South Africa National Cricket Team Vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Final T20 2024

April 21, 2025 By Michael S. Davis No Comments 7 minutes

The final match between South Africa and India surprised the viewers. It seemed an easy win to South Africa because the 30-30 equation, too, with 6 wickets in the pocket, is a thumping win. But we are talking about cricket, right? Tables can turn at any second. And that is what happened with SA.

A Glimpse of Both Innings Of the South Africa Vs India Final T20 Match

India chose to bat- choosing batting first is always a wise decision

The final of the T20 World Cup 2024 at Barbados’ Kensington Oval was a complete thriller that left the fans gasping until the last ball. India, who were sent to bat, got off to a woeful start, losing three wickets in the powerplay within 34 runs on the board. But then came the rescue performance – Virat Kohli, the great chaser, went into anchor mode with a mature 76 off 59 balls, as Axar Patel played a blinder of a counter-attacking performance (47 off 31). They added 72 runs in their partnership to steady the ship before Shivam Dube’s late-kick contribution (27 off 16) took India to a competitive 176/7.

South Africa became the victim of India’s fierce bowling line

South Africa’s pursuit was a rollercoaster ride. Quinton de Kock (39) and Tristan Stubbs (31) laid a good foundation before Heinrich Klaasen lost all sense of reason with a 23-ball 52, which contained five huge sixes. At 151/4 in the 17th over with Klaasen on fire, South Africa appeared the favorites. But then the momentum shifted – Hardik Pandya sent the lethal Klaasen back, and Jasprit Bumrah bowled two wizardly death overs, giving away merely six runs. The pressure was told as South Africa were short by 7 runs, Pandya picking two more wickets in the last over to trigger mad Indian celebrations.

A Quick Overview Of The Final T20 2024

South Africa National Cricket Team Vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Overview

Just a quick overview of the scorecard, highlighting the top performers and key bowlers from both squads.

India Innings: 176/7 (20 Overs)

Top Performers:

Key Bowlers for SA:

• • Anrich Nortje: 4-0-26-2
  • Keshav Maharaj: 3-0-23-2
  • Kagiso Rabada: 4-0-36-1

Powerplay (0.1-6 Overs): 45 runs, 3 wickets

South Africa Innings: 169/8 (20 Overs)

Top Performers:

Key Bowlers for India:

• • Jasprit Bumrah: 4-0-18-2 (Economy 4.50)
  • Arshdeep Singh: 4-0-20-2 (Economy 5.00)
  • Hardik Pandya: 3-0-20-3 (Economy 6.70)

Powerplay (0.1-6 Overs): 42 runs, 2 wickets

Turning Points:

1. Kohli-Axar Partnership: Recovered India from 34/3 to 106/4.
2. Klaasen’s Explosive Knock: Brought SA close, but Hardik Pandya dismissed him at a crucial stage.
3. Bumrah’s Death Overs: Gave away just 6 runs in his last two overs, sealing the game.

How South Africa Parked the victory bus… then set it on fire. What Happened in The Last 5 Overs?

Klaasen’s Explosive Fifty Ended by Hardik’s Masterstroke

South Africa had things under control and despite staying ahead with 25 runs compared to India which was 126-4 at this stage, it appeared as winning before the team. But the momentum broke suddenly with a slow delivery by Hardik. So, it was all fun and games until Heinrich Klaasen, on strike, after a successful fifty with 2 fours and 5 sixes from 27 balls, was sent to the pavilion.

The pressure was immense as the equation is now 24 runs off 20 balls. There is still a chance one might assume, and as it seemed. The South African crowd was seen biting their nails after a successful partnership came to an end.

Bumrah’s Magic – Wickets & Dot Balls

17^th over began, and so began the dots. Bumrah’s amazing bowling put the batsmen on strike, Jansen and Miller, under pressure. The score was now 155-5 (17) overs, runs required 22 off 17, the pressure kept increasing.  And with that being said, another wicket is down on 21 off 15 balls. Bumrah’s magic worked as if he were talking to the ball, and the stumps were shattered. Once again, the Bharti crowd is swinging in joy, and South Africa’s completely shattered like the stumps.

Arshdeep Tightens the Noose

So, the score is now 157-6 (18) overs, runs required 20 off 11 balls, tension all around with Maharaja on strike. Arshdeep with the ball in his hands, all set to tear down the wickets. Bowled the last ball, and here we go, the pressure so intense. Arshdeep’s perfect delivery gave him the ball in hand, and that made the score 161-6 (19) overs. 16 runs required off 6 balls, and now dreaming about the final trophy felt almost impossible for South Africa.

Hardik’s Death-Over Heroics

The last over was a rollercoaster, Hardik’s amazingly calculated delivery making Miller hit all the force and go for a 6, but ended up in Surya’s hand. It was a mind-blowing catch, an impossible one. If missed, it would have given South Africa 6 runs. But Surya’s presence of mind was truly surprising. The catch was done twice, as it was close to the boundary, so he had to throw the ball in the air so that it could be caught within the boundary line. This turned the game upside down for SA, leaving Miller flabbergasted. After much discussion between the two Empires, it was finally announced a wicket. So, now the score was 161-7 (19.1) overs.

Rabada’s Last Hope – A Flicker of Chance

The last 5 balls are left, and two massive wickets are taken by Hardik, helping India win with their eyes closed. Well, South Africa still had 3 wickets in their hands, and luck could have been on their side after Kagiso Rabada hit the boundary, leaving the score to 12 off 4 balls. Just a few boundaries would have brought victory; two 6s or three 4s were the need of the hour.

Surya’s Jaw-Dropping Catch

10 from 2, still a chance but a rare win. Not a victory you usually get to see, and cherry on top, a wide ball lowers the number with 9 runs and 2 balls. Unfortunately, in aiming to hit a boundary, Kagiso Rabada was out, once again Surya Kumariya caught the ball in action, leaving the score at an impossible win.

India Seals the Victory – Crowd Erupts

9 runs 1 ball, score 168-8, India was now one delivery away. The celebrations and jumping have already begun among the crowd, and on the opposite side, South Africans are leaving their seats. The last bowl was in the air, and that’s how India sealed their victory like a walk in the park.

When the Pressure Crumbles: How South Africa Lost Their Nerve

This is how a cricket match takes a turn; a simple win ended up badly. Exactly when the moment demanded steel nerves, South Africa cracked. Klaasen’s dismissal opened the floodgates, and under the suffocating pressure of Bumrah’s yorkers and Pandya’s variations, the South Africa squad folded like a house of cards in the final three overs.

You see how tough and bold the Indian Squad is? They are never under pressure but make the opponent lose their mind when it’s the second inning and its bowling time. Each Indian bowler is a craftmanship of skills and talent that keeps them in the senses even at the nail-biting moments.

Summing up

It was a final that had it all – wickets early, a middle-order rearguard, explosive hitting, death bowling, nerve-wracking, and finally, India’s experience of winning in close situations proved telling. Kohli’s anchoring greatness, Klaasen’s explosive appearance, Bumrah’s accuracy of yorkers, and Pandya’s timely bowling all together added up to making an instant classic that would be remembered for years to come. Ultimately, India kept their nerve to take the trophy home in what could possibly be the most exciting T20 World Cup final ever to have been contested.