There is no other phrase to use: South Africa choked. They had this T20 World Cup final in their control heading into the final four overs of a heavyweight clash which fully lived up to its billing.
They were chasing the biggest first-innings score posted in one of these finals of 176, it is true; but, at 151 for four, they needed only 26 from 24 balls. Heinrich Klaasen was playing magnificently, unbeaten on 52 from 26, and had hit India like the incoming Tropical Storm Beryl.
Two of those final overs, too, had to be bowled by Hardik Pandya, the weak link in India’s seam attack. Before anything more happened, though, there was a delay while Rishabh Pant took treatment on his knee —
