SA vs IND Ball by Ball Commentary

INDIA HAVE PULLED OFF A HEIST TO BECOME THE 2024 ICC MEN'S T20 WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS! Hardik Pandya has done it for the Men in Blue! Absolute ecstasy for Rohit Sharma and his men. Agony for South Africa. Pandya hurls it full and slanting in, on middle and leg, Anrich Nortje backs away to have a swipe across the line. Gets it off the inner half of the bat and it dribbles to deep mid-wicket for just a single and the Proteas are in utter disbelief, spare a thought for them, they fought bravely but the Indians had more experience at this stage. A 7-run victory for the Men in Blue and emotions are running wild on the field.

OUT! STRAIGHT TO THE FIELDER! That should be the game and the World Cup to India! Final nail in the coffin for South Africa. Full and going across the left-hander, on off, Kagiso Rabada looks to get underneath it but only manages to skew it off the toe end of the bat. It goes flat and straight to long off where Suryakumar Yadav takes an easy catch this time.

WIDE! Goes searching for the wide yorker but it goes beyond the tramline on off, left alone by Kagiso Rabada for a wide. 9 required off 2 then.

Leg bye! Just one off it! Full and at the batter, Keshav Maharaj clears his front leg to have a swipe across the line. Fails to connect and the ball rolls away off his pads on the leg side for a leg bye. 10 runs needed off 2 balls.

Bye! Smartly bowled! Rolls his fingers over the ball and angles it away, on off, on a nagging length, Kagiso Rabada swings to go back over the bowler's head but misses out. The ball goes on the bounce to the keeper and the batters sneak in a bye. 11 required now off 3.

EDGED AND FOUR! Streaky but South Africa won't mind any which way they come! 12 needed off the last 4 balls. Pace on, angling away, on off, on a back of a length, Kagiso Rabada throws the kitchen sink at it and gets an outside edge that flies between the keeper and short third for a boundary.

OUT! WHAT A GRAB! SURYAKUMAR YADAV, YOU BEAUTY! Brilliant presence of mind on the ropes and he just might have won the World Cup for India with this effort. David Miller cannot believe it! Just the start to the over India were after. Not the best of deliveries by Pandya as he tries to go full but it comes out as a full toss, outside off, David Miller reaches out to go down town. Looks like he gets just enough on it but Suryakumar Yadav at long off, steadies himself on the ropes, keeps his eyes on the ball all the way through. Takes the catch and releases it just as his momentum takes him beyond the ropes. Comes back in to complete the catch.

And again! Brilliant stuff by Arshdeep Singh. Just 4 runs off the last over and now, South Africa need 16 off the last over. Arshdeep dishes it out on a yorker length, on middle, Keshav Maharaj can only jam it out. The ball bounces off the turf back towards the bowler. Arshdeep leaps to his right and makes the stop.

Well bowled! Gets the yorker in, tailing in, at the toes, David Miller jams it out off the inner half of the bat to deep backward square leg for just a single. Miller won't take the single off the last ball and Maharaj has to go for the big shot.

Angling in, on a back of a length, at the batter, David Miller gets cramped for room to get the pull shot away. Miscues it in front of deep square leg but manages to cone back for the second as the ball went to the right of the man in the deep there.

Maharaj gets off strike now! Pace taken off by Maharaj, on off, Keshav Maharaj hangs back and pulls it in front of deep mid-wicket without much timing for a single. Miller needs to find the fence to ease the pressure off.

Play and a miss! Two dots and Maharaj will start to feel the pressure now. Angling away, on a hard length, on off, Keshav Maharaj pokes at the delivery from the crease and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Arshdeep starts with a dot! Lands it on a length, on middle, Keshav Maharaj looks to work it across the line but gets a soft leading edge that goes down the deck. Arshdeep does well to make a quick low stop to his left in his follow through.

Yes, he can and gets a single too. Bumrah hurls it in on a good length, on off, Keshav Maharaj covers the line of the ball and pats it in front of cover for a quick single. Virat Kohli thought about having a shy at the bowling end but resisted it. 20 runs needed off the last 2 overs for South Africa.

Honing in at the stumps at pace, on a good length, Keshav Maharaj gets behind the line of the ball and blocks it out in front of cover. Can Maharaj survive the last ball from Bumrah?

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Jasprit Bumrah has struck just when India needed it! Marco Jansen stands there in disbelief. Bumrah changes his angle of attack as he comes from over the wicket and slants it in, on a good length, on middle, Marco Jansen gets a stride in and presents a straight bat to keep it out. The ball jags back in sharply off the deck, sneaks past the inside edge and clips the leg pole, enough to dislodge the right bail. Can Bumrah get one more off his remaining two balls?

