T20 World Cup: South Africa beats India by 76 runs

South Africa delivered a stunning 76-run demolition of India in the Super 8s Group 1 match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, reaching 187 for seven before restricting the hosts to 111 all out. 

Aiden Markram called correctly at the toss and batted first on a pitch expected to slow down under dew, but Jasprit Bumrah (3-15) rocked them early, removing Quinton de Kock (6), Markram (4), and Ryan Rickelton (7) to leave South Africa at 20 for three in four overs.

David Miller turned the game with a match-winning 63 off 35 balls, blasting six fours and four sixes in a counterattacking 97-run stand with Dewald Brevis (45 off 29).

Tristan Stubbs provided the late fireworks, smashing 44 not out off 20 with three fours and four sixes, including 20 off Hardik Pandya’s final over to boost the total.

Arshdeep Singh took 2-28, but South Africa’s middle order rebuilt ruthlessly, targeting spinner Varun Chakaravarthy effectively.

India’s reply started on a bad note. Aiden Markram bowled Ishan Kishan for a duck first ball, Marco Jansen snared Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma, and South Africa reduced India to 31 for three in the powerplay. 

Suryakumar Yadav (18) fell lbw to Corbin Bosch, while Shivam Dube’s gritty 42 off 37 offered hope alongside Hardik Pandya (18), but their 35-run partnership ended abruptly.

Keshav Maharaj spun through the middle order with 3-24, his 15th over claiming Hardik, Rinku Singh, and another to crush momentum.

Jansen claimed 4-22, including Dube, as India folded in 19.3 overs. Lungi Ngidi (2-15) mopped up the tail with economical bursts. 

This loss ends India’s 12-match T20 World Cup streak dating back to their 2024 title win and dents their net run rate. India would need to beat Zimbabwe on Thursday to extend their stay in the tournament. 

As for South Africa, the takeaway from Sunday’s meeting was, according to Miller, who won Player of the Match, “they are beatable”.