Kohli half-century anchors India to 176-7 against South Africa in T20 World Cup final

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) — Virat Kohli’s first half-century at this Twenty20 World Cup anchored India to 176-7 against South Africa in the final on Saturday.

Kohli, who tallied only 75 runs in seven games, made 76 off 59 balls with six fours and two sixes after India was in early trouble at 34-3 inside the first five overs.

Axar Patel absorbed the pressure well after getting promoted at No. 5, hitting four sixes in his brisk 47 off 31 balls, and put India back on track by sharing a 72-run stand with Kohli.

Kohli completed his half-century off 48 balls in the 17th over, but pushed the acceleration by smashing big sixes against Kagiso Rabada (1-36) and Marco Jansen (1-49). Kohli holed out in the deep in the penultimate over.

Shivam Dube made 27 off 16 balls and fell in Anrich Nortje’s (2-26) last over as India scored 58 runs in the last five overs.

Kohli got India off to a flier when he hit left-arm fast bowler Jansen for three boundaries in the first over, and captain Rohit Sharma struck left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (2-23) for two fours off his first two balls.

But Maharaj struck twice in his first over when Sharma was brilliantly snapped up by Heinrich Klaasen low at square leg, and Rishabh Pant hit off the toe-end of the bat while attempting a reverse sweep and ballooned a simple catch behind the wickets.

Klaasen shone again in the outfield when he caught Suryakumar Yadav at deep fine leg off Rabada’s short-pitched ball before Patel and Kohli rebuilt the innings.

Patel was run out off a brilliant direct throw from wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock as he smartly intercepted Kohli’s flick and then hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end.

Both teams were unchanged from the semifinals.

South Africa is eyeing its maiden ICC title in its first final, while India, the inaugural T20 World Cup champion in 2007, hasn’t won a major trophy in 13 years.

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket