Ahmedabad, Feb 22: Under the floodlights of Ahmedabad, memories of November 19, 2023 resurfaced for Indian fans. Much like the heartbreak against Australia in the ODI World Cup final, another unbeaten campaign came to a crashing halt on Sunday night.

South Africa snapped India’s 12-match winning streak in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, handing the hosts a crushing 76-run defeat in a high-stakes Super 8 clash. It was India’s first loss in the tournament since their 10-wicket semi-final defeat to England in the previous edition.

Clinical with the ball and ruthless with the bat, the Proteas outplayed India in all departments to deliver a commanding statement victory.

India’s Chase Unravels Early
Chasing 188, India’s innings faltered from the outset. Aiden Markram struck in the opening over with his off-spin to remove the in-form Ishan Kishan for a four-ball duck. Moments later, Marco Jansen dismissed Tilak Varma for 1 after a successful review confirmed an inside edge.

Suryakumar Yadav attempted to counterattack, striking two boundaries off Jansen, while Abhishek Sharma briefly injected momentum with a six off Kagiso Rabada and confident stroke play through the off-side.

However, Corbin Bosch swung the contest decisively. He first removed Abhishek for 15 and then accounted for Washington Sundar and Suryakumar in quick succession. India slumped to 51 for 5, with the captain scoring a laboured 18 off 22 balls.

The pressure only mounted. Hardik Pandya fell attempting to accelerate, while Rinku Singh departed for a two-ball duck. Keshav Maharaj tightened the screws further, leaving India with an improbable equation. The hosts were eventually bowled out well short, as South Africa sealed a 76-run win.

Miller, Brevis Power South Africa to 187
Earlier, South Africa posted 187 for 7 after recovering from a shaky start. Jasprit Bumrah delivered a masterclass with figures of 3 for 15 in four overs, supported by Arshdeep Singh’s 2 for 28. The duo reduced the Proteas to 20 for 3 inside four overs.

David Miller, on the eve of his 37th birthday, led the recovery with a blistering 63 off 35 balls. He found strong support from Dewald Brevis, who struck 45 off 29 deliveries. The pair added 97 runs in just 8.2 overs, shifting the momentum dramatically.

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Their calculated assault on Varun Chakravarthy proved pivotal, as they neutralised his variations and targeted the boundaries with precision.

Tristan Stubbs provided the late flourish, remaining unbeaten on 44 off 24 balls. He smashed two sixes off the final two deliveries of the innings to push South Africa beyond the 185 mark, giving the total a formidable edge.

Statement Win in Super 8 Stage
Despite Bumrah’s disciplined spell, India’s batting collapse proved costly. The defeat not only ended their unbeaten run but also served as a stark reminder of the fine margins in global tournaments.

For South Africa, the victory was emphatic — a complete performance that reaffirmed their credentials as serious contenders in the Super 8 stage.