13 years ago
And with that we wrap up for the day! Sad but true, India is out of the World T20!
And India move up to the second place on the rankings in World T20 with that win, if that is a consolation! South Africa drop to fifth, which was held by India until now!
MS Dhoni post-match talk
A bit disappointed but not because of the cricket. We could have won the Australia game but for the rain! We cannot have control over what other teams are performing! I am proud that the boys did well when I look back at the tournament!
We could have done better and put up more runs sometimes! We were three down, four down at the end of 7-8 overs some days but overall quite happy!
About Zaheer's bowling - I personally felt that we could defend the first six and attack later! Not to forget that we had one part-timer! That was the reason R Ashwin came in later in the match!
About the format - We have not really clicked as a team in bowling, batting and fielding! When you play top sides, all things have to click! I am though happy with the performance!
I am blaming the rain for the Australia game.
A bit disappointed but not because of the cricket. We could have won the Australia game but for the rain! We cannot have control over what other teams are performing! I am proud that the boys did well when I look back at the tournament!
We could have done better and put up more runs sometimes! We were three down, four down at the end of 7-8 overs some days but overall quite happy!
About Zaheer's bowling - I personally felt that we could defend the first six and attack later! Not to forget that we had one part-timer! That was the reason R Ashwin came in later in the match!
About the format - We have not really clicked as a team in bowling, batting and fielding! When you play top sides, all things have to click! I am though happy with the performance!
I am blaming the rain for the Australia game.
Yuvraj Singh is the Man of the Match for his 21 off 15 balls and 2/23 while bowling!
Pakistan and Australia, frankly speaking, deserved it though!
South Africa did not win a single match in super-eights but played their best when India required anything but that!
India beat South Africa by 1 run when 32 or was it 31 was the required margin!
Another Morkel goes bowled, taken by Balaji! What a match!
2 off 2 balls! That was a huge six by the other Morkel, Morne this time!
Lalit Modi: We can still win the match. That's what matters. We may be out. I am concerned about the match
And bowled! Balaji takes a wicket here!
A six off the first ball by Balaji. What a shot Albie Morkel! 8 off 5 now!
14 needed off the last over to win for South Africa and round off a forgettable day for India!
15 off 8 after a six by Botha off Ashwin.
And then 15 off 7 balls as Ashwin takes him off the very next delivery, caught at mid-off!
And then 15 off 7 balls as Ashwin takes him off the very next delivery, caught at mid-off!
22 off 10 for South Africa to win!
But Zak could not manage a hat-trick! 25 off 13 balls!
And Zaheer Khan takes a couple of wickets here! First Behardien and now Peterson removed!
26 needed from 17 to win the match for South Africa!
And even as the excitement to do the live blog dies down, we are back as sports enthusiasts rather than Indian fanatics!
Sri Lanka will now play Pakistan in the first semi-final and Australia will play West Indies in the second one!
India knocked out of the World Twenty20 by South Africa. They reach the 122 comfortably.
Another 9 required and India are coming back home!
And Peterson was bowled off a no-ball too! India.. come on guys! Two wickets in two balls and none counts!
And Ashwin strikes. Robin Peterson goes now, off a reverse sweep!
Checking for a no-ball and it is one! Free hit too! Peterson survives!
Ridiculous!
Checking for a no-ball and it is one! Free hit too! Peterson survives!
Ridiculous!
And JP Duminy goes.. holds out to deep backward square leg, who was Gambhir. Balaji strikes. Still 15 for India to do something. 107/5!
He is keeping fielders on the boundary as if he does not know that just 122 is the key figure and not 153!
No urgency from MS Dhoni and yet he escapes criticism always!
And no fielders in the circle means even mishits land safely. South Africa cantering here literally! Poor captaincy must say. 18 needed and India will be out of the tournament!
India may be missed a trick with not bowling Ashwin earlier. It is turning sharply here!
98/4 after 13 overs! Amazingly Dhoni still not attacking. Can't really fathom that mindset. It is a do-or-die here and it's always better to do and die than just die! Anyway!
Finally Du Plessis perishes after a hugely impressive 65 off 38 balls. Just 27 required to knock India out! 95/4. Yuvraj got that wicket caught Raina at mid-off!
Faf du Plessis literally smashing the living "night"lights out of India's bowling here. He is 61 off 35 balls with five 4s and two sixes. Just 31 now to knock India out of the World T20. 91/3 after 12.1 overs!
No more on a hat-trick. Played quietly for a single by JP Duminy!
In comes L Balaji. He is on a hat-trick by the way.. took two wickets against Pakistan off consecutive deliveries!
Faf du Plessis completes his 'Faf'ty off 29 balls. Amazing innings and a response to the selectors and team management may be! India helpless, almost out of it!
79/3 after 11 overs!
79/3 after 11 overs!
It is 46 runs that India need to restrict South Africa to. Chances dwindling!
South Africa 73/3 after 10 overs!
Du Plessis ripping India apart though. Hitting sixes at will here! And why did Rohit Sharma get a bowl there will again be shrouded in mystery!
13 off that over! 63/3 after 8 overs!
13 off that over! 63/3 after 8 overs!
Yuvi's first over just cost four runs and a wicket, that of De Villiers! Golden arm!
Yuvraj Singh strikes off his first ball to get rid of AB de Villiers. Clean bowled! Still hope! 46/3!
Another boundary! Du Plessis on fire! 14 runs off that over! 46/2 in 6 overs!
Du Plessis taking Indian pacers apart here! Hits a four off Pathan. Great inclusion by South Africa.
Du Plessis hitting a beautiful six off Zaheer Khan! Even one runs hurts and here are 11 off that over! 32/2 after 5 overs!
AB de Villiers is the chief hurdle, not to demean any other South African batsman, standing in between India and the semi-final.
Faf du Plessis is on the crease with him and taking his chances it seems! 25/2 South Africa!
Faf du Plessis is on the crease with him and taking his chances it seems! 25/2 South Africa!
Virender Sehwag injured or some tactic by India? Jokes apart, Manoj Tiwary on to the field. Sehwag injured himself may be in the celebrations!
Jacques Kallis is dismissed by Irfan Pathan. South Africa 16-2.
Zaheer Khan trying his level best. Bowling around and over the wicket with variations.
De Villiers hit a four of that over plus 2 off the last ball!
16/1 after 3 overs!
De Villiers hit a four of that over plus 2 off the last ball!
16/1 after 3 overs!
Pathan jagging it in a lot but still unlucky! Fielding has to pick-up for India though! 10/1 after 2 overs!
India are bowling well here, some swing by Irfan Pathan too but Kallis tackling it well! Experience coming in handy! 6/1 after 1.3 overs!
What a start for India! Hashim Amla goes for a duck! Zaheer Khan gets him, what a catch by Virender Sehwag! 0/1!
In come the South African batsmen. They have of course dropped Richard Levi and lo and behold.. Jacques Kallis is out to bat with Hashim Amla.
India have to restrict South Africa to 121 & win by 31 runs to qualify. Their run-rate then will be .274 to Pakistan's .273.
India again just cannot hit Kallis, despite him bowling rank fulltosses and long hops!
Finally a four by Dhoni!
Last ball drama here! Raina is run-out!
India finish with 152/5!
Finally a four by Dhoni!
Last ball drama here! Raina is run-out!
India finish with 152/5!
MSD hit 14 off that Steyn over! 143/5 after 19!
Nothing that India can do against the South African bowling, immaculate length by Jacques Kallis. Raina and Dhoni literally rendered useless.
Raina dropped by Behardien and then he rubs it in with a four!
129/5 at the end of 18 overs!
Raina dropped by Behardien and then he rubs it in with a four!
129/5 at the end of 18 overs!
Nikhil Naz tweets from Colombo: Interesting analogy by Gavaskar: Just as no team wants England to do well in football, no team likes India doing well in cricket
That Dale Steyn over went for just 7. Only one four and then singles! Looks done and dusted for India here. 119/5 after 17 overs.
Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore has this to say on Twitter: Very excited and proud of the boys effort today. This has given us a good chance to progress to semi's!
India cannot get the spinners away at all. Even Robin Peterson, Rohit Sharma departs after a painful 25 off 27, plumb Lbw playing a sweep shot! 112/5 after 16 overs.
Skipper should come in now! That over cost South Africa only three by the way!
Skipper should come in now! That over cost South Africa only three by the way!
Here is Sehwag's mind boggling dismissal (AFP Photo)
Why India cannot attack spinners despite being "one of the best" players of spin is a mystery. One reason could be the loss of wickets to pacers. Anyway.
JP Duminy's last over cost South Africa just 6! 109/4 after 15 overs!
JP Duminy's last over cost South Africa just 6! 109/4 after 15 overs!
