Bridgetown [Barbados], Axar Patel's impressive 47 and Virat Kohli's astonishing 76 lifted India from an uncertain position to help the Men in Blue score 176/7 against South Africa in the final clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup at Kensington Oval on Saturday.
The duo of Axar and Kohli helped India overcome a shaky start after being reduced to 34/3 in the powerplay on a pitch that is on the slower side, while Shivam Dube played a beautiful 27-run cameo in 16 balls. Meanwhile, India also posted the highest total of the T20 World Cup in the first innings of the final.
In terms of bowling, Keshav Maharaj was SA's best bowler, taking 2/23 in his 3 overs, while Nortje also took 2/26.
Virat Kohli ensured a good start for India by executing an opening attack beating Marco Jansen for two consecutive boundaries and amassing 15 runs in the first over.
Rohit Sharma started Keshav Maharaj's over strongly, however, India's super start was dented when the captain was caught while playing a 9-run sweep. In the same episode, Maharaj compounded India's woes by dismissing Rishabh Pant for a duck.
Maharaj looped the delivery very well at full length and Pant took it to execute the sweep which ended up getting a top lead for wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock who caught it successfully.
India lost a huge wicket when Suryakumar Yadav tried to take a mistimed shot which was caught by Heinrich Klaasen who ran from deep square leg and took a good catch covering a decent amount of ground.
Axar Patel and Virat Kohli kept India steady after three quick wickets in the powerplay. Axar took an aggressive approach a couple of times, hitting a boundary and two sixes.
Kohli and Axar formed a vital partnership of 72 for the fourth wicket, but it ended due to a combination of poor running and exceptional fielding. De Kock took a soft hit from Kohli and quickly bowled it to the non-striker's end, where Axar was out of bounds.
Coach Rahul Dravid's gamble of sending number 5 Axar paid off as the all-rounder played a superb knock of 47 runs off just 31 balls, playing a primary aggressor knock in partnership with Kohli as India rebuilt after three quick grounds in the power play.
Hitting a six in the long over and then a boundary off a short ball against Rabada, Kohli wrapped up his first fifty of the tournament.
The man of the big occasion, Kohli, played a composed knock until the penultimate over. After lifting his bat for a half-century in 48 deliveries, Kohli began to accelerate in the last three overs. He set the tone in the 18th over, scoring a commanding six off the first ball off Kagiso Rabada.
A quick double off the next delivery was followed by a classic shot to find the fence for four. He hit the ball into the stand for a six and effortlessly found the fence for a four before returning to the dugout with a score of 76 (59) in the next over.
Nortje closed the innings with a wicket but India managed to score 42 runs in the last 3 overs to finish with 176/7 on the board.
Brief Score: India 176/7 (Virat Kohli 76, Axar Patel 47; Keshav Maharaj 2-23) vs South Africa.
The duo of Axar and Kohli helped India overcome a shaky start after being reduced to 34/3 in the powerplay on a pitch that is on the slower side, while Shivam Dube played a beautiful 27-run cameo in 16 balls. Meanwhile, India also posted the highest total of the T20 World Cup in the first innings of the final.
In terms of bowling, Keshav Maharaj was SA's best bowler, taking 2/23 in his 3 overs, while Nortje also took 2/26.
Virat Kohli ensured a good start for India by executing an opening attack beating Marco Jansen for two consecutive boundaries and amassing 15 runs in the first over.
Rohit Sharma started Keshav Maharaj's over strongly, however, India's super start was dented when the captain was caught while playing a 9-run sweep. In the same episode, Maharaj compounded India's woes by dismissing Rishabh Pant for a duck.
Maharaj looped the delivery very well at full length and Pant took it to execute the sweep which ended up getting a top lead for wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock who caught it successfully.
India lost a huge wicket when Suryakumar Yadav tried to take a mistimed shot which was caught by Heinrich Klaasen who ran from deep square leg and took a good catch covering a decent amount of ground.
Axar Patel and Virat Kohli kept India steady after three quick wickets in the powerplay. Axar took an aggressive approach a couple of times, hitting a boundary and two sixes.
Kohli and Axar formed a vital partnership of 72 for the fourth wicket, but it ended due to a combination of poor running and exceptional fielding. De Kock took a soft hit from Kohli and quickly bowled it to the non-striker's end, where Axar was out of bounds.
Coach Rahul Dravid's gamble of sending number 5 Axar paid off as the all-rounder played a superb knock of 47 runs off just 31 balls, playing a primary aggressor knock in partnership with Kohli as India rebuilt after three quick grounds in the power play.
Hitting a six in the long over and then a boundary off a short ball against Rabada, Kohli wrapped up his first fifty of the tournament.
The man of the big occasion, Kohli, played a composed knock until the penultimate over. After lifting his bat for a half-century in 48 deliveries, Kohli began to accelerate in the last three overs. He set the tone in the 18th over, scoring a commanding six off the first ball off Kagiso Rabada.
A quick double off the next delivery was followed by a classic shot to find the fence for four. He hit the ball into the stand for a six and effortlessly found the fence for a four before returning to the dugout with a score of 76 (59) in the next over.
Nortje closed the innings with a wicket but India managed to score 42 runs in the last 3 overs to finish with 176/7 on the board.
Brief Score: India 176/7 (Virat Kohli 76, Axar Patel 47; Keshav Maharaj 2-23) vs South Africa.
