What is the lowest team total by South Africa in T20 World Cup history?
In a thrilling clash during the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, India played South Africa in a group stage match that had cricket fans on the tip of their seats. On September 20, 2007, this match was played at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, South Africa, and not only featured the power-packed excitement of T20 cricket, but it also saw South Africa score their lowest ever team total in the history of the T20 World Cup.
From the start, it was clear that both sides were ready to make their mark on the event. India, captained by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, won the toss and decided to bat first. What followed was a display of pure genius by Indian batsman Rohit Sharma, whose blazing knock altered the direction of the game.
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In his calculated innings, Rohit hammered the South African bowlers all over the park, scoring 50 runs off only 40 balls and remaining unbeaten. India’s score of 153/5 in their allotted 20 overs set a decent target for South Africa on a challenging pitch.
However, the Indian bowlers were equally keen to protect their total and delivered a disciplined performance. The bowling attack of the men in blue was led by RP Singh, a left-arm fast bowler, who dismissed four South African batters and broke the backbone of their batting.
As wickets fell at regular intervals, South Africa struggled to form partnerships and keep momentum. The pressure applied by the Indian bowlers was eventually too much for the South African batting lineup to withstand. South Africa could make only 116 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their quota of 20 overs, their lowest team score in ICC T20 World Cup history.
India’s dominant victory of 37 runs not only clinched a critical win in the competition but also demonstrated their superiority in the game’s shortest format. It was a remarkable performance that showcased Indian cricket’s lightning skill and intense competitive nature.
Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh also took two wickets each in the match, but the player of the match was the youngster, Rohit Sharma, for his sensational innings.
