PERTH: For India, it wasn’t a field stepping stone either Lungi NgidiThe singular decimation of the highest order, or even their use of spin, which would have annoyed after South Africa’s five wicket win, but some crucial mistakes on the pitch at important moments.
Ultimately, the highlight of the match came when Virat Kohli dropped Aiden Markram out Ashwin, on the fifth ball of the 12th over.
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In a small chase on a dangerous playing surface, a wicket here and the match could have transformed India’s way. Both the bowler and the winger stared at each other in shock for a few seconds, both knowing that T20 is a game of chance and luck, before Ashwin raised his arms in exasperation and Kohli allowed himself a wry, embarrassed smile. .
The moment has passed but there have been other costly misadventures: Rohit Sharma missed an easy run out in 13th place on off Muhammad Shami, the effort under the captain’s arm goes wrong with all three stumps in sight. With the match slipping away quickly, another mess between Hardik Pandia and Kohli deep down summed up India’s day.
Markram (52 out of 41; 6×4, 1×6) finally went for another one on 16th, aiming for Suryakumar in the deep midwicket off Pandya. By that time, SA had taken the lead from the race and was running a 134 chase.
Markram’s partnership with the fourth 76-run wicket with David Miller (56 not eliminated; 46b, 4×4, 3×6) proved decisive in this low-scoring match when South Africa finally came home with two balls left. The result had been a foregone conclusion at least a few balls before.
Miller’s and Markram’s determined effort helped South Africa rise to the top of the leaderboard in their group and avoid any pitfalls after their pacers thwarted the flow of running of India’s top hitters. Their collaboration also completely overshadowed a wonderful counterattack shot by Suryakumar Yadav (68 out of 40; 6×4, 3×6) after Ngidi’s four-wicket blitz blew the wind off India’s sails.
Suryakumar rolled with his punches, pushed and parried and even landed some powerful punches such as the formidable SA rhythm drums, and the spit of a pitch, conspired to throw a lethal cocktail of rebound and rhythm against India.
It was arguably the best shot of his T20 career and he certainly came under the toughest circumstances. With all 360 degrees of talent on his wrist, lightheartedness and fearlessness from chewing gum, Suryakumar was head and shoulders above the rest of his batting teammates after Rohit decided to beat first in the second game of the day on this pitch. .
Only SKY’s genius stood between respectability and ignominy when Lungi Ngidi got big on one higher order hitter after another, bagging four wickets to leave India faltering and stunned at 49/5 by 8.3 overs. Ngidi made good use of the heavy ball and steep rebound to break India’s back before Suryakumar’s quick-break inspiration made sure they ran away for a grand total somehow saving his face.
India abandoned Axar Patel and included Deepak Hoodaonly the seventh time in all T20Is that entered without a southpaw in the top seven, but it didn’t make much difference ultimately.
