In an inconsequential but confidence building and respect earning match from India’s point of view, India continued to show poor performance by bat and lost to South Africa by 12-run in their final Super Eights game. India needed to win this last match in the tournament for their pride. They have not won any of their matches against the tough competitors so a win today might give them a little confidence and respect from the fanatic fans.
South Africa had nothing to lose in this match; it was just a practice match for the Proteas who well defended the tiny 130 in the T20 game. On the other hand, India once again could not prove their strength and their batsmen failed miserably like their previous two games against the West Indies and England.
In fact, India were already crashed out of the T20 World Cup when the bizarre tinkering of the strong batting line-up failed wretchedly at the hands of England on Sunday. The host had defeated India by just 3 runs in a tough game. Coincidently, in both the games India were chasing the modest scores put up by the opponents.
Except Yuvraj Singh no any batsmen could take on the English bowlers, though the two openers Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma put on 48 runs in 6.2 overs when Gambhir got out at 21 be Johan Botha. India still looked in control of the chase. But the familiar middle order collapse came in and they lost four wickets in just 27 balls.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s terrible form also continued and he just scored five off 12 balls before returning to pavilion. India’s hopes once again lay squarely on the strong shoulder of Yuvraj Singh but he could not win the match for India and caught behind in the 17th over.
Earlier, Indian bowlers mainly spinners and part time bowlers performed well and the favourite Proteas struggled against them on the slow Trent Bridge wicket to manage just 130 for 5 in 20 overs. Man of the match A B de Villiers, who said that "it wasn't the fanciest knock of my life”, top scored with 63 off 51 balls.
South Africa will now meet West Indies in one of the semi finals.
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