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India beat South Africa by seven runs BARBADOS — India came back from the dead to break South African hearts in a thrilling T20 World Cup final at the Kensington Oval. After 11 long, trophy-less years, Rohit Sharma’s team somehow got over the line with a performance of nerve, skill and courage in the field to deny a South Africa team who were cruising to their target of 177 when with five overs left they needed just 30 to win with six wickets in hand. A brilliant innings of 52 from 27 deliveries by Heinrich Klaasen brought the Proteas to the brink of their first World Cup win.

But when he was dismissed by Hardik Pandya in the 17 th over, India jumped on their chance to crank up the pressure. Read Next Matthew Mott is out of his depth - now England should put him out of his misery With 16 needed from the final over and a set batter in David Miller on strike, South Africa were still very much in this. But India’s victory was all but sealed by a brilliant relay catch from Suryakumar Yadav off the first ball of the final over from Pandya – a piece of athleticism that will go down in cricketing folklore.



India have now broken their run of near misses in major tournaments, a team stung by defeat to Australia in last year’s 50-over World Cup final in Ahmedabad now celebrating their country’s first success on the world stage since the 2013 Champions Trophy. This is also their first World Cup since 2011. Having fallen at the semi-final stage in seven previous white-ball Wo.

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