Kohli finishes it off. And he lets out a roar. What a knock under high pressure. What a chaser he is. This is like Yuvraj finishing that quarter-finals chase off against Australia. What release of pressure. He has soaked it all in, and ends it with a flick past midwicket
South Africa vs India, 2nd Semi-Final at Dhaka, , Apr 04 2014 - Ball by Ball Commentary
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Full commentary
All right. That was one tense match. You could see that tension on Kohli's face, and in how he exulted after every shot that came off. He nearly hurt Raina when he punched him after a four. The stat of the night is, Kohli faced just three dots. That is a champion batsman right there. So the final is set up. A repeat of the 50-over World Cup. India v Sri Lanka. Totally deserving finalists. A cracker this is going to be. Fun bringing this game to you. This is Sidharth Monga singing off. Cheers
"I thought we had batted excellently," says Faf du Plessis. "It was a very good score against a good attack on this wicket. Ash bowled really well. Credit to our batters to put up a good total. Runs on the board in the semi-final is what you ask for. The bad thing is, MS and his team know how to chase. They have done it many times. They pace their innings really well. Virat played a great innings. You have to credit. I thought we could have been better with the ball. The extras we conceded. If you have to win the World Cup, you have to get those one per-centers right. Unfortunately tonight, you can expect about five wides under pressure, but nine is too much. An up-and-down campaign for us. Our guys fought brilliantly, but India deserve to be in the final."
"There was a sense of calm in the dressing room when we went out to bat," says MS Dhoni. "Most of the thoughts were positive. Everybody saw that the wicket was better than those we have played on, and they believed they could chase this down. It is not just the self-belief, but the belief in each other that is crucial. There are not many who are as consistent as Virat. It is great to have him at No. 3. He grabs his opportunities. Something everyone needs to learn from him. Ashwin was brilliant. We kept him back for AB. We didn't want to give him pace. The least I could offer Virat was the winning shot so I played out the last ball of the 19th over without a run."
And Kohli talks a good game. Doesn't try to hide his emption. Doesn't try to hide how he works the game out. How honest to admit he was wary of Steyn bowling the last over. How educational to always thick of runs and overs to go. "Hundred in 10 overs sounds easier than 100 off 60 balls."
"Today was one of those days when I had to keep my cool," says Virat Kohli, the Man of the Match. "Against a world-class attack, with boundaries not coming, it wasn't coming. In Twenty20, I look at target in number of runs and overs to go, not runs and balls to go. Overs make it looks easier. I had to keep telling myself that I could make up later. I told Raina let's try to finish in the 19th over. We don't want to give Dale eight runs to defend in the final over. He can bowl six good yorkers. I wasn't feeling too good before this game, had some body weakness, so it is good to go out and let it all out (with that celebration)."
Oh what a finish. Virat Kohli does it again. South Africa wanted to take it deep, but Kohli calculated this chase perfectly, and took the odd risk at the right time. This is Kohli's time. He is making the most of it. Yuvraj Singh jumps out of the dugout, hugs Kohli, lifts him up in his arms. Kohli has to be one of the three best batsmen in the world today
India have never lost a semi-final under Dhoni. They win another. South Africa have now lost 10 of their 11 semi-finals. Were they too passive? Opening with Wayne Parnell. Not trying to take Kohli out early by bringing Steyn back on? Bowling Parnell to Raina when he just came in? They will look back at these moves and have sleepless nights
Srinivas Goud: ".... and Dhoni makes sure the chase goes into last over :)"
end of over 199 runs • 1 wicket
IND: 172/4CRR: 9.05 • RRR: 1.00
MS Dhoni0 (1b)
Virat Kohli68 (43b 4x4 2x6)
Beuran Hendricks 4-0-31-2
Dale Steyn 3-0-32-0
18.6
•
Hendricks to Dhoni, no run
slower short ball, Dhoni stand still, and leaves it for Kohli to finish with a defensive shot off the last ball
18.5
1
Hendricks to Kohli, 1 run
slower bouncer, Kohli shimmies down and pulls this to deep midwicket for one
18.4
4
Hendricks to Kohli, FOUR runs
and India don't even need Kohli. Short, waist high, poor bowling really at that pace. Pulled away for four through square leg
In comes MS Dhoni. If South Africa had any hopes going up with that wicket, they would have been crushed by the sight of the man coming in
18.3
W
Hendricks to Raina, OUT
Raina doesn't complete the job, but he has played his part. Short of a length, outside off, a nothing shot as he tries to clear mid-off, and ends up lobbing it to the man
Suresh Raina c du Plessis b Hendricks 21 (10b 3x4 1x6 15m) SR: 210
18.2
•
Hendricks to Raina, no run
slower bouncer, outside off, Raina doesn't want to have anything to do with it
South Africa kissing goodbye to their 10th semi-final. They have won only one in 10 tries before today
18.1
4
Hendricks to Raina, FOUR runs
short of a length, angling in, Raina gets inside the line, pulls it down, beats short fine leg
Chasing was supposed to have become difficult. South Africa had never lost after posting 166 or more. All that is about to change. Can South Africa find some magic here to prevent it?
