India vs South Africa, 30th Match, Super 12 Group 2 - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2022 Venue: Perth Stadium, Perth Date & Time: Oct 30, 07:00 PM LOCAL

Miller saw the chase through for South Africa © AFP

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All over! Statement victory for South Africa

There are probably fewer ways to show your title credentials than to beat a fellow favourite in the World CUp and do it this well! The bowlers did really well to keep India down to 133/5 despite Suryakumar's special innings and then once India's bowlers put the pressure back, the middle-order duo of Aiden Markram and David Miller delivered. They both got 50s, cranked up the scoring rate after the halfway stage and eventually capped off the chase in the final over. This will go down as a morale-boosting victory for South Africa, who began the WC with a washed out game and feelings of 'not again!' With this win they go top of the Group 2 points table.

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A match-up to watch early on...

Can Rohit Sharma up his SR against Rabada today? ©

Thoughts on team selections...

-Interesting from India, to drop their only left-hander in the line-up. Deepak Hooda as a sixth bowling option could be tricky too but he'll match up well against a left-hand dominated top-order.

- Ngidi coming back was a no-brainer at a venue where bounce is the currency.

TOSS: India opt to bat; Deepak Hooda in for Axar Patel. South Africa bring back Lungi Ngidi in place of Tabraiz Shamsi.

Prelude - Another Sunday blockbuster coming up?

It's hard to believe the India vs Pakistan clash enthralled us just a week ago. That game had it all - expectation, drama, anticipation, late twists and Virat Kohli playing protagonist. Early suggestions were this tournament couldn't possibly top that throbbing frenzy in the cauldron that was the MCG with 90,000 fans bouncing - most in joy, some in sheer despair. But, hold my coffee, says the World Cup in response. It's been a sensational tournament where Zimbabwe have stunned Pakistan, Ireland have edged past England amid rain and Bangladesh have clipped Zimbabwe's wings just today. If rain hadn't ruined a few games, perhaps, those would've turned into thrillers too, who knows?

So we now come to this Sunday then, where India take on South Africa. Why will this be a blockbuster, you ask? Well, India edged Pakistan and then thoroughly galloped past Netherlands to signal their intent in the tournament. South Africa meanwhile, had an unfortunate no-result against Zimbabwe just when they were at the cusp of victory in a rain-hit fixture but they too stamped their authority in the 104-run victory over Bangladesh.

These are two teams who walked into the tournament as favourites, and by end of Sunday, would've enhanced that reputation of theirs. Our man Kaushik writes how there's a different set of optics waiting in this fixture, in his match preview.