South Africa made a fifth successive victory at Trent Bridge defeating defending champions India in the Super Eights blank.India were already packed out of ICC World Twenty20 2009 after their defeat against England at Lord's on Sunday. But for their millions of supporters and favorite fame in this tournament a winning response must have been needed.But they were disappointed again as they collectively could scores only 118 for eight to lose by 12 runs to the batting of AB de Villiers (63) and then a collective effort from South Africa's slow bowlers.
On a pitch which helped the slow bowlers all day - Ajantha Mendis made the job for Srilanka against New Zealand in the last match but South Africa's exponents were superior to him. Their combined spin-bowling figures were 9-0-32-5, to India's 14-0-75-4 - and that was more impressive to decide the outcome and ensure Graeme Smith's men will face Pakistan here in the last four on Thursday.
After restricting their opponents to 130 for five with a hard-working performance in the field, India were exactly up with the early run rate established by their opponents and India did the job well enough - on 47 for none at the end of the six overs of power play.But it was at that point Smith turned to the off-spin of Johan Botha (three for 16) for the first time, and with only his second delivery he had Gautam Gambhir caught at extra cover.Four wickets then fell for 14 runs in 28 balls as a succession of batsmen failed to deal with spin on and pace off the ball at both ends.Even the big-hitting Yuvraj Singh, dropped on nought,offered a return catch to off-spinner JP Duminy, failed to get success with this opportunity,could not make any difference, and by the time he went caught behind off fast bowler Dale Steyn in the 19th over, the game was up.
After winning the toss, South Africa began the contest losing Herschelle Gibbs to an under-edged pull on to his stumps off RP Singh in the second over, and Smith followed in the ninth holing out in the leg-side off Harbhajan Singh.But De Villiers performed as quick backup by his immediate fluency, but South Africa still in destruction by Indian bowlers as they added only 21 runs between the five and 10-over mark.Their number three struck Yuvraj over extra-cover for his team's first boundary in nine overs.Despite the departure of Duminy,De Villiers tried to up the ante, and when he skied a return catch back to Ravindra Jadeja he had made significantly more than half his team's 110 for four.South Africa managed to add only 32 in the last five overs. But India always seemed unlikely to have an easy chase in the prevailing conditions, and so it proved.
The favorites South Africa maintained their unbeaten record and increased the likelihood of a mouth-watering World Twenty20 final against Pakistan.It is not a meaningless victory for South Africa in a tournament it is victory against tournament favorite India. South Africa have fought hard for victories in dead matches at a low scoring match where it might have been understandable if intensity had dropped. However, there is a ruthlessness in their performances which is the way they have adapted to various conditions that has been most impressive.It is quite learning for other team.
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