London: It was the perfect opportunity for South Africa to end its “chokers” label. They faced a strong but seemingly unenthusiastic Team India, who have their own dressing room problems, according to several media reports.
To add to that, the tame loss against Sri Lanka did not do any good from India, especially given the fact that they had put a massive total of 321, and they boast of a fearsome attack of rhythm consisting of tastes Of Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.
However, the South Africans, who came after their own defeat against Pakistan, had to face their own demons; Something they could not recover against India.
Here are some key areas in which the Blue Men got the better of South Africa and continued to win the match in the penultimate match of Group B.
The launch:
With the Kennington Oval offering a good batting pitch, it was imperative for the Indian team to pursue the game, especially as their bowling attack was so exposed in the last game against Sri Lanka.
Virat Kohli and co had the psychological advantage from the first minute, as their proven and proven batting lineup would know exactly what pace they would have to score in the second innings, to pursue their goal. The first entries were a matter of restricting South Africa to a total as low as possible.
Poor people running through the gates by the Proteas:
India is generally considered as one of the fittest sides in the cricket world, in the modern era. However, Virat Kohli’s men have not lived up to that turnover, in the opening stages of the tournament during the games against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
However, against South Africa, the Indians took their game A to the field, affecting two outs in a crucial stage of the innings. Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock had given the Proteas a steady start, and all that was required for their middle order was to use it as a launching pad to raise the scoring rate in the center when the field is generally more dispersed.
Indian peasants within the circle showed great vigilance, causing confusion among South African hitters. Looking for a fast single, the dangerous AB Villiers was eliminated at a low price.
As Villiers’ turn increased pressure on Faf du Plessis and David Miller, in a momentary moment of reason, the two found themselves running towards the same fold, as Virat Kohli picked up a weak shot from Jasprit Bumrah and broke the bonds in the Another end.
Both exodus came in close succession, at a time when South Africa was looking to raise the bet. In terms of boxing, this could be referred to as a “one-two stroke”.
Ravichandran Ashwin – Factor X:
Virat Kohli may have dropped his ace spinner of the first two games of the group stage, but a virtual quarter-final against the world did not. 1 ODI side is a completely different proposition.
Ravichandran Ashwin was instrumental in getting the gap wicket for India, after Kock and Hashim Amla put up a 76-run solid partnership of 105 balls.
While it was the only wicket the Chennai boy got in the match, he was instrumental in tightening the screws on the South African chopsticks, with Ravindra Jadeja rolling from the other end.
The spin-twins managed to control the medians for India, which finally helped them to restrict the South Africans to a negligible total of 191; The duo had a combined economy rate of 4.31 out of the 19 overs that they pitched.