end of over 1813 runs
IND: 163/3CRR: 9.05 • RRR: 5.00
Virat Kohli63 (41b 3x4 2x6)
Suresh Raina17 (7b 2x4 1x6)
Dale Steyn 3-0-32-0
Wayne Parnell 3-0-33-1
17.6
4
Steyn to Kohli, FOUR runs
this game is all over now. He shimmies down the wicket, gets inside and under a shortish delivery, and goes over point for four. This is some innings from Kohli
17.5
2
Steyn to Kohli, 2 runs
short of a length, angling in, pushed towards deep midwicket, Kohli puts pressure for the second, Amla misfields running in
17.4
•
Steyn to Kohli, no run
lovely outswinger, just outside off, Kohli looks to drive to cover, but is beaten by the movement away
17.3
4
Steyn to Kohli, FOUR runs
what wrists there from Kohli. How has he got that power with just a flick. On a length, middle and leg, and he has used that bottom hand to get this aerial shot wide of long-on. Kohli is pumped. Super pumped
17.2
1
Steyn to Raina, 1 run
makes room to cut, gets a single to third man
17.1
1
Steyn to Kohli, 1 run
short of a length, flicked away to deep midwicket for one
17.1
1w
Steyn to Kohli, 1 wide
and he starts with a wide. Is it getting to South Africa now? Down leg here
Steyn has to bowl this over
end of over 1717 runs
IND: 150/3CRR: 8.82 • RRR: 7.66
Suresh Raina16 (6b 2x4 1x6)
Virat Kohli52 (36b 1x4 2x6)
Wayne Parnell 3-0-33-1
Imran Tahir 4-0-30-1
16.6
•
Parnell to Raina, no run
yorker, on off, Raina keeps it out, but you would feel they have had the one over they needed
16.5
4
Parnell to Raina, FOUR runs
that's 14 off edges in this over. Raina is carrying edges of god here. Makes room, clearly late on the full ball, gets the inside edge to the right of the keeper. Kohli doesn't mind how they are coming. He is super pumped
16.4
4
Parnell to Raina, FOUR runs
two edges in one over, and Raina gets 10 off them. Poor choices from Parnell, though. Slower bouncer, but too wide, and the edge goes fine of third man
16.3
2
Parnell to Raina, 2 runs
wide yorker, Raina plays this well. He quirts it to the left of third man, comes back for two
16.2
6
Parnell to Raina, SIX runs
short ball with fine leg up, and too soft a short ball. Only ribs high. Pulled away over short fine leg for six. This is a top edge, but has gone the distance
16.2
1w
Parnell to Raina, 1 wide
this one is wide, though. Another slower ball. Too far outside off
16.1
•
Parnell to Raina, no run
bowls the slower short ball, Raina premeditates the move away from the stumps, leaves this alone. Looks for a wide call but this isn't
Back to 10 an over. In comes Raina. This could be to keep the right-left combination going. Parnell to bowl
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