South Africa have suddenly become a strong favorite for winning the T20 World Cup 2022 after they defeated another favorite, India, on Sunday in Perth to remain unbeaten in the tournament, while India suffered their first loss.
A 5-wicket win for the Proteas sent them to the top of the Group 2 with 5 points, followed by India who have 4 points. This also means that the chances of Pakistan in the semi-final race have all but vanished.
India managed to post a total of 133 on the back of Suryakumar Yadav’s terrific knock of 68 runs off 40 balls with no other batsman scoring more than 20. With the ball, though, India came out all guns blazing. Arshdeep Singh dismissed Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw in his first over before Mohammed Shami nipped out Temba Bavuma. David Miller and Aiden Markram did the rebuilding job with their partnership of 76 runs off 60 balls.
While Markram got out for 52 runs off 41 balls, Miller held his end and made small but crucial and quick-fire partnerships with Tristan Stubbs and Wayne Parnell to see South Africa home, remaining unbeaten on 59 off 46 balls.
Harsha Bhogle explains the mistakes India did in the field
Indian bowlers would have gotten more support had the fielders taken their chances, and who knows, the result could have been in India’s favor. Virat Kohli dropped a straightforward catch of Markram in the 12th over when he was only getting set. Markram hit Ashwin to deep mid-wicket where the ball flew straight to Kohli, but he fumbled in the first attempt, and even got a hand in the second attempt, but then missed it altogether.
Before that, Markram was given another life by skipper Rohit Sharma who missed a simple run-out. Sharma had all three stumps to aim at while Markram was almost halfway down the pitch when Miller declined the single. Rohit threw the ball at the stumps but missed the target; he could have run and hit the stumps instead.
In the ground fielding as well, India could have been better in placing the fielders at the right positions and at the right distances from the boundary line.
Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle asserted that these mistakes in the field cost India massively against South Africa.
“It is the little things that have hurt India. Catches, missed run-outs, misjudgements in the deep,” Bhogle tweeted.
It is the little things that have hurt India. Catches, missed run-outs, misjudgements in the deep.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 30, 2022
