Indo-Lankan final as SA dispatched
The Indian juggernaut showed no sign of letting up on way to setting up an all-Asian final in the ICC World Twenty20. India's vaunted batting line-up completed their highest chase against South Africa to win the high-voltage second semifinal by six wickets with five balls remaining at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur last night.
The Indian bowling had impressed one and all before the semifinal and their spinners were in focus again yesterday. True to form, Ravichandran Ashwin was outstanding during his four-over spell where he gave only 22 runs and took three wickets. Still, when South Africa put up 172 for four a first final appearance for the Proteas seemed possible but run-machine Virat Kohli led India home and extended South Africa's misery in ICC global events. The right-hander hit a sublime 44-ball 72 with five fours and two sixes after openers Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane laid the plat
form by putting on 39 in 3.5 overs.
Catches are said to win matches, but at times that does not hold true. AB de Villiers took a stunning catch at a crucial time as Yuvraj Singh could not get the elevation to go over long-off and de Villiers ran in and clasped it with a dive, leaving India to score 40 from the last four overs.
In the following over, new batsman Suresh Raina punished all bad balls from left-arm pacer Wayne Parnell with one six and two boundaries to collect 17 runs to dismiss South Africa's chances. South Africa's bowling was not good enough to defend a competitive total, and if hopes were pinned on Dale Steyn it seemed a mission too difficult even for the great fast bowler.
Earlier, it was the story of one good over seizing the momentum before more good overs conceded to the opponents surrendered it. Ashwin gave his team the momentum in the sixth over after South Africa were well-placed with 43 runs on the board from five, but South Africa seized back the initiative courtesy of brilliant batting from captain Faf du Plessis (58 off 41 balls) and JP Duminy (45 not out off 40 balls) to put up a fighting total of 172 for four.
Hashim Amla and du Plessis paced the innings nicely after Quinton de Kock's early wicket as both batsmen tried to rotate the strike with quick singles before going for the big shots. Ashwin however got rid of Amla off his very first delivery with a beautiful carom that pegged back the off stump. He conceded only one run in that over.
Ashwin was replaced by Raina who gave just six runs in his first over. South Africa reached only 66 after 10 overs with the form bowler of the tournament still to come. Amit Mishra was given the ball in the 11th over but South Africans were ready for him, taking eight off his first before dismantling him for 36 from three.
Raina gave away 17 runs in the 12th over and Mishra 17 in the next over which saw a fantastic slog sweep from Duminy for six. But Ashwin returned and picked up the wicket of du Plessis who hit five fours and two sixes in his innings.
AB de Villiers might have been held back to play a destructive innings in the final overs but it was again Ashwin who foiled the ploy having him caught at square leg in the 16th over with South Africa reaching 129 for four.
David Miller hit an unbeaten 12-ball 23 but fielders like Kohli, Yuvraj and Raina also leaked some runs to set up India's highest chase against the Proteas.
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