T20 World Cup final, India vs South Africa live: Score and latest updates from Kensington Oval
IND 167/5 After 19 Overs
Hardik Pandya is on strike and on the first ball, he edges the ball which goes for four runs. India has one more over left in their innings.
In the middle of the game, I believe that the deciding factor between the two teams will be Marco Jansen's anxiety. His shaky performance in the first over led to 15 runs being scored against him, and it only got worse in the 19th over when he gave up 17 runs. India's bowlers, on the other hand, seem more composed. However, Jansen is talented enough to bounce back with his skills as a batsman.
Kohli was dismissed by Rabada and Jansen after scoring 76 runs.
Even though Jansen bowled three costly overs, he is now bowling the second to last over. South Africa challenges a caught behind decision on the first ball, but it turns out to be a no-ball. After watching the replays, it seems that Kohli didn't edge the ball. This means it's a free hit, but Kohli is unable to capitalize on it.
Jansen delivers a high-pitched ball and Kohli elegantly hits it behind square for a boundary.
A few deliveries later, Kohli hits Jansen for a six over long-on. The Indian legend is picking up speed now. Jansen hasn't had a good day, despite bowling well in the semi-final. Unfortunately, on the last delivery, Kohli goes for another big shot but is caught by Rabada at long-on. The score is now 163/5.
India: 150/4 With Dube Scoring 22 And Kohli 64
As soon as he reached his half-century, Kohli flexes his front leg and hits Rabada for a six over long-on. He then swiftly takes two runs. Rabada tries a slower delivery, but Kohli manages to pull it away for four runs on the leg-side. India reaches 150 in an over that proves costly for South Africa, giving away 16 runs.
India Cricket Team Scores 134/4 With Dube Scoring 21 And Kohli Reaching 50
Kohli reaches his half-century in 48 deliveries with a single off a pull shot. While it may not have been his most fluent performance, it is still a crucial innings in a final match.
On Nortje's last delivery, Dube plays a cut shot behind square and scores four runs.
Kohli has reached his fifty, but he has only hit one boundary since the beginning of the game. Now, it's up to his teammates to take charge and try to hit more boundaries for the team.
IND 126/4: Kohli And Dube Batting At 16
Shamsi is starting his third over of the game. Kohli seems to be getting more and more frustrated because he's having trouble hitting the ball well. However, Dube manages to hit the ball perfectly and sends it sweeping through deep mid-wicket for a one-bounce four. He scores eight runs in that over.
"IND Score 118/4 With Dube At 9 And Kohli At 46"
Jansen was brought into the game, and on his first delivery, Dube hit the ball over mid-on for a six. However, Jansen improved for the rest of the over, only giving away four more runs.
India Reaches 108/4 With Kohli Scoring 44
Shivam Dube has entered the field with Kohli. Dube attempts to hit the ball hard on his first try, but ends up getting a slight touch on his pads. On the second delivery, he takes on Rabada by charging forward and manages to score a single towards the covers.
Axar dismissed de Kock for 47 runs with a brilliant run out.
De Kock's play was amazing. Right after Axar hit a six to bring India's score past 100, he was run out by a great throw from the South Africa keeper at the other end of the pitch. Watching the replays, it seemed like Axar was a bit careless despite de Kock's impressive play. India's score is now 106/4.
The excellent run-out by Quinton de Kock was just as impressive as Jos Buttler's in St Lucia. If that play ends up being the one that secures the win, de Kock definitely deserves it as he nears the end of his international career.
India Scores 98/3 With Axar At 40 And Kohli At 43
Markram is still mixing it up on the field, and Nortje has returned to bowl. South Africa will be pleased with the over as only five runs were scored.
Axar And Kohli Lead India To 93/3 Over 12
Shamsi bowls his second over and Axar tries to hit a big sweep shot with the wind. The ball hits his pads but fortunately, it doesn't lead to a catch.
With only one ball left, he hits the ball straight down the field and, even though Rabada dives to stop it, he manages to hit a very low six.
India Scores 82/3 With Axar At 29 And Kohli At 39
Following a costly opening over in the game, Jansen returns to bowl and almost takes a wicket with his first delivery. Axar attempts to hit the ball hard, but instead edges it and the ball falls just short of third-man. The team scores seven runs off the first over after the break for drinks.
10+ Overs Gone, India At 75/3
Shamsi is introduced to bowl for the first time in the match. Kohli manages to score a couple of runs from the last two deliveries.
We are halfway through and it's time for a beverage.
India 68/3 After 9 Overs
Markram is continuously rotating his bowlers to confuse the Indian batsmen. Nortje only bowled one over, and now Maharaj has returned to the attack.