Bumrah gets this one to skid through, on a back of a length, outside off, David Miller stands tall and punches it to deep cover to turn the strike over.

At the stumps, on a back of a length, on middle, David Miller punches it sweetly to cover. Two dots to start with. Every dot being cheered by the Indian fans.

Beaten! Bumrah bowls it with an upright seam, on a good length, on off, David Miller stays leg side of the ball and fiddles at the delivery. The ball holds its line and zips past the outside edge.

Pandya bends his back and digs in a slower bumper, at the batter, David Miller gets on his toes, swivels and controls the pull down to fine leg. Keeps the strike with a single. A wicket and 4 runs off Pandya's over. South Africa require 22 runs in 18 balls. David Miller's wicket here will make things interesting.

Angling in, on a length, on off, Marco Jansen presses forward for the drive but the ball seams back in a bit. Catches the inner half of the bat and it rolls to the left of a straightish mid-wicket for a single.

Slower and the length is pulled back a touch by Pandya, on middle, David Miller waits on it and tucks it behind square on the leg side for one more run.

Offers width does Pandya on off, on a good length, Marco Jansen frees his arms and cracks the drive to deep point for a single.

Pace on and honing in, around off, on a length, Marco Jansen leans on it and times the drive to cover.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! There was a break in play as the physio attended to Rishabh Pant and that break has brought about a wicket for India! Is there a twist in the tale? Pandya rolls his fingers over the ball and keeps it away from the batter's arc, full and outside off, Heinrich Klaasen throws his hands at it but gets an outside edge that is snaffled safely by the keeper, Rishabh Pant near his waist. End of a superb knock by Klaasen. With 26 runs needed off 23 balls, it is still South Africa's game to lose, despite losing Klaasen.

Lands it full again, on off, David Miller leans on it and times the drive to cover. Just 4 runs off the over but South Africa won't mind one bit as they have safely negotiated Bumrah's over. Bumrah has only one over remaining now.

Bumrah keeps it full but this is on the pads, Heinrich Klaasen clips it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Dishes out a quick yorker, a bit of inward tail, on middle, Heinrich Klaasen gets his bat down in time and squeezes it out in front of his feet.

Slanting in, on the pads, Heinrich Klaasen misses the clip and gets pinged on the front pad but that was heading down leg.

Heinrich Klaasen comes back for the second and that brings up his FIFTY! Fastest fifty in a Men's T20 World Cup final, off just 23 balls. First half-century of the tournament for Klaasen and what a time to get it. Angling in, on a back of a length, on middle and leg, Heinrich Klaasen tucks it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs and brings up his first fifty of this World Cup, couldn't have come at a better time.

Comes back into the attack and lands it on a back of a length, on off, David Miller looks to play at it but gets an inside edge that sneaks past the stumps and goes down to fine leg for a single.

'Catch' is the call but the ball evades backward point. Fires it in, short and around off, Heinrich Klaasen goes on the back foot to go up and over cover. Gets it off the outer half of the bat but it clears the man at backward point for a couple of runs. Down to run-a-ball now for South Africa, just 30 needed off 30 now.

FOUR! Relentless from Heinrich Klaasen and this over could be the telling one in the history of South African cricket. Fired in full and wide, Klaasen is waiting for it, he hangs back and powers it nicely over the cover region for a boundary.

SIX! One more, probably even bigger and South Africa are in a hurry. At the stumps, slightly short and Heinrich Klaasen rocks back before whacking it high and handsome over long on for another colossal hit.

SIX! Wow, Heinrich Klaasen has sent it on the roof! Flighted delivery around off stump, Klaasen gets across a bit and slogs it high and over deep mid-wicket for a huge six. Thjat one landed on the roof.

Gets it spot on this time. Fired in flatter and wide of the off stump, landing it inside the tramline.

WIDE! Another one! Flatter again and pushed wide of the off stump, left alone again and the umpire signals wide again.

WIDE! Quicker and flatter, pushed well wide of the off stump, Heinrich Klaasen leaves it alone.

FOUR! Up and over! Fired in at the off stump, Heinrich Klaasen gets under the ball and hammers it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

SIX! Easy power from David Miller and Kuldeep Yadav has had a game to forget here. Too short and over the stumps, Miller rocks back and pulls it flat and in front of the man at deep mid-wicket for a biggie. South Africa in the ascendancy here.

FOUR! That is sensational timing from David Miller. Slightly short and outside off, Miller reaches out and just taps the ball away in front of cover-point, the ball speeds away and Axar Patel from deep point cannot get to it chasing to his left.