Suresh Raina has hit two boundaries in that over by Johan Botha plus an almost boundary. India 103/4 after 14 overs!
Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina for a last gasp effort may be. Raina hitting a few. India 90/4 after 13 overs.
Raina on 15 off 12 while Sharma on 16 off 20!
Raina on 15 off 12 while Sharma on 16 off 20!
Rohit Sharma's huge heave off Morkel but dropped despite a brilliant effort on the field. Johan Botha with the supreme try. India reprieved, may be!
And Raina hits one straight at Morkel, almost killing the bowler there.
Suresh hits a four off the last ball of Morkel's spell!
India 81/4 after 12 overs!
And Raina hits one straight at Morkel, almost killing the bowler there.
Suresh hits a four off the last ball of Morkel's spell!
India 81/4 after 12 overs!
Yuvi gone of a clever slower delivery by Morkel. In comes Suresh Raina, India's second best T20 player along side Virat Kohli, on form. South Africa giving it their all on the field. Faf du Plessis brilliantly fielding off his own bowling.
India have run into a nothing-to-lose yet playing-for-pride side in South Africa today.
Meanwhile a free hit for India off Morne Morkel, Raina on strike!
And Raina could not connect off that bouncer! Not looking great! 74/4!
India have run into a nothing-to-lose yet playing-for-pride side in South Africa today.
Meanwhile a free hit for India off Morne Morkel, Raina on strike!
And Raina could not connect off that bouncer! Not looking great! 74/4!
India hitting a four or a six practically every over but apart from that just singles. But as of now they are steady with Yuvi and Rohit.
Yuvraj Singh gone! Bowled by Morne Morkel! 68/4!
Yuvraj Singh gone! Bowled by Morne Morkel! 68/4!
Rohit Sharma played a good hand in the group victory against England with a smashing 55 but floundered in the match against Australia in the super-eights. His services were not required in the other two matches vs Afghanistan and Pakistan. Will he bat well today?
Meanwhile, Yuvraj looks solid! Another four off Botha! Sharma steady but not assured. 8 of that over! 61/3 in 9 overs!
Meanwhile, Yuvraj looks solid! Another four off Botha! Sharma steady but not assured. 8 of that over! 61/3 in 9 overs!
Tweet from a user: Brett Lee should welcome Sehwag and Afridi to his band Six And Out
Yuvraj Singh hits another six, this time off Robin Peterson! No commentators curse for now! 8 runs from the over! India 53/3 after 8!
And Yuvraj Singh hits a mighty six over cover. What a shot that one! That was off Johan Botha! India 45/3 at the end of 7 overs!
India 36/3 at the end of 6 overs. Totally opposite to what was expected. Expectations they say ruin everything! Gosh! forget it! Yuvraj into bat now!
And here is Gambhir's dismissal! India in trouble!
And Viru hits a huge six off Robin Peterson!
but departs off the very next ball! Bad shot! 36/3 India!
but departs off the very next ball! Bad shot! 36/3 India!
India currently 30/2 in 5 overs.
India now in a spot of bother as Jacques Kallis removes probably India's finest batsman as of now, Kohli.
In comes Rohit Sharma. A 2007 encore may be required of him!
In comes Rohit Sharma. A 2007 encore may be required of him!
Jacques Kallis on to bowl his first over of the day. Kohli looking iffy but fingers crossed.
Sehwag going run a ball. And Kohli departs for just 2! Sad for India!
Sehwag going run a ball. And Kohli departs for just 2! Sad for India!
And Gautam Gambhir goes for 8! Typical Gambhir dismissal; bowled by Morne Morkel. India 23 /1.
Virat Kohli looks in prime form though and starts with a couple. It could have been a three if not for a lazy Sehwag. Anyway! 25/1!
Virat Kohli looks in prime form though and starts with a couple. It could have been a three if not for a lazy Sehwag. Anyway! 25/1!
The third one played off the hip by Sehwag for one leg-bye. Gambhir on strike for the fourth one.
The left-hander tries to guide one past the backward-point. No run.
Gambhir then almost plays on off the fifth ball.
Off the last ball, Gambhir got lucky off a fast bouncer by Dale Steyn. 4 leg byes.
India 22/0 at the end of 3 overs.
The left-hander tries to guide one past the backward-point. No run.
Gambhir then almost plays on off the fifth ball.
Off the last ball, Gambhir got lucky off a fast bouncer by Dale Steyn. 4 leg byes.
