T20 World Cup: South Africa thrash India by 76 runs, end winning streak

South Africa stunned T20 World Cup defending champion India with a 76-run victory on Sunday in the Super Eights with the tournament co-host dismissed for 111.

It was a completely dominant performance from the Proteas, which lost to India in the final of the 2024 edition.

India’s 12-match winning run since the 2024 tournament came to an end as left-arm pacer Marco Jansen took 4-22 in 3.5 overs.

India were bowled out for 111 runs in 18.5 overs after South Africa chose to bat first and scored 187-7. David Miller hit 63 off 35 balls, with seven fours and three sixes, in the Group 1 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Sunday proved to be a dismal day for both co-hosts at the T20 World Cup as Sri Lanka crashed to a 51-run defeat to England in Pallekele.

Phil Salt anchored England to 146-9 in the Group 2 match with a resolute 62 off 40 balls and Jacks provided impetus to the total by smashing four boundaries in his 21-run knock in the death overs.

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav reacts after his dismissal during the T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match against South Africa. AFP

Sri Lanka crumbled to 95 all out as offspinner Jacks picked up three wickets inside the power play and earned England its 12th consecutive win in a T20 against the hosts.

The defeat marked India's first in the ongoing 20-team tournament and ended their 13-match unbeaten streak in T20 World Cups since their gruelling 10-wicket defeat at the hands of England in the semi-final of the 2022 edition.

In all ICC tournaments, however, it was the first defeat for the Men in Blue in 18 matches, with their last setback dating back to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 final against Australia, which coincidentally came at the same venue.

Set to chase a daunting 188-run target, the home side could accumulate 111 before getting bowled out in 18.5 overs despite Shivam Dube's gutsy knock.

The all-rounder waged a lone battle for the home side and top-scored with a valiant 42-run knock, but his efforts were insufficient for steering the defending champions to extend their unbeaten streak to 14 matches in the T20 World Cups.

Besides him, fellow all-rounder Hardik Pandya and captain Suryakumar Yadav, 18 each, followed by opener Abhishek Sharma (15) and middle-order batter Washington Sundar (11) could amass double figures against the disciplined South Africa bowling attack.

Jansen spearheaded South Africa's bowling charge with a four-wicket haul, followed by experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj with three wickets, all of which came in the pulsating 15th over.

They were supported by Corbin Bosch, who bagged two wickets, while skipper Aiden Markram chipped in with one scalp.

Opting to bat first, the Proteas accumulated 187/7 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a defiant 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Miller and Dewald Brevis.

South Africa, however, had a contrasting start to their innings as India's pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh ran through their top order, comprising captain Aiden Markram, wicketkeeper batter Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton, inside four overs with just 20 runs on the board.

Following the early setback, Miller joined Brevis in the middle, and the duo batted valiantly to force an astounding recovery by putting together 97 runs for the fourth wicket off just 49 deliveries.

The threatening stand was eventually broken by Shivam Dube in the 13th over when he got Brevis caught at deep mid-wicket by Abhishek Sharma.

Brevis walked back after scoring a crucial 45 off 29 deliveries with the help of three sixes and as many fours.

Miller was then involved in a 35-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Tristan Stubbs until eventually falling victim to Varun Chakravarthy in the 16th over and walking back after top-scoring for South Africa with a 35-ball 63, laced with seven fours and three sixes.

His dismissal halted the flow of runs for South Africa as Indian bowlers tightened the grip and were ultimately rewarded on the second delivery of the 18th over when Arshdeep got rid of Marco Jansen, who could muster two off six deliveries.

Stubbs, on the other hand, batted until the end and added valuable runs to South Africa's total with an unbeaten 44 off 24 deliveries, featuring three sixes and a four.

Bumrah spearheaded India's bowling charge with three wickets for just 15 runs in his four overs, followed by Arshdeep with two, while Chakravarthy and Dube made one scalp apiece.