On a nagging length and floated up on the legs, Heinrich Klaasen flicks it away in front of square leg and picks up a single.

Tossed up around the off stump line, David Miller fetches the ball and sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

Drags the length back a touch and bowls it around off stump, David Miller waits back and dabs it away to backward point.

Nicely played! Floated up full on the stumps, David Miller leans right on and works it away between the fielders at deep mid-wicket and cow corner for a couple of runs.

Good running! Back of a length and around off sliding on nicely, Heinrich Klaasen waits back and punches it sweetly to the left of a diving Rohit Sharma at covers and picks up a couple of runs in the deep.

On a slightly fuller length and drifting onto the legs, David Miller flicks it down to fine leg and turns the strike over.

Just short of a good length around middle and jagging back in off the deck, David Miller looks to block but is beaten and gets struck on the thigh pad.

OUT! CAUGHT! A change in the field and Arshdeep Singh has got the big fish here. Arshdeep Singh bowls it on a similar line and length and angles it in at the hips. Quinton de Kock gets inside the line to smash it away over fine leg but hits it flat and straight to Kuldeep Yadav on the fence who takes a good catch under pressure. The fielder was inside the ring on the previous ball but was pushed back to the fence just before this ball.

FOUR! Too easy for Quinton de Kock. A gentle-paced delivery, slightly short and angled down the leg side, de Kock gets inside the line, plays the pick-up shot and gets it well over short fine leg for a one-bounce boundary.

Length ball on the pads, tucked away past square leg by Heinrich Klaasen for a single.

Beaten! Bowled flatter and on a nagging length, sliding on from the fourth stump line, Quinton de Kock looks to stay back and cut but misses.

Nicely flighted, a bit full and around off stump, Quinton de Kock watchfully blocks it off.

Floated up on the legs, Heinrich Klaasen gets down on one knee and sweeps it to deep backward square leg for one.

SIX! Stand and deliver! On the shorter side and wide of the off stump, Heinrich Klaasen is able to stay put and free his arms before smashing it over the extra cover fence for a biggie.

Flatter one, on a length and around off, patted away to the man at covers.

Quinton de Kock manages it well in the end. QDK steps out early and Kuldeep Yadav cleverly bowls it flatter and throws it wide outside off. De Kock adjusts and hits it through covers for a single.

Flatter one sliding on the legs, flicked away firmly to the left of square leg for a single.

Nicely placed and Quinton de Kock picks up an easy brace. Fuller one on the pads, tucked away into the vacant space in front of mid-wicket and the bowler Ravindra Jadeja has to chase it down.

Fires it in a bit and pushes it wide of the off stump, Heinrich Klaasen reaches out and slaps it to deep point for a single.

SIX! In the slot and over the ropes! Too full and around off and middle, Heinrich Klaasen clears the front leg, hits through the line and nails it back over the bowler's head for a biggie.

Just short of Axar Patel in the deep! Another one that is slightly short, Quinton de Kock rocks back to pull but miscues it flat and just in front of deep mid-wicket for a single.

Starts on the shorter side and angles the ball into the stumps, Heinrich Klaasen backs away and cuts it off the stumps in front of square on the off side for one.

Too straight by Pandya, on the pads, on a short of a good length, Heinrich Klaasen glances it off his pads down to fine leg to keep the strike with a single. Hardik started the over well with three dots but the next three balls went for 10 runs.

Taken by Pant but it won't matter as it is a Free Hit! Pandya changes his angle of attack as he comes from around the wicket and serves a slower one, on a length, on off, Quinton de Kock shapes up to go back over the bowler's head. Skies it off the toe-end of the bat and it goes very high in the air, behind the wicket. Rishabh Pant settles under it and grabs it. De Kock cannot make the Free Hit count and it costs India just a single.

NO BALL! Hardik hurls it fuller in length, on middle and leg, Heinrich Klaasen leans on it and eases it down to long on for a single. Oh, dear. Hardik has overstepped and a Free Hit will follow now. Can de Kock make the most of it?

SIX! Cracking shot! Hardik goes into the surface again and it is off-pace too but ends up offering width on off, Heinrich Klaasen picks up the line and length early. Rises with the bounce and slaps it to the right of deep cover for a biggie.

Three dots on the trot to start with. Hardik takes pace off and goes into the deck, around off, Heinrich Klaasen frees his arms to cut it away but plays it early and miscues the shot on the leg side.

Angling in, on a hard length, on middle, Heinrich Klaasen stays on the back foot and nudges it to mid-wicket.

Hardik begins on a back of a length, on off, Heinrich Klaasen stays put and punches it to cover where the fielder dives to his right to make the stop.

