India win eliminates hosts South Africa

Sep 20 : Hosts South Africa were eliminated from the Twenty20 World Cup after paceman Rudra Pratap Singh led India to a 37-run win in their Group E Super Eights match on Thursday.

Singh took four for 13 as South Africa made 116 for nine in reply to India's 153 for five.

"I don't think many people expected us to defend that score," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told a news conference.

"South Africa were among the sides who were scoring eight to 10 runs an over, and more at the end of the innings."

Saturday's semi-finals will now feature Pakistan against New Zealand in Cape Town and Australia versus India in Durban.

Man of the match Rohit Sharma (50 not out) and Dhoni (45) propped up India's total with a stand of 85 for the fifth wicket.

India, who won the toss and chose to bat, needed rescuing after losing three wickets for one run in four balls to slump to 33 for three.

South Africa, in reply, lurched to 12 for three and 31 for five before Mark Boucher (36) and Albie Morkel (36) shared a partnership of 69.

But Singh ended South Africa's hopes of scoring the 126 runs they needed to sneak into the semi-finals on net run-rate when he bowled Morkel in the 19th over.

"We do find ways to get knocked out of these tournaments," said skipper Graeme Smith. "It's a very quiet dressing room.

"There's a lot of disappointment knowing you've only lost one game and you're out, that does seem weird."

       
         

Your Ad Here