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Ravichandran Ashwarne

Tweet report for the World T20 game between India and South Africa

Nitin Sundar
Nitin Sundar
04-Apr-2014
Following the rain and hail on the previous day, there was lots of weather speculation in the lead-up to India v South Africa.
The other point of discussion, of course, was South Africa's poor record in knock-out games.
At the toss chat, MS Dhoni let us know how he spent the four days between games. Discovering his inner self wasn't it.
South Africa came out punching. Quinton de Kock was out soon, but Hashim Amla opened up with some rousing strokes.
Mohit Sharma took some tap, and Dhoni persisted with him despite that. India struggled a bit in the field as well.
R Ashwin came on with India needing a wicket. And he produced it, landing a carrom ball on leg stump, and spinning it across Amla to hit off stump.
The wicket pegged South Africa back, and Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy took a while reviving the innings.
Du Plessis broke free with a few big hits off Amit Mishra who was having a rare off day.
From there, there was no looking back for du Plessis. Shoulders drooped among Indian supporters.
India needed a wicket, and Dhoni brought back his trump card.
Du Plessis fell to another carrom ball, which rolled onto the stumps off his body.
De Villiers meant business from the time he walked out. He played a reverse sweep from leg stump through backward point for four.
Mishra's troubles meant Suresh Raina bowled a full spell.
The frenetic action seemed to be getting to everyone.
Ashwin removed de Villiers too with a carrom ball, but South Africa finished well thanks to JP Duminy and David Miller. Mohit travelled again in the 20th over.
India needed 173 to enter the final. South Africa had never lost a T20 game after scoring 166 or more.
JP Duminy and Albie Morkel got the new ball, which surprised some.
Rohit Sharma kick-started the chase with some expansive strokes, including a six in Steyn's first over.
Fast bowlers hunt in packs they say. It helps if they all have the same hairstyle.
Rohit Sharma perished to a Hendricks slower ball that he spooned straight up for a simple catch.
Virat Kohli wasn't distracted by the hairstyles. He got going without a fuss, though Ajinkya Rahane struggled after starting well. Would spin do the trick for South Africa?
The pressure piled up on India, with Yuvraj Singh taking a while to find his shots.
Kohli and Yuvraj gradually turned it on.
Yuvraj perished in looking to take on Tahir, and Suresh Raina walked in ahead of his captain.
Raina got lucky in a Wayne Parnell over, with 14 runs coming off edges. Kohli, meanwhile, was looking invincible.
South Africa had gambled by keeping three Steyn overs for the end. The move backfired, as he had too few to play with. Raina perished after taking India to the brink. But Kohli stayed on to hit the winning runs in the final over.
And so, again, it's those two old adversaries, in blue and dark blue, who will play the final.
We'll save the remaining #IndvSL jokes for Sunday.
South Africa vs IndiaWorld T20

Nitin Sundar is a social media manager at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here

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