Maharaj bowled the ball to Axar, who decided to sweep it towards the deep mid-wicket area. With a strong hit this time, despite the wind, the ball flew over the boundary for a six.
India Scores 59/3 In Over 8
Markram decides to bowl another over. When Axar hits a single, it brings India's score to 50. Shortly after, Axar sweeps the ball and manages to just get it over Klaasen's head at deep mid-wicket. It was a tense moment.
India Scores 49/3 With Kohli On 27
He left earlier to get some treatment, but Nortje is back on the field to bowl in the final. He has taken 13 wickets so far in this tournament. Only four runs were scored off his over.
India Scores 45/3 With Axar At 8 And Kohli At 25
Captain Markram decides to bowl the final over of the powerplay. After a few wickets fall, he sees an opportunity to bowl. He only gives up six runs in the over.
Powerplay is now over.
India 39/3 With Axar At 5 And Kohli At 22
It's worth noting that Axar Patel has just entered the field. He smoothly hits his first ball for a boundary.
Suryakumar was caught by Klaasen off Rabada for just 3 runs.
Yet another batsman is out! South Africa has had a great beginning in the match. Suryakumar attempted to hit Rabada over the leg-side with the wind on his side but unfortunately, he ended up getting caught by Klaasen. This was Klaasen's second catch of the game. Rabada was clearly excited and thrilled about getting this wicket. The score is now 34/3.
IND 32/2 In 4 Overs: Suryakumar 2, Kohli 21
Kohli successfully hits the first ball of Maharaj's second over, sending it towards wide long-off. It seems like he is going to score a four, but Miller makes an amazing diving stop to prevent the boundary.
A few deliveries later, Kohli shows his determination by hitting a strong shot off the back foot in the same region, resulting in a boundary.
Nortje is returning to the game.
IND 26/2 As Suryakumar And Kohli Bat
Suryakumar Yadav is now at the crease as the new batsman. Jansen bowled only one over and was costly, leading Markram to bring in Kagiso Rabada. Suryakumar manages to score just one run from the first five balls, but tries to hit Rabada over mid-on. However, he doesn't hit it perfectly and barely gets enough on it to clear the field. South Africa is a bit worried as Nortje had to leave the field for medical attention.
It's amazing how quickly a cricket game can change momentum in just two overs. Jos Buttler can relate to Rishabh Pant's struggle with a spinner ball.
De Kock was dismissed for a duck by Maharaj
Rishabh Pant steps onto the field with Kohli, but his time is cut short after only facing two balls. Trying to make a sweep shot, he instead sends the ball in a loop towards de Kock, who catches it behind the stumps. The referee looks into the possibility of a bump ball, but it is evident that the ball looped off the bottom edge of the bat. With Pant out, this over could have a big impact on the final score. Pant's wicket falls at 23/2.
Alright, the second over was not as tense. Two wickets, with Rohit getting caught for 9 at square leg. Klaasen made a great catch, highlighting the importance of fielding. England missed a chance to dismiss Rohit when he was on 5 in the semi-final. That's what separates the top teams. Pant's confidence to remain at the crease after top-edging that sweep was impressive.
Rohit was caught by Klaasen off Maharaj's bowling for 9 runs.
Aiden Markram decides to face the spin bowling of Keshav Maharaj right at the start. After hitting two boundaries off the first two balls, Maharaj manages to dismiss Rohit. Rohit attempts a sweep shot but ends up hitting the ball straight to Klaasen at square-leg. This early wicket is a significant breakthrough for South Africa. The score is now 23/1.
IND 15/0 After 1 Over
Sharma starts off India's innings with a single to mid-on on the first ball. Jansen is getting some movement off the pitch, as evident by the leg-slip fielder he has placed.
Kohli, who has been struggling in this tournament, confidently plays his first shot outside the off stump and hits the ball through point to score the first boundary of the final match. Jansen bowls too straight next, and Kohli effortlessly flicks the ball past square-leg for another four runs.
India is scoring more runs as Kohli once again uses a drive to hit the ball through cover, earning a couple of runs.
At the very last delivery, Kohli hits the ball beyond Jansen and scores four points, concluding an impressive first over for India with a total of 15 runs.
The final from South Africa started off with a lot of nerves. Jansen kicked off the game by serving three half volleys in the first over, helping Kohli relax a bit as he was feeling the pressure from his recent poor performance.
With the anthems completed, it's now time for the finals to start. The teams have talked the talk, and now it's time to see who will walk the walk and claim the championship trophy. Who will emerge victorious in just a few hours?
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are starting the batting for India. South Africa's left-arm bowler Marco Jansen will start the bowling. The 2024 T20 World Cup final is about to begin.
