In a crucial Group 1 fixture in the Super 8 stage in Ahmedabad, South Africa posted a more than competitive 187/7 in 20 overs. The Proteas needed early wickets in powerplay and they did get it from their bowlers and the fielding has been superb as India have been rocked and have a lot of work to do if they dream of winning this contest, India fighting and crumbling under pressure.
South Africa strikes thrice to rattle India inside the powerplay.Â
Chasing 188 for an unlikely win, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma came out to open the batting for India while captain Aiden Markram had ball in hand for South Africa. Markram got South Africa the perfect start as he removed Ishan Kishan for a duck.
Markram bowled a full length around the off-stump. Kishan sat down on one knee and decided to go for the slog sweep and played against the spin and wasn’t to the pitch of the ball. It was not there for that kind of stroke as the ball holds on the wicket and spun away. Kishan lost the shape and got a top edge and flew in the air. Rickelton backtracked from extra cover and snaped it above the head. Tilak Varma came out to bat next.
Abhishek got off the mark as he cut it hard between point and backward point for a boundary. Marco Jansen came into the attack next and he removed Tilak for 1 off 2 balls. Marco from over the wicket bowled a good length shaping away from outside the off-stump. Varma shimmed down and went for the drive but got an outside edge and that was taken by the keeper. They all went up and so did the finger and Tilak reviewed in hope and wasted a review. Suryakumar Yadav came out to bat next.
Surya got off the mark by flicking it to vacant deep square leg for a boundary. Surya rocked back and slashed it to the left of point for a boundary. Kagiso Rabada came into the attack next. Abhishek arched his back and played the upper cut over the slips and away for the maximum. Abhishek then opened the bat face and sliced past point fielder for a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi came into the attack next. He bowled a brilliant first over. Marco Jansen returned to the attack. He removed Abhishek Sharma for 15 off 12 balls with 2 fours and one six to his name. Jansen bowled a good length on the off-stump a knuckle ball. Abhishek failed to read the change in pace and went for the pick up shot over midwicket and didn’t get the pace to get the timing or power in the stroke.
The ball went high up in the air as Maharaj from mid-on and Bosch from midwicket both went for the ball and no one called for it. In the end, Bosch managed to take the catch in the end. Washington Sundar came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
Rabada came to bowl the last over of powerplay and he delivered a tight over. At the end of the powerplay of 6 overs, India were 31/3 with Washington Sundar unbeaten on 3 off 7 balls alongside Suryakumar Yadav unbeaten on 11 off 11 balls. We all paused for the Drinks break with India under the pump in Ahmedabad.
South Africa chip away at the wickets to flatten India.Â
Keshav Maharaj came into the attack post the powerplay. Sundar took him on and launched the ball over deep backward square leg for the maximum. Corbin Bosch came into the attack next and he removed Sundar for 11 off 11 balls with one six to his name.
Bosch bowled a short of a length and flying across the left-hander. Bosch hitting the deck hard. Sundar flashed hard at the ball and got a thin outside edge on the way to de Kock. Sundar knew he nicked it and walked back to the hut. Shivam Dube came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. Lungi Ngidi came back into the attack next. 50 came up for India in 8.3 overs.
Bosch continued and removed the Indian captain Surya for 18 off 22 balls with 2 fours to his name. Bosch from over the wicket bowled a back of a length delivery banging the deck hard pitching straighter down the leg side. Yadav played a wild flick looking to deposit the ball over midwicket but got slightly rushed to the shot and miscued the catch to the midwicket fielder where Brevis took the catch. Hardik Pandya was the new batter in next.
India were in all sorts of trouble at 57/5 in 10 overs with Hardik unbeaten on 3 off 4 balls while Dube was unbeaten on 6 off 5 balls.
What Lies Ahead.Â
So, India in trouble at 57/5 in 10 overs chasing 188 for the win. They are all but out of the game. But now they must make sure they lose by a small margin to not effect their net run rate. South Africa on course to win this and win well in this one-sided game.
Also Read: ICC T20 WC 2026: David Miller’s Brilliant Knock Powers South Africa To 187/7.