India vs South Africa

South Africa beat India by five wickets at the Optus Stadium in Perth to rise on top of Group 2 with five points. In a closely contested match, India put up ...

Shami added to India’s account of wickets early on as he picked the Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma. In his final over though, with just six to defend, Miller gloved one and touched another with his bat to get two boundaries and finish the game. The off spinner had trapped Markram in playing one straight to Virat Kohli at deep midwicket, but the 33-year-old couldn’t complete a regulation take. Despite wickets falling at the other end, the 32-year-old kept his nerve and guided India to a 127 before being picked by Wayne Parnell. However, he too fell for Lungi Ngidi’s short ball, trying to pull but catching a thick edge that carried to the boundary at long leg. South Africa in reply, chased down the total with two balls to spare and five wickets in hand.

South Africa pacers unleashed the most concentrated attack on the Indian top order, and the better team won this match-deciding contest.

It was two vital misses in the field that undid most of the good work. As aforementioned, the early spring start to the tournament in Australia is proving to be quite tricky. The Proteas unleashed a most concentrated attack on the Indian top order, and the better team won this match-deciding contest. The ball was delivered at mega speed, and it went over the fine leg fence at the same speed. It was a tad too short, and Rohit being the compulsive puller, went for it. He has more experience with Australian conditions, has a more attacking approach, and if Hooda wasn’t going to bowl, then what sense did it make keeping Pant on the bench? In fact, the games in Sydney are the only ones that exhibited this quality. Quite simply, the conditions in Perth replicated much of those on the previous Sunday at the MCG against Pakistan. But he still did visit the ground to take a look at the pitch. [Points Table](https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/series/t20-worldcup-2022-points-table) [Full coverage](https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/series/t20-worldcup-2022) As Pakistan finished a dreary win against the Netherlands at the Optus Stadium, the Indian team had arrived at the ground and was warming up.