Leg bye! Spears it on the pads, on a nagging length, Heinrich Klaasen gets a thud on the pads as he misses out on the tickle. The ball rolls towards backward square leg for a leg bye.

OUT! TIMBER! Axar Patel fights back in grand style! Quinton de Kock is distraught at the other end as he punches his bat. Axar lands it full and on the off pole, Tristan Stubbs premediates and tries to use the angle to paddle it fine on the leg side. He walks way too far across and exposes all his stumps. Fails to get any bat on the paddle and the ball sneaks past the inside edge to hit the off pole, enough to dislodge the left bail. A timely breakthrough for India.

Darts it in, short and on off, Tristan Stubbs hangs back and chops it straight to backward point.

Edgy! Pushed through, full and on the pads, Quinton de Kock pulls out the reverse sweep but fails to get the shot away. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and scampers across as the ball rolls on the leg side.

Short and coming in with the arm, on middle, Tristan Stubbs hops on the back foot and punches it to deep cover for a single.

SIX! Good proactive batting and Tristan Stubbs gets the reward! Axar drops it fractionally short, outside off, Tristan Stubbs walks right across his stumps, gets low and swats it to the left of deep square leg for a flat six.

SIX! BANG! Quinton de Kock picked the bones out of that! Kuldeep misses his mark as he serves it right in the arc, full and on middle and leg, Quinton de Kock gets down on one knee and nails the slog sweep. Hits it way over deep mid-wicket and it goes onto hit one of the solar panels on the roof. 13 runs off the over as South Africa continue to take the spinners on.

Slows it up a touch and pulls the length back slightly, turning away, outside off, Quinton de Kock goes for the drive but miscues the shot back to the bowler.

Tosses it up and it is very full, on middle, Tristan Stubbs gets on the front foot and knocks it to wide long on for a single.

On the pads by Kuldeep, full in length, Quinton de Kock helps it off his pads to the left of short fine leg for one more run.

Full again but not much air, on middle, Tristan Stubbs eases it down to long on for a single.

FOUR! Drilled down the ground! Looped by Kuldeep but too full, on off, Tristan Stubbs gets his weight on the front foot and cracks the drive to the right of long off for a boundary.

Angling away, on a nagging length, on middle, Quinton de Kock gets down for the slog sweep but gets an inside edge onto the pads. That could have so easily sneaked under the bat and crashed into the stumps.

Slips it on the pads, fuller and quicker, Quinton de Kock paddles but can't get it past the man at short fine leg.

Pulls the length back and keeps it at the stumps, Tristan Stubbs makes room and pushes it to the left of cover to turn the strike over.

FOUR! Excellently played! Darted in from around the wicket, full and around off, Tristan Stubbs reaches out in front and executes the slog sweep to perfection. Hits it flat and to the left of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Fires it in now, full and on middle, Quinton de Kock clears his front leg and smacks it to long off for a run.

Honing in at the stumps with a high-arm action, short in length, Tristan Stubbs gets on top of the bounce and punches it in front of square on the off side for a single.

FOUR! Finds the gap to perfection and South Africa are 42/2 at the end of the Powerplay. Fractionally short and outside off, Quinton de Kock lets the ball come on and plays it quite late and in between the fielders at short third and backward point for a boundary.

Nicely bowled! Holds it back a touch and flights it up around off, Quinton de Kock steps down the pitch but holds back and blocks it off.

Flighted up again on the stumps, Tristan Stubbs heaves it off the toe end of the bat down to long on for a single.

Firmly struck but that's good fielding in the deep! Tossed up full on middle, Tristan Stubbs clears the front leg and swats it flat to the left of long on where Suryakumar Yadav dives across and keeps it down to two.

In the air but will land safely! Flatter one, a tad bit short and around off, Tristan Stubbs rocks back and tries to force it over covers and ends up slicing it over the point region for a couple of runs.

Starts off short and flat, at the pads, Quinton de Kock nurdles it past backward square leg for a single.

On a dragged length and around off stump, Quinton de Kock goes on the back foot and dabs it past point for a run.

FOUR! Hammered away! Short and wide outside off, Quinton de Kock rocks back and slaps it uppishly but through the gap at cover-point for a boundary.

At the stumps, Tristan Stubbs comes down the pitch and just pushes it down to long off for a single.

On the fuller side and angling it in from outside off, Tristan Stubbs punches it towards cover.

FOUR! Cut away and cut away well! Quicker one, sliding on with the arm from outside off, Tristan Stubbs goes on the back foot and cuts it behind point for a boundary.

Floated up outside off, Tristan Stubbs plants his front leg across but miscues the sweep to short fine leg.

