Resolute India beat South Africa in thrilling final to lift T20 World Cup

After the heartbreak in Ahmedabad came a redemption song in the Caribbean, India holding their nerve at the end of a tense final to dash South Africa’s shot at history and claim the men’s T20 World Cup. As Rohit Sharma’s side celebrated at the end, tricolor flags waving in the breeze on the outfield of the Kensington Oval after closing out a seven-run victory, the joy and the relief were palpable.

It had been a relatively frictionless unbeaten cruise up to the final for India but then so was that 50-over World Cup campaign at home last November. This time, however, there was no collective freezing on the day, no scrambled minds, rather 11 cool heads at the end of what had been a pressure-cooker run chase.

Set 177 to win after Virat Kohli’s 59-ball 76 had held India together in the first innings, South Africa tipped into heavy favourite status when Heinrich Klaasen cracked five sixes in a 27-ball 52 that left his side needing only 26 runs off the last four overs. But then came a squeeze that will go down in Indian cricket folklore, with Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh and the masterly Jasprit Bumrah delivering for their captain.

Even when Klaasen fell to Pandya’s first ball of the 16th over, the total was in touching distance given the presence of a well-set David Miller at the other end. But after watching Bumrah knock over Marco Jansen’s off-stump in an 18th over that cost only two, and then taking only four of Arshdeep’s follow-up, the equation was 16 off six.

In thundered Pandya for denouement, Miller attempting to drill him straight down the ground only for Suryakuymar Yadav to pull off a clutch catch on the rope in which he skipped in and out of it like a ballet dancer. Miller was in tears at the end, forced to look on as Pandya closed out the match and sparked wild scenes in the middle.

After Ravi Shastri gave his best Michael Buffer impression at the toss came a first innings of blows being traded like prizefighters. Kohli, short of runs this tournament, slotted three fours off Marco Jansen’s nervy first over but soon found himself looking to stitch together the innings after a powerplay in which three wickets fell.

Though not the pin-drop 100,000-strong silence of last November, the setback was felt in the stands. Keshav Maharaj had wiped out Sharma and Rishabh Pant in the space of three balls and Klaasen, already one sharp catch to the good, held a stunning swirling effort in the deep to remove the dangerous Yadav for three.

Having waited this long to make a global final, South Africa showcased one of their longstanding national traits – dynamic fielding – throughout. The pick was Quinton de Kock’s lasered throw from wicketkeeper to run out Axar Patel at the far end in the 14th over, displaying remarkable presence of mind in contrast to his slightly dozing mark.

Still, Patel had given India’s innings impetus by clearing the rope four times in his 31-ball 47 – including one mesmeric back foot straight six off Kagiso Rabada – in a stand of 72 in 54 with the more circumspect Kohli. It also rewarded a shrewd move to promote the left-hander by Rahul Dravid in his final match as India head coach.

With Shivam Dube adding 27 in 16 balls, and Kohli eventually blossoming at the back end by slotting 26 off his last 11 deliveries, South Africa had to chase down the highest target set in a men’s T20 World Cup final to stop India’s march. When the Proteas slipped to 12 for two in the third over, it seemed unlikely.

This in part came down the clear and obvious threat of Bumrah, with his tournament of both wickets and asphyxiation given another entry to the highlights reel when Reeza Hendricks heard his off-stump rattled by a ball that angled in, moved away, and would probably have vaporised most right-handers.

South Africa fought back, however, with De Kock finding two steadfast partners in Tristan Stubbs and Klaasen for stands of 36 and 45 that swung the pendulum back their way. But India, unstoppable in the lead-up, were not to be denied and now a 13-year wait for a World Cup is finally over.