All’s well that ends well

THE climax of the ICC Men’s Cricket T20 World Cup 2024 was fascinating and dramatic. The conclusion of the first glossy tournament that included the USA and the West Indies as co-hosts was melodramatic, with tears flowing from players of both teams, after India squeezed to a victory over South Africa by just seven runs.

The USA, in their first venture as hosts to an international competition in a sport in which they are still wet behind the ears, get full marks for their effort. This should augur well for the event’s future development, as the keenness shown by players and spectators will surely encourage growth through the application of intuition and employing knowledgeable coaches.

It was also pleasing to witness the appearances of Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Namibia, Oman, Nepal and others, surely recognising the strides Afghanistan made to reach the quarter-final in a World Cup.

This is a very positive sign for many countries that are enjoying and loving the game and willing to start off their youngsters in their schools, while opening them up to competition. For the sake of cricket and its growth in the future this WC is a blessing.

The television audience was huge throughout the world of cricket lovers, from the UK, India, Pakistan, the West Indies, and other cricket nations: through the billion and more TV witnesses, there will even be a deeper interest in the game of cricket.

The 20-over game will attract them, but will act only as a starter, since the players will certainly come to understand that to improve their skills in all the aspects necessary – for instance batting technique, bowling proficiency, fielding and wicket-keeping abilities – will require playing in the longer format of the sport.

Their eagerness to learn, plus their aptitude to be valuable to their team’s purpose, will produce the satisfaction they seek, if only to play the shorter forms of the game.

The final was a game that swung from one team to the other. Rohit Sharma, the captain and one of the most prolific batsmen on the Indian side, after winning the toss and deciding to bat first, was soon out for nine, to be followed by Rishabh Pant for a duck.

Both were victims of Keshav Maharaj, a left-arm orthodox spinner. In no time at all SA were on top. Suryakumar Yadav was then swiftly removed by fast bowler Kagiso Rabada so that the scoreline quickly became 34 for three.

This was the powerful India batting lineup that was crumbling. But notice had to be taken that India’s best batsman, Virat Kohli, was still at the wicket. However, this champion batsman’s performances had not been up to par in the series and the consideration was whether he should open in the final or be used in the middle order.

Still, class is class and the stubborn reliance on Kohli to open finally paid off, whereupon, he influenced his willing partners Axar Patel and Shivam Dube, who got 27 from 16 deliveries. Patel was unfortunately run out for 47 by a smart piece of fielding by SA’s wicketkeeper, Quinton de Kock. He batted well and a deserved 50 was just three runs away.

All this time Kohli soldiered on, until he surrendered to a catch on the boundary by Ramada off Marco Jansen for 76. He won the Player of the Match award for his well-played innings. India got to 176 for seven, a sound recovery after being 34 for three.

SA stumbled at the start and in no time the scoreboard showed 12 for two. De Kock, a left-handed batsman, was batting beautifully, along with right-handed Tristan Stubbs. The batting was on top after 8.5 overs when Stubbs was bowled for 31, playing an awful stroke, trying to sweep from outside the off-stump, leaving his stumps exposed, and was comprehensively bowled. A lack of perception. Seventy for three.

De Kock went for 39, a good innings. The score was then 106 for four. Heinrich Klaasen, after a superb innings of 52, stretched too far for a slower one from Hardik Pandya and was caught behind.

So SA, from a winning position, managed to manufacture a loss, the last four wickets collapsing in a heap, closing at 169/8 and losing a tough game by seven runs.

And so, after the ups and downs of the series, with its terrible pitches, the disappointing semi-finals et al, the final was superb.