Kohli supreme as unbeaten India storms into World T20 finals
Virat Kohli – Sensational performance
By Kersi Meher-Homji
It was a night to remember. India chased down South Africa’s daunting total of 172 to win by six wickets with five balls remaining. What a thriller! Now India meets Sri Lanka in the all-Asian final at Dhaka in Bangladesh tomorrow (Sunday) night Australian time.
India is the only unbeaten team in the tournament so far, having won all five matches; the four matches before qualifying for the semi-final and the semi-final last night. In the qualifying rounds, Sri Lanka had lost to England and South Africa had lost to Sri Lanka.
India entered the semi-final by defeating Pakistan by 7 wickets, West Indies by 7 wickets, Bangladesh by 8 wickets and Australia by 73 runs.
There have been many heroes for India but none as sensational as Virat Kohli. In the current World T20, he has scored most number of runs, 242 at a Bradman-like average of 121.00. Next best is South Africa’s JP Duminy, 187 at 62.33.
India’s spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has the best average in the 2014 World T20, having taken 10 wickets so far at a marvellous average of 9.50.
Now to the nail-biting semi-final at Dhaka last night. South Africa won the toss and scored 4 for 172. Faf Du Plessis played a captain’s innings of 58 in 41 balls, with five fours and two sixes. Then JP Duminy took over smashing three sixes in his unbeaten 45 as South Africa totalled 4 for 172.
In between these tall hits, Ashwin bowled his carom ball deliveries with perfection and took 3 for 22 in four economical overs.
To score 173 against South Africa’s attack which included Dale Steyn was a daunting task but Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Ajankiya Rahane started aggressively, hitting 33 in three overs.
After their departure Kohli took over, belting an unbeaten and spectacular 72 off 44 balls, embellished with five fours and two sixes. He was well supported by Suresh Raina and India reached the winning target with five balls remaining.
If India wins on Sunday night, they will become the only country to win World T20 twice. India had won the inaugural competition in South Africa in 2007-08 beating Pakistan.
Pakistan was the champion in England in 2009 defeating Sri Lanka. England had won in Pakistan in 2010 beating Australia. The West Indians were the victors in Sri Lanka defeating the host nation in 2012-13.
So Sri Lanka has not won the World T20 even once although they have entered the final twice in the past. Will it be third time lucky for them? I wonder as to who the Bangladeshis would go for, India or Sri Lanka in the final.
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