India v South Africa – ICC World Twenty20 2012 (24th match - Group 2) – Match Recap [Part 2]
Continued from Part 1 ...
India got off to a good start in their attempt to limit South Africa to 121, with openers Hashim Amla (0) and Jacques Kallis (6) dislodged early, by Zaheer Khan (4-0-22-3) and Irfan Pathan (3-0-26-1) respectively, leaving the Proteas at 16 for 2 by the 4th over.
Skipper AB de Villiers (13) and Faf du Plessis (65) were the next pair up to bat, and their 30-run stand got South Africa on steady ground. de Villiers fell prey to a delivery by Player of the Match Yuvraj Singh (4-0-23-2), but du Plessis continued to pose a major threat to the Men in Blue. He smashed 2 sixes and 6 fours, in addition to setting up a 49-run stand with Jean-Paul Duminy (16) before Yuvraj swept in to claim him for his second wicket of the day in the 13th over.
By the time Duminy was dismissed in the 15th over by Lakshmipathy Balaji (3.5-0-37-3), the score had reached 107, and with only 5 wickets down, the pressure was mounting on India, with the tension at the R Premadasa almost palpable. Alongside the South African fans, and Pakistani supporters who were waving the South African flag, the stadium was filled with anxious team India fans desperate, by this point, for a miracle.
However, the Men in Blue were ultimately unable to contain the Proteas, and the pair of Farhaan Behardien (13) and Peterson (10) got South Africa over the 121 mark, bringing India’s World T20 campaign to an end, while Pakistan were propelled into the semis.
Determined to end the match on a high, despite having lost their chance at qualifying for the semis, India launched a fierce attack. Khan brought down both Behardien and Peterson in the 18th over, while Johan Botha (8) was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin in the very next over, leaving the team at 138 for 8.
With South Africa needing 14 off the last over, Albie Morkel (10) smashed a 6 off the first ball, but the second delivery saw him bowled by Balaji. Morne Morkel (6) was up next, and while he also managed to hit one into the stands for six, he too fell prey to Balaji, and South Africa found themselves all out at 151, granting India a narrow 1-run consolatory win.
With both teams knocked out of the competition, the confirmed finalists for the semis are Australia, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Pakistan (the only team to have qualified for the semi-finals in all four editions of the World T20).
The first semi-final will be played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium on October 4, while Australia and the West Indies will face off at the same venue on October 5. The winners of the semis will then go on to clash in the tournament final, scheduled for October 7 in Colombo.
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