Proteas Crash at the T20 World Cup Finals
The Proteas were deeply disappointed after their dreams of winning their first-ever World Cup were shattered by India at the Kensington Oval in Barbados last night.
Needing a challenging 177 runs to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final, Aiden Markram’s squad came agonizingly close before India’s seasoned team maintained their composure to secure a tense seven-run victory.
India secured their second T20 World Cup title, adding to their inaugural victory at the Wanderers in Johannesburg in 2007.
They achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first team to win the tournament without dropping a single match.
Virat Kohli, India’s star batsman, earned the Player of the Match award for his impressive 76 runs off 59 balls, contributing to India’s total of 176/7.
Jasprit Bumrah, the fast bowler, was named Player of the Series for his crucial performance in the final, taking 2/18 to restrict South Africa to 169/8.
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Despite a valiant effort, the Proteas raised hopes during their chase, particularly with Heinrich Klaasen’s explosive 52 off 27 balls, including a 24-run over against Axar Patel.
Contributions from Quinton de Kock (39), Tristan Stubbs (31), and David Miller (21) were noteworthy but fell short in the end.
Captain Aiden Markram expressed disappointment with the result but acknowledged the positive strides made by South African cricket, reaching their first World Cup final since 1992.
Reflecting on the campaign, Markram emphasized pride despite the heartbreak.
Kohli, an icon in Indian cricket, announced his retirement from T20 Internationals after adding the T20 World Cup title to his achievements, which include the 2011 ODI World Cup victory on home soil.
Proteas Crash at the T20 World Cup Finals