COLOMBO: Former champions India beat South Africa by one run yesterday but still crashed out of the World Twenty20 as Pakistan went through to the semifinals by virtue of a higher run rate.
India made 152-6 in their 20 overs and needed to restrict South Africa to 121 runs or less to reach the last four at Pakistan’s expense. In the event they bowled their opponents out for 151 in a narrow but academic victory.
Pakistan will meet host Sri Lanka in the first semifinal in Colombo tomorrow while Australia, who went through on run rate despite losing to Pakistan, will play West Indies on Friday.
Faf du Plessis led the South African reply with an aggressive 65, studded with two towering sixes and six boundaries off just 38 balls.
When he fell in the 13th over with 58 runs were still needed but India’s bowlers led by Zaheer Khan (3-22) kept their nerve to record their second win in three Super Eights encounters.
South Africa, who had lost both of their two earlier matches in the round of eight, needed 14 off the last Lakshmipathy Balaji over. Albie Morkel hit a six off the first ball but was bowled off the second.
Morne Morkel also hit a six off the fourth ball but Balaji snatched the win when he bowled the last man with a full-length delivery, ending on figures of 3-37.
India owed their total of 152-6 to Suresh Raina’s 45. Raina hit five boundaries during his 34-ball knock and added 44 for the fifth wicket with Rohit Sharma who made 25.
India were off to a disastrous start as opener Gautum Gambhir was bowled by Morne Morkel in the fourth over for eight, before the in-form Virat Kohli was caught behind off a rising delivery from Jacques Kallis for two in the next.
It became 36-3 when Peterson bowled Virender Sehwag for 17, after the Indian opener hit him for a big six a ball earlier. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni chipped in with a quick 13-ball 23 with three boundaries.
Morkel finished with 2-28 while Peterson took 2-25.
Pakistan made 149-6 after being sent in to bat in the group two Super Eights match at the Premadasa stadium, before a five-man spin attack restricted Australia to 117-7.
Prolific spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed 3-17, but it was 20-year-old Raza Hasan who was declared man of the match for conceding just 14 runs and taking two wickets in four overs of steady left-arm spin.
Both teams ended the Super Eights on four points each, which knocked winless South Africa out of the tournament.
“I am grateful to see the effort put up by the boys today,” said Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez. “It was a big game for us and we needed to be at our best against a side like Australia. “Once we got a good total, we knew we will do well because there was going to be help for the bowlers. Raza Hasan was brilliant, a great find for us.”
Australia advanced to the semi-finals despite the defeat due to having the best net run-rate in the group. “Pakistan outplayed us,” Australian captain George Bailey admitted. “The ball turned a lot more than before and they used spin against us very well.
“The challenge for us now will be to get the winning form back in the semis.”
Veteran Mike Hussey was Australia’s mainstay with an unbeaten 54 off 47 balls, as none of the other batsmen managed to cross 15 against the rampaging spinners.
Australia never looked comfortable after their in-form openers, Shane Watson and David Warner, were dismissed by the fifth over with only 19 runs on the board.
Australia, who needed to make 112 or more to qualify, achieved the target when Hussey cut seamer Umar Gul to the fence off the first ball of the final over.
Gul’s two overs at the end were the only ones by a seamer as the spinners shared 18 overs between themselves.