Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni (in picture) added 40 runs for the sixth wicket in death overs © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
Colombo: Oct 2, 2012
India need to restrict South Africa to 121 to qualify for semi-finals as they reached a score of 152 runs for the loss of six wickets in the crucial encounter of Super Eights of World T20 at Colombo on Tuesday.
A late surge by Suresh Raina (45) and MS Dhoni (23*) helped India reach respectable total as the duo added 40 runs in the death overs.
Earlier, put in to bat first, India lost early wickets. Gautam Gambhir (8) was the first batsman to depart as Morne Morkel rattled his middle stump. Jacques Kallis made an immediate impact as he removed the in-form Virat Kohli (2) as the batsman was caught behind off a short ball.
Sehwag attacked spinner Robin Petersen as the bowler was hit in the stands off the second ball of his over. However the opener, in the haste of hitting another six, was clean bowled by the spinner the very next delivery.
Losing four wickets at the halfway mark, Raina and Rohit Sharma added 44 runs for the fourth wicket to push Indian score to a respectable total.
India needs to beat South Africa by huge margin if they need to qualify for the semi-finals as Pakistan have a better run rate after beating Australia earlier in the day by 32 runs.
Brief Scores: India 152 for 6 in 20 overs (Suresh Raina 45, Rohit Sharma 25, MS Dhoni 23*; Robin Petersen 2 for 25, Morne Morkel 2 for 28) vs South Africa
Catch the live score & ball-by-ball commentary of the India-South Africa clash here
ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2012: Match time table with group details
