India win T20 World Cup title, defeat South Africa by seven runs in final

BARBADOS: The Indian team led by Rohit Sharma beat South Africa by seven runs to lift the Twenty20 World Cup title for the second time. Chasing India's target of 177, South Africa could manage to score only 169 for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.

For India, Hardik Pandya took three wickets, while Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets each. Heinrich Klaasen, who scored 52 runs, is South Africa's top scorer in the final.

Scores: India 176/7 (Virat Kohli-76, Axar Patel 47; Keshav Maharaj 2-23), South Africa 169/8 (Heinrich Klaasen 52, Quinton de Kock 39; Hardik Pandya 3-20, Jasprit Bumrah 2-18).

A fine exhibition of death bowling by trio of Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya and stupendous knocks by Virat Kohli and Axar Patel helped India end their ICC trophy drought.

India won the toss and opted to bat first. After being reduced to 34/3, a counter-attacking partnership between Virat (76) and Axar Patel (47 in 31 balls, with one four and four sixes) of 72 runs restored India's position in the game. A 57-run stand between Virat and Shivam Dube (27 in 16 balls, with three fours and a six) took India to 176/7 in their 20 overs. Keshav Maharaj (2/23) and Anrich Nortje (2/26) were the top bowlers for SA. Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram took a wicket each.

In the run chase of 177 runs, Proteas was reduced to 12/2 and then a 58-run partnership between Quinton de Kock (39 in 31 balls, with four boundaries and a six) and Tristan Stubbs (31 in 21 balls, with three fours and a six) brought back SA into the game. A half-century by Heinrich Klaasen (52 in 27 balls, with two fours and five sixes) threatened to take the game away from India. However, Arshdeep Singh (2/18), Jasprit Bumrah (2/20) and Hardik (3/20) made a fine comeback in death overs, keeping SA to 169/8 in their 20 overs.