4.6 overs (1 Run) Misfield!
4.5 overs (0 Run) Angling across, on a length, around off, Axar Patel gets half-forward and taps it in front of cover.
4.4 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! A classy shot by Axar Patel to get off the mark. Too straight by Rabada, full and on the pads, Axar Patel lets the ball come to him and closes the face of his bat before clipping it past square leg. Opens his account with a boundary.
Axar Patel is sent up the order as India get rocked early here.
4.3 overs (0 Run) OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Kagiso Rabada gets in on the act now! A well-judged catch by Heinrich Klaasen and India have been rocked early here.
4.2 overs (1 Run) Quick single taken! Pitched by Rabada, on off, Virat Kohli presses forward and drives it to the left of mid off. Calls Suryakumar Yadav through for a quick single and the batters make it.
4.1 overs (1 Run) In and around the off-stump line, on a good length, Suryakumar Yadav waits on it and glides it down to deep third with an open bat face for a single.
3.6 overs (0 Run) Lands it fractionally short and outside off, Virat Kohli goes on the back foot and cuts it hard but straight to cover-point.
3.5 overs (0 Run) Attacks the stumps does Maharaj as he goes full, Virat Kohli strides ahead and nudges it to mid-wicket.
3.4 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Short and punished! Way too short by Maharaj and offers width as well on off, the ball spins away and Virat Kohli has to reach out. He does well as he slaps it hard and to the right of extra cover for a boundary.
3.3 overs (0 Run) Angled in again, short and around off, Virat Kohli gets on the back foot and defends it out on the off side.
3.2 overs (0 Run) Slants it in, short and on the off pole, Virat Kohli goes on the back foot and stabs it down the deck with a straight bat.
3.1 overs (2 Runs) Uppish but nicely in the gap! Keshav Maharaj gives it a bit more air and throws it wide of the off stump, Virat Kohli extends his arms, gets down on one knee and slaps it through the cover region for a couple of runs.
2.6 overs (2 Runs) Up and just over! Heart in mouth stuff for Suryakumar Yadav but he survives. Kagiso Rabada keeps it nice and full and slides it in from around middle, SKY tries to force the lofted shot and skies it off the toe end of the bat over a back-tracking Ryan Rickelton at wide mid on and picks up a brace.
Anrich Nortje has gone off the field probably with a niggle that he suffered while fielding a ball! Ryan Rickelton has come on as a substitute fielder and hopefully, Nortje is back on the field soon.
2.5 overs (0 Run) Pitches it up now to the new batter and bowls it at 141.4 KPH around off, Suryakumar Yadav looks to lean ahead but miscues the attempted drive towards cover.
2.4 overs (1 Run) Finally a run after three straight dot ball for Kohli. Just back of a length, in and around the off stump and sliding on, Virat Kohli stays back and punches it square and wide of point for one.
2.3 overs (0 Run) Rabada lands it full again, on off, Virat Kohli firms the drive but can't get it past the man at mid on.
2.2 overs (0 Run) Full and on off, Virat Kohli gets a good stride in and pushes it out to cover.
2.1 overs (0 Run) Rabada hits the deck hard and bowls it outside off, Virat Kohli is happy to leave the ball alone.
Suryakumar Yadav is the new batter in at the non-striker's end as Kagiso Rabada now comes into the attack.
1.6 overs (0 Run) OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Two in the over for Keshav Maharaj! Just the kind of over South Africa needed after an expensive first over from Jansen. Maharaj loops it up nicely, on a fullish length, on off, Rishabh Pant reaches out in front as he looks to take it on the full and execute the sweep. Ends up getting a top edge on it and it balloons behind the wicket towards the keeper, Quinton de Kock who turns around and grabs it. Pant stands his group and the two umpires converge. They send it upstairs to check for a bump ball. The third umpire looks at a couple of angles, first front on and then side on and confirms that the ball had come straight off the top edge and at no point did the ball make any contact with the turf.
