South African pace battery hammers India in ICC World Cup with Miller adding punch with his bat
Follow Us
Indian Cricket Team
The preponderance to pepper the Indian batsmen with the pace and purpose yielded results for South Africa as they pounded Team India by five wickets in the ICC T20 World Cup in Perth on Sunday night. The hungry pace pack of South Africa comprising Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabadda, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje showed bounce and pounce as they ensured India could score only 134 in their 20 overs. In reply, South Africa reached the target in style in the last over with David Miller doing the star act with an energetic and emotional half-century.
This was a match which was bound to test, tease and torment the Indians on a pacy patch in Perth. For those familiar with the pitch Perth of the past, the Optus Stadium is a new stadium. In terms of familiarity and similarity with the main WACA stadium, this one, too, was filled with assistance and purchase for the fast bowlers. Results were there to see as the South African quickies, eager and energetic, showed how to bowl in conditions which were helpful to the bowlers.
If Ngidi was engaging the Indians in a Lungi dance, the rest in the pace pack were menacing. Oh, yes, there were memories from the past which came to haunt India. Cricket fans know and have heard of Allan Donald, called White Lightening and Dayle Steyn, nicknamed, Sten Gun. Well this pace quartet on Sunday was in a punitive mood. There were flop shows galore for India as a man answering to the name of KL Rahul, again came a cropper. An unfit looking skipper Rohit Sharma also scored poorly and the pressure of expectation was on the shoulders of Virat Kohli.
Related: WATCH: South African cricketer emulates Cristiano Ronaldo’s new celebration during ICC T20 World Cup
How did Team India fare against South Africa?
Well Kohli is a human and not a machine. On this day, he could not get going, though another young bloke lit up the SKY. Yes, Surya Kumar Yadav, who was the beacon in the Indian Premier League this season, shone under the arc lights. SKY is coming in for praise, sky high. His half century was the saving grace in an otherwise night of pedestrian performances from the Indians. Rahul flopped, Rohit bombed and the great finisher Dinesh Karthik was a non-performer.
Arshdeep Singh, the left arm fast bowler, created more than a flutter as he prised open the top of the SA top order where he consumed Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw. The Sardar bowled with a large heart. On a track which offered purchase to the quickies, Arshdeep did his best. However, in the absence of a bowler as potent as Jasprit Bumrah, who would have thrived in such conditions, the Indian bowling attack looked club class.
Yes, Hardik Pandya bowled, and so did Shami and Ashwin. The South Africans, despite losing wickets, had planned their chase with perfection. Their victory was courtesy a professional approach wherein, despite the flop show from the two marauders at the top, they had sufficient firepower to tame India.
To be sure, this match was an acid test. Quite hilariously, Pakistan wanted India to win so that it could improve their chances of making the cut for the semi-finals. Nothing of that sort happened as the problems within Team India came to the front. KL Rahul needs to dropped, for sure. With keeper DK also walking away with a back spasm, Pant had to don the gloves in the last few overs. The bubble had to burst for India. Pant has to be drafted back in the side. Perth exposed the fragility in the Indian batting. For those asking where Pant fits in, he should replace Rahul.
The batting order needs to be re-jigged and you need someone like Pant to be there in the field. All of a sudden, India are missing performers who are consistent. Kohli has done his bit and so has SKY. What about Rohit Sharma? If he thinks his knock against Netherlands was a big deal, don’t get fooled. The captain himself is under the scanner. Like it or lump it.
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)