Both teams have walked onto the field beyond the trophy they are competing for, and it is now time for the national anthems to be played.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
India has selected Rohit Sharma as the captain for their team. The other players chosen are Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravi Jadeja, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Exclusive News From These Shores
Exciting news in English cricket today came from Will Macpherson. It seems that Jamie Smith will be taking over wicketkeeping duties in the Test team, likely spelling the end for Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes. This decision follows England's retirement of James Anderson. Bairstow has struggled since his injury, and Foakes hasn't been strong enough with the bat. Tough decisions needed to be made as England prepares for the next Ashes series, starting at Lord's next week. Smith will face a lot of scrutiny for his wicketkeeping skills, which will test his mental strength. When I spoke to him a few months ago, he was confident he could handle the pressure if called up. Now we'll see if he lives up to that confidence.
Markram Speaks At The Toss
We may not have performed at our highest level in every game of this tournament, but we have still managed to secure victories. This has greatly boosted our confidence and belief in ourselves.
We're aiming for the ideal game today. Perfection may be out of reach, but if we can come close to it, we'll have a good chance.
I want the boys to savor every moment. We don't have any stress on us. This is our first time reaching a final, and it's our chance to make our dreams come true.
We aim to keep the pressure on India from the start of the match.
Rohit Sharma's Pre-Match Thoughts
It's all about people knowing their part. I understand it's a significant event, but it's crucial to remain relaxed and collected.
We need to manage things effectively and there are various methods to achieve that. Each person will have their own approach.
South Africa have shown strong performances in cricket, but we have also demonstrated our skills on the field.
India Wins The Toss
Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided that India will have the first chance to bat. The Indian team is sticking with the same lineup as before.
Aiden Markram said he wanted to bat first, just like the South Africa team, who are sticking with the same lineup.
Let's Flip The Coin
The two team leaders, Rohit Sharma and Aiden Markram, are on the field and we are prepared for the coin toss...
Ground Level Perspective
It's unusual for a World Cup final to begin at 10:30am, but the reason is clear - Indian television. The stadium is quickly filling up, with all tickets sold out and the party stand packed with Indian fans. Rum cocktails are being served early, and for 80 Barbados dollars (around 25 pounds), you can purchase a whole bottle of rum. It's a tempting offer, but could be risky.
Eoin Morgan's Winning World Cup Secrets
Are Top Two Teams In The Final?
"Top two teams in the competition up to now" ????
Michael Atherton shares his thoughts on South Africa and India as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup final. ???????????????? You can see his insights in the tweet above.
Will South Africa Succeed?
Even though South Africa have not been successful in World Cup semi-finals, they did manage to win the Champions Trophy in 1998. Additionally, two current players were part of the Under-19 World Cup winning team in 2014. Kagiso Rabada bowled impressively, while Aiden Markram opened the batting and scored 66* to chase down Pakistan's target with ease. Markram was not only the captain of the team, but also the player of the tournament. It's clear that some of these players have experience in high-pressure situations.
The 2024 T20 World Cup final will be held in Barbados, where India led by Rohit Sharma will face off against South Africa, captained by Aiden Markram, to determine the champion. Both teams have maintained a perfect record up to this point in the tournament, but only one will emerge victorious and claim the trophy.
India won against the previous champions England by 68 runs in Guyana in the semi-finals, and South Africa beat Afghanistan by nine wickets in Trinidad.
Even though the IPL is popular worldwide, India has not been able to clinch a world championship in over a decade. Their last victory was in the 2011 50-over World Cup. They are determined to bounce back from their heartbreaking loss in the 50-over final last year, where they were defeated by Australia on their home turf.
South Africa have finally broken their streak of losing in the semi-finals, after facing defeat in their last seven attempts at this stage in both the 50-over and T20 World Cups. They have yet to win a T20 or 50-over World Cup title and are hopeful that today will be the day when they can change that.
Leading up to the most important match in South Africa's cricket history, team captain Aiden Markram has been sharing his thoughts on the encouragement they've received from past players as they strive to clinch their first ever world championship.
"We haven't reached our desired level of success on the global stage," Markram stated. "This motivates the team to strive towards achieving it. The competitive spirit is evident in the tight outcomes. The desire to win pushes us to do whatever it takes to succeed."
"We have received a great deal of encouragement from former players in our hometown, and it means a lot to us. These are the individuals who motivated us when we were younger. Knowing that we are making them proud and having their support is incredibly meaningful to our team."
While it's not very likely, there is a small chance that India and South Africa could both be declared winners if the final match is rained out, as there is a reserve day available. In the more probable scenario of a match being played, the question remains: which team will ultimately emerge as the champion? Will it be India or South Africa?