Is that out? Quinton de Kock takes the catch and reckons Rishabh Pant is a goner here. The two umpires come together and have a chat regarding a bump ball and then go upstairs. The third umpire is called in and on first review it looks like it went straight off the cue end of the bat and it is concrete evidence. OUT comes up on the big screen!
1.5 overs (0 Run) This is a bit short and turning in, on off, Rishabh Pant hangs back and dabs it to backward point.
Rishabh Pant walks in at number 3.
1.4 overs (0 Run) OUT! STRAIGHT TO THE FIELDER! Keshav Maharaj has the final laugh here and gives a much-needed early strike for South Africa. Maharaj stays around the wicket and keeps it full, outside off and slows it up as well. Rohit Sharma knows that square leg is inside the circle and shuffles across to play it past the man on the edge of the ring. He has to fetch the sweep shot and ends up hitting it uppishly toward Heinrich Klaasen there who dives low to his left and takes a safe catch.
1.3 overs (0 Run) Tosses it up, full and on off, Rohit Sharma gets on the front foot and pats it straight to cover.
1.2 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! In complete control this time! Maharaj spears it in and attacks the stumps with a fuller delivery, Rohit Sharma pulls out the reverse paddle and plays it along the ground. Gets it to the right of first slip and well wide of short third for four more runs.
1.1 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Slightly streaky but they all count! Maharaj lands it on a nagging length, darted in, on off, Rohit Sharma goes for the cut but gets an outside edge that flies past first slip and beats short third to his left for a boundary.
Spin straightaway as Keshav Maharaj comes in from the opposite end.
0.6 over (4 Runs) FOUR! Quality shot! Three boundaries in the first over of the final. Jansen lands it a bit too full, at the stumps, Virat Kohli springs on the front foot and shows the full face of the bat. Drives it firmly back past the bowler and splits the mid off and mid on fielders. Anrich Nortje gives it a chase and slides but the ball wins the race. A rollicking start for India, 15 off the first over!
0.5 over (0 Run) Drags the length back does Jansen and serves it in the channel on off, Virat Kohli watchfully shoulders arms and Quinton de Kock collects it in front of his face.
0.4 over (2 Runs) Hurls it full and slanting away, on off, Virat Kohli leans on it and times the drive to the left of mid off for a couple of runs more.
0.3 over (4 Runs) FOUR! This time to the other side but the result is the same! Virat Kohli is up and running with back-to-back boundaries. Jansen overcooks as he tries to go full in search of swing, on middle and leg, Virat Kohli stays balanced in his crease and flicks it past square leg for four more runs.
0.2 over (4 Runs) FOUR! Gloriously done! Angled across, on a length, outside off, Virat Kohli extends his hands and just angles the face of his bat perfectly to steer it between cover and point for the first boundary of the final.
0.1 over (1 Run) Rohit Sharma and India are underway! Jansen charges in from over the wicket with a leg slip in place and pitches it right up to the batter, on middle, Rohit Sharma gets his bat down and jams it out to the right of mid on for a single.
Done and dusted with the pre-match proceedings! The official mascots for the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup, Blaze and Tonk light up the screens and that marks the sign of the beginning of the end. The two umpires make their way out to the middle and take their positions followed by the players of South Africa who spread out on the field. It will be the skipper, Rohit Sharma who will open the innings alongside Virat Kohli as usual for India. Marco Jansen has the new ball in hand and is raring to go against Rohit just as he did last year in the ODI World Cup. Let's play...
We are minutes away from the start of an epic encounter between two quality sides and there are high stakes here. But first, that coveted T20 World Cup Trophy is brought out to be showcased by the honorable Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley and 'the Universe Boss' aka Chris Gayle. Next up, the two sets of players make their way out to the middle along with their mascots and line up for their respective national anthems and it will be extra special given it is a monumental occasion. It will be the national anthem of India first, followed by that of South Africa.