Slightly shorter and straighter at the hips, Tristan Stubbs gets inside the line and tickles it down to fine leg for a single.

Sharp fielding! Pitched up around off stump, Tristan Stubbs gets on the front foot and punches it sweetly but straight to the man at short cover.

Drags the length back a bit and bowls it over the stumps, Tristan Stubbs presses back and nudges it down in front of mid-wicket.

On a good length at the stumps, tucked away towards mid-wicket for a single by Quinton de Kock.

A pleasing stroke from Quinton de Kock but he will only get a couple of runs here. Overpitched and around off stump, de Kock leans on and drives it in between covers and mid off. The outfield is sluggish and Kuldeep Yadav manages to chase it down.

FOUR! Just wide! On a good length outside off and angling away, Quinton de Kock waits well and plays it with an angled bat and well wide of the man at first slip as the ball rolls away into the deep third fence.

On a length and at the stumps, Quinton de Kock presents the front face of the bat and just pats it towards mid on for a single.

Arshdeep Singh with a well-directed bumper over leg stump, just angling it down leg as well. It is at a difficult height but Quinton de Kock looks to play that favored pick-up and pull shot and misses. Rishabh Pant pouches it and appeals for a catch but the umpire is unmoved. Rohit Sharma does eventually take the review but UltraEdge shows that the ball missed the bat and the gloves. A review lost for India.

Good length outside off and angling away, Tristan Stubbs reaches out and taps it away in front of point and into the deep for a single.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Aiden Markram will be gutted with that shot and India have their second wicket. Arshdeep Singh just pitches the ball up a bit and angles it well across the off stump. The ball keeps angling away and Aiden Markram goes fishing after it, only managing to get a feather of an edge to the right of the keeper. Rishabh Pant dives across and pouches it safely. Tristan Stubbs comes out to bat now.

Nice change up from Arshdeep Singh. Full and floated up wide of the off stump, Aiden Markram reaches out and just dabs the ball away in front of the point fielder.

Pitched up at the stumps and angling into the left-hander, Quinton de Kock plays it on the up and just to the right of mid on for a quick single.

Good length in and around the top of off stump, Aiden Markram blocks it solidly in front of the man at covers.

On a shade fuller length and around the fifth stump line, zipping through at 139 KPH, Aiden Markram shoulders arms at it.

FOUR! That ball flew off the bat! Just a fractionally short from Jasprit Bumrah and outside off stump, Aiden Markram leans back and just extends his arms and the ball pings off his bat and goes well wide of the chasing man at deep third for a boundary.

OUT! TIMBER! Jasprit Bumrah with a bolt out of the blue! The dream delivery for any pacer and Bumrah gets the early wicket for India. Bumrah stays over the wicket and pitches the ball up on the stumps, naturally angling it in. Reeza Hendricks looks to play for the line and puts out a straight face of the bat but the ball pitches and straightens to beat the outside edge and knock over the top of off stump.

Leg bye! Bumrah slips it on the pads on a fuller delivery, Quinton de Kock fails to help it away off his pads. The ball comes off his pads and Rishabh Pant fails to collect it cleanly, diving away to his right. The ball pops out of his gloves and rolls away to short fine leg for a leg bye.

Beats the bat straight away! Gets the ball to angle across the left-hander from over the wicket, on a hard length, on off, Quinton de Kock plays for the ball coming back into him and presents a straight bat. It angles away and zips past the bat.

FOUR! Thrashed away to end the first over. Arshdeep rolls his fingers over the ball and gets the ball to go across. Ends up offering width on off, on a length, Reeza Hendricks latches onto it in a flash and slaps it between cover and point for the first boundary of South Africa's chase.

Closer to the off-stump line, on a short of a length, Quinton de Kock arches back and cuts it late and to the right of backward point for a single to get off the mark.

A hint of away movement, on a good length, at the stumps, Quinton de Kock closes the bat face and clips it straight to mid-wicket.

Leg bye! South Africa are underway with an extra! Pace on and on a back of a length, straying on the pads, Reeza Hendricks gets inside the line but misses the tickle. The ball brushes his thigh pad and rolls behind square on the leg side for a single.

Edged but well short! Does not take long for Arshdeep Singh to take pace off. Bowls it on a back of a length, on off, Reeza Hendricks has a tentative push at the delivery and gets lucky as there is no pace on offer, resulting in the outside edge falling way in front of Rishabh Pant.

A little bit of swing for Arshdeep Singh first up! Starts from over the wicket and bowls it full, shaping in, on off, Reeza Hendricks gets on the front foot and pushes it towards cover.