When SKY fell on SA's world cup dreams

When SKY fell on SA's world cup dreams

It was the 19th over. South Africa were 161 for six. They needed just 16 runs from the last over - in six balls.

The dangerous David Miller was at the crease. A boundary would have changed the whole story, and it almost did.

Hardik Pandya bowled the first ball of the last over, a full toss. Miller was not someone to miss it. He hit the ball hard, and it was soaring in the sky, but there was SKY at the boundary.

Suryakumar Yadav steadied himself inches away from the boundary rope, all the while keeping an eye on the ball. He took the catch and released it just as the momentum took him beyond the ropes. He then came back to complete the catch.

There was six written all over the ball. Had Suryakumar not done that, South Africa would have finished the match easily.

Earlier, India did well to post the highest total in a T20 World Cup final after being 34 for three. It was the joint effort of Kohli (76 off 59) and Axar Patel (47 off 31) that allowed India to set the highest total in a T20 World Cup final.

In the high-pressure run chase, India's pacers provided two early wickets before a 58-run stand between opener Quinton de Kock (39 off 31) and Tristan Stubbs (52 off 27) put the Proteas back in the game. However, it was Klaasen's breathtaking knock that almost stunned India. Needing a wicket, Rohit Sharma did not turn to his lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah and went for Axar Patel in the 15th over, in which Klaasen pounded a couple of sixes and as many fours to single-handedly take the game away from the opposition.

The asking rate suddenly dropped to a run a ball, and it became South Africa's game to lose. Not known to keep their calm in pressure situations, South Africa made life tougher for themselves and needed 20 runs off the last 12 balls with David Miller and Keshav Maharaj at the center. Bumrah, who had bowled a beauty to dislodge Reeza Hendricks in the powerplay, made an impact when he was eventually brought back for his remaining two overs, picking up a wicket and conceding only six runs off his final 12 balls.

The equation came down to 16 off the last six balls. On the first ball, Suryakumar Yadav took a sensational relay catch at the long-off boundary off Hardik to put India on the cusp of a thrilling victory.

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