PITCH REPORT - Nasser Hussain is pitchside. He starts by saying that there is a 30 percent chance of rain but hopefully, it stays away and it is the central pitch that will be used for the Final. Adds that there is a short boundary on one side of the square around 56 meters and 71 meters on the other side. Ian Bishop says that the rolling has been done nicely on the pitch and there isn't live grass. Reckons the pitch is hard and adds that there have been more wickets for seamers at this venue than any other venue in the West Indies. Says that the reason for this is that when pacers go into the pitch here, it gets hard to hit down the ground.
The captain of South Africa, Aiden Markram says that they would have batted first as well. Tells that the pitch looks dry but they will have the first crack with the ball and they hope to do well. Shares that at times, they have managed to do well despite being not at their best and they have taken confidence from those wins. Feels that having never played a final in a Men's ICC event, there is no pressure on them and this is a fantastic opportunity. Informs that they are playing with the same team as the last game.
Rohit Sharma, the captain of India says that it looks like a good pitch and they have played one game here. Mentions that it is about individual roles and it is all about keeping calm and taking it like just another game against a world-class team. Adds that South Africa have played excellent cricket and so have they, which will make it a great contest. Further adds that it is all about coming together as a unit and ends by informing that they have made no changes to the side.
India (Unchanged Playing XI) - Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.
South Africa (Unchanged Playing XI) - Quinton de Kock (WK), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (C), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
TOSS - The flip of the coin lands in the favour of Rohit Sharma. India have opted to BAT first.
For those of you wondering about the current weather conditions, we are happy to inform you that it is bright and sunny in Bridgetown at the moment. The players are going through their warm-ups and the toss and first ball should take place on time, barring any sudden showers.
With challenging surfaces on offer throughout the World Cup, the team that has adapted quicker and better has often come out on top, and that should be the case again in the final. The overhead conditions will be just as important with the possibility of rain. For the final, a reserve day has been allocated, so there will be 190 minutes of extra time before the overs are reduced. It was 250 minutes of extra time for the semifinal between England and India due to there being no reserve day. India are seeking their second Men's T20 World Cup title, while South Africa are chasing their first, be it ODI or T20. Who will reign supreme? Come, let's find out.
On the other hand, after seven previous unsuccessful attempts, South Africa have finally reached their first-ever Men's World Cup final. Game after game, the Proteas have found ways to pull through, and now they stand on the cusp of shedding the unwanted 'chokers' tag once and for all. With both bat and ball, the Aiden Markram-led unit has been thoroughly tested throughout their campaign, but their toughest challenge awaits, and they expect nothing less. In 2014, Aiden Markram led South Africa to their first-ever Under-19 World Cup title, and now, 10 years later, he has the opportunity to achieve silverware with the senior team. The stage is set for Markram and his men to create history and bring the much-awaited glory to South African cricket.
Unbeaten as they were a few months ago at the ODI World Cup before faltering at the final hurdle, India have glory in their sights once again. Rohit Sharma and his team are determined to end the wait of more than a decade for an ICC trophy and give their head coach, Rahul Dravid, a fitting farewell. The Men in Blue have enjoyed pretty straightforward games throughout the tournament barring a close contest against rivals Pakistan before being tested with the bat against the USA as well and they will remain wary of the formidable threat posed by their opponents. Since the semifinal debacle against England in 2022, Rohit Sharma has been the driving force behind India's 'no holds barred' batting approach. Now, he stands just one step away from completing a remarkable redemption arc.
The day of reckoning has arrived! It's the day of the final of the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The journey of the sport's biggest-ever event, which began with 20 teams, has reached its climax. After weeks of exhilarating cricket, 18 teams have fallen, and now only two remain in the quest for ultimate glory. India and South Africa stand on the brink of immortality, and only the stronger will etch their name in cricketing history. Whichever team wins, one thing is certain - history will be made, as no team has ever gone unbeaten to clinch a Men's T20 World Cup title. With that, hello and welcome from Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, which is all decked up to host the summit clash.
... MATCH DAY ...
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