India 22/0 at the end of 3 overs.
Virender Sehwag in typical mode and flashing outside the off-stump. First delivery was a play and miss.
Second one, Sehwag was right behind it and defended well. Score still 17/0.
Second one, Sehwag was right behind it and defended well. Score still 17/0.
Virender Sehwag looks in fine touch here with solid flicks off Morne Morkel in the second over. Both the openers cautious till now. India 17/0 at the end of 2 overs.
Gambhir miscued the last delivery of the second over but thankfully went through with the shot. 8 of that over.
Gambhir miscued the last delivery of the second over but thankfully went through with the shot. 8 of that over.
Aakash Chopra: Since we've dig d hole ourselves, we need to find a way to claw out of it. It's tough but not undoable. C'mon guys..play uninhibited cricket
Another four for Gambhir, four leg-byes. Amla tried hard but in vain. India 9/0 at the end of the first over.
First ball....driven through the off-side to the boundary. Great start from Gambhir!
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag will open for India.
South Africa, meanwhile, have made two changes. Richard Levi and Wayne Parnell have been left out for the match.
The teams come out for the national anthem.
Another stat: If India beat South Africa by 42 runs, the team can actually go on to top Group 2.
The pitch is expected to help spinners. India should be confident though Harbhajan and Piyush are not playing.
The pitch is expected to help spinners. India should be confident though Harbhajan and Piyush are not playing.
Stat: India beat South Africa by 37 runs at Durban, in the 2007 World Cup.
And our sources' word comes true again.
India go unchanged into this match.
India go unchanged into this match.
"Let's just express ourselves," says MS Dhoni who says he would have wanted to chase.
South Africa to bowl first. De Villers asks India to bat.
Confirmation to the decimal will only be possible after the first innings, regardless of which team bats first.
We are still looking at some slight deviations.
If India bat first and score 160, the margin of win required will be 32.
If India score 140 or less, the margin should be at least 31.
If India bat first and score 160, the margin of win required will be 32.
If India score 140 or less, the margin should be at least 31.
THE EQUATION
India now need to beat South Africa by 31 runs or 24 balls to spare to qualify and oust Pakistan.
India now need to beat South Africa by 31 runs or 24 balls to spare to qualify and oust Pakistan.
Pakistan now have four points and are second in the table. Have + .27
Pakistan beat Australia by 32 runs. India now will need to beat South Africa (Proteas are now out of the tournament). We are just calculating the margin of win required by MS Dhoni's side...
India need to beat South Africa for sure. The margin of victory needed is awaited.
Sources have said India will retain the same side. Toss at 1900hrs (IST).
Sources have said India will retain the same side. Toss at 1900hrs (IST).
Updates from the Australia vs Pakistan match:
Australia are through to the semi-final. The team needed 112 runs and Michael Hussey hit the right number despite his side being in a precarious spot vs Pakistan.
Australia are through to the semi-final. The team needed 112 runs and Michael Hussey hit the right number despite his side being in a precarious spot vs Pakistan.
BREAKING NEWS:
India will field the same side against South Africa as MS Dhoni did against Pakistan on Sunday, according to sources.
This means Virender Sehwag will play and Harbhajan, Piyush will sit out, again.
India will field the same side against South Africa as MS Dhoni did against Pakistan on Sunday, according to sources.
This means Virender Sehwag will play and Harbhajan, Piyush will sit out, again.
Meanwhile, Pakistan have set Australia a decent target of 150 to chase in the first clash of the day. Nasir Jamshed scored 55 while Mitchell Starc got three wickets for 20 runs.
India has won five and lost four of its nine Twenty20 Internationals in 2012.
India has played five matches at the Premadasa Stadium, winning four and losing one. South Africa has lost both its games at the venue.
Currently, the other clash in the group is on and Pakistan is 103/2 in 14 overs. Nasir Jamshed and Kamran Akmal are fighting back with vengeance for Pakistan against the might of the Aussies.
Hello and welcome to the coverage of the India-South Africa crucial super-eight encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo!
India and South Africa have met six times in Twenty20 International cricket with India winning four matches and South Africa two.
They have met three times in ICC World Twenty20 tournaments with two being won by India and one by South Africa.
India and South Africa have met six times in Twenty20 International cricket with India winning four matches and South Africa two.
They have met three times in ICC World Twenty20 tournaments with two being won by India and one by South Africa.
