reverse-swinging and I was glad to execute.”

Proteas heavy hitter Heinrich Klaasen produced his best innings of the tournament with 52 off 27 balls. It wasn’t enough. India won their second T20 World Cup by seven runs. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)

A Kohli masterclass

Marco Jansen conceded 15 runs off the first over of the match after dishing up three half volleys and subsequently three boundaries off the blade of Kohli — a sign of things to come.

Keshav Maharaj however, ensured that there would be no quick start for India after picking up both Indian skipper Rohit (nine off five) and Rishabh Pant (nought off two) in the space of three balls.

Rabada picked up the wicket of the dangerous Yadav (three off four) in the fifth over with a brilliant short ball.

With India on 34 for three, they sent in all-rounder Axar Patel (47 off 31) to rebuild alongside Kohli.

The pair steadied the ship and put on a 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket, before quick thinking by Quinton de Kock saw Patel dismissed by run out at the non-striker’s end.

Shivam Dube (27 off 16) continued the momentum with Kohli, who dropped anchor, as the pair put on a 57-run stand.

India though, were tentative in their innings and were on 134 for the loss of four overs in the 17th over — the same over Kohli reached his half-century in 48 deliveries.

But India and Kohli accelerated in the final three overs, picking up 42 runs. Kohli was particularly ruthless — hitting his final 11 balls for 26 runs — in his innings that included six fours and two sixes.

Wickets fell periodically during the carnage, with Jansen collecting one, and Anrich Nortje — the pick of South Africa’s bowlers — getting two.

“This was my last T20 World Cup, and this is what we wanted to achieve,” Kohli said. “One day you feel you can’t get a run, then things happen. God is great, and I got the job done for the team on the day it mattered.”

The incredible Jasprit Bumrah bowled two superb overs at the death to haul India to a seven-run win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final at Kensington Oval. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)

Steady start

South Africa looked in early trouble when Reeza Hendricks (four off five) was cleaned up by Bumrah in the second over, and skipper Markram (four off five) edged Arshdeep behind in the next over.

Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21) and De Kock rebuilt (39 off 31) well to keep the fight going — taking South Africa to 70 in the ninth over.

But Stubbs walked across his crease and was cleaned up by Patel. Klaasen wreaked havoc as soon as he stepped in, getting off the mark with a big six over the offside off Hardik Pandya.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Proteas claimed victory in tight T20 World Cup games thanks to collective performance, superb leadership

He went on a rampage after that, striking two fours and five sixes. It included a 24-run assault on Patel in the 15th over to put South Africa in the driving seat.

South Africa’s innings capitulated after that over however, as India held their nerve, conceding only 22 runs in the final five overs.

Quinton de Kock on his way to scoring 39 off 31 balls. India won by seven runs at Kensington Oval on 29 June 2024. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)

Proteas gutted

“Obviously gutted for the time being,” Proteas captain Aiden Markram said at the post-match presentation.

“It will take some time to have some reflection on a really good campaign. It hurts quite a bit, but I’m really proud of the team. I thought we bowled well without much help from the pitch.

“We’ve seen with a lot of our games that it isn’t over till the last ball is bowled. Especially at the back end things happen quite quickly, we got into a great position, which proves we are worthy finalists.

“One thing that is guaranteed is that a South African is a competitive person, a respectful person and won’t go down without a fight.” DM

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South Africa

Final over

A Kohli masterclass

Steady start

Proteas gutted