All right. That was one tense match. You could see that tension on Kohli's face, and in how he exulted after every shot that came off. He nearly hurt Raina when he punched him after a four. The stat of the night is, Kohli faced just three dots. That is a champion batsman right there. So the final is set up. A repeat of the 50-over World Cup. India v Sri Lanka. Totally deserving finalists. A cracker this is going to be. Fun bringing this game to you. This is Sidharth Monga singing off. Cheers
"I thought we had batted excellently," says Faf du Plessis. "It was a very good score against a good attack on this wicket. Ash bowled really well. Credit to our batters to put up a good total. Runs on the board in the semi-final is what you ask for. The bad thing is, MS and his team know how to chase. They have done it many times. They pace their innings really well. Virat played a great innings. You have to credit. I thought we could have been better with the ball. The extras we conceded. If you have to win the World Cup, you have to get those one per-centers right. Unfortunately tonight, you can expect about five wides under pressure, but nine is too much. An up-and-down campaign for us. Our guys fought brilliantly, but India deserve to be in the final."
"There was a sense of calm in the dressing room when we went out to bat," says MS Dhoni. "Most of the thoughts were positive. Everybody saw that the wicket was better than those we have played on, and they believed they could chase this down. It is not just the self-belief, but the belief in each other that is crucial. There are not many who are as consistent as Virat. It is great to have him at No. 3. He grabs his opportunities. Something everyone needs to learn from him. Ashwin was brilliant. We kept him back for AB. We didn't want to give him pace. The least I could offer Virat was the winning shot so I played out the last ball of the 19th over without a run."
And Kohli talks a good game. Doesn't try to hide his emption. Doesn't try to hide how he works the game out. How honest to admit he was wary of Steyn bowling the last over. How educational to always thick of runs and overs to go. "Hundred in 10 overs sounds easier than 100 off 60 balls."
"Today was one of those days when I had to keep my cool," says Virat Kohli, the Man of the Match. "Against a world-class attack, with boundaries not coming, it wasn't coming. In Twenty20, I look at target in number of runs and overs to go, not runs and balls to go. Overs make it looks easier. I had to keep telling myself that I could make up later. I told Raina let's try to finish in the 19th over. We don't want to give Dale eight runs to defend in the final over. He can bowl six good yorkers. I wasn't feeling too good before this game, had some body weakness, so it is good to go out and let it all out (with that celebration)."
Oh what a finish. Virat Kohli does it again. South Africa wanted to take it deep, but Kohli calculated this chase perfectly, and took the odd risk at the right time. This is Kohli's time. He is making the most of it. Yuvraj Singh jumps out of the dugout, hugs Kohli, lifts him up in his arms. Kohli has to be one of the three best batsmen in the world today
India have never lost a semi-final under Dhoni. They win another. South Africa have now lost 10 of their 11 semi-finals. Were they too passive? Opening with Wayne Parnell. Not trying to take Kohli out early by bringing Steyn back on? Bowling Parnell to Raina when he just came in? They will look back at these moves and have sleepless nights
Srinivas Goud: ".... and Dhoni makes sure the chase goes into last over :)"
END OF OVER:19 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 172/4 (1 run required from 6 balls, RR: 9.05, RRR: 1.00)
- MS Dhoni0 (1b)
- Virat Kohli68 (43b)
- Beuran Hendricks4-0-31-2
- Dale Steyn3-0-32-0
In comes MS Dhoni. If South Africa had any hopes going up with that wicket, they would have been crushed by the sight of the man coming in
SK Raina c du Plessis b Hendricks 21 (15m 10b 3x4 1x6) SR: 210.00
South Africa kissing goodbye to their 10th semi-final. They have won only one in 10 tries before today
Chasing was supposed to have become difficult. South Africa had never lost after posting 166 or more. All that is about to change. Can South Africa find some magic here to prevent it?
END OF OVER:18 | 13 Runs | IND: 163/3 (10 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.05, RRR: 5.00)
- Virat Kohli63 (41b)
- Suresh Raina17 (7b)
- Dale Steyn3-0-32-0
- Wayne Parnell3-0-33-1
Steyn has to bowl this over
END OF OVER:17 | 17 Runs | IND: 150/3 (23 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.82, RRR: 7.66)
- Suresh Raina16 (6b)
- Virat Kohli52 (36b)
- Wayne Parnell3-0-33-1
- Imran Tahir4-0-30-1
Back to 10 an over. In comes Raina. This could be to keep the right-left combination going. Parnell to bowl
END OF OVER:16 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 133/3 (40 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 8.31, RRR: 10.00)
- Virat Kohli52 (36b)
- Imran Tahir4-0-30-1
- Dale Steyn2-0-19-0
Look at Donald on the sidelines. He is totally pumped
Yuvraj Singh c de Villiers b Imran Tahir 18 (24m 17b 2x4 0x6) SR: 105.88