Date: September 25th, 2012.
Location: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Event: ICC World Twenty20, Super Eights - India vs South Africa.
The Super Eights of the 2012 World T20 had arrived, transforming the humid, coastal air of Colombo into a pressure cooker. Tonight's fixture was a clash of titans: the reigning ODI World Champions against the perennial powerhouses of world cricket, South Africa. The Proteas, carrying their notoriously formidable pace attack, were hungry to dismantle the Indian batting machine.
In the Star Sports studio overlooking the expansive green outfield, the experts were dissecting the upcoming battle.
Pre-Match Commentary (Harsha Bhogle, Ravi Shastri, & Kepler Wessels):
Harsha Bhogle: "A very warm welcome to the R. Premadasa Stadium. The Super Eights are where pretenders are separated from contenders. Tonight, it is India taking on South Africa. Ravi, the Indian playing XI remains unchanged from their previous triumphant outings. They are sticking to their guns."
Ravi Shastri: "If it ain't broke, Harsha, don't fix it. The combination of Rohit and Virat at the top, followed by Siddanth Deva at number three, is working like a dream. But tonight, they face the ultimate litmus test. Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Jacques Kallis. This is not a bowling attack; this is an artillery unit."
Kepler Wessels: "From a South African perspective, the plan will be heavily centered around raw pace. The Colombo pitch has been under the covers due to some passing showers earlier this afternoon. There is a distinct layer of moisture on the surface. If AB de Villiers wins the toss, he will undoubtedly bowl first. They will want Steyn and Morkel to exploit the early swing and bounce."
Harsha Bhogle: "Let's head down to the middle. MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers are ready for the toss with Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle."
The Toss:
The coin spun high into the floodlit sky.
"Tails," AB de Villiers called.
The coin landed and settled. Tails it was.
AB de Villiers: "We are going to have a bowl first. The wicket has been under the covers, and it looks a bit tacky. We want our fast bowlers to get the first bite of the cherry. We have a world-class pace attack, and we want to put the Indian top order under immediate pressure."
MS Dhoni: "We would have bowled first as well, considering the moisture. But in these big tournaments, putting runs on the board is never a bad thing. The pitch will ease out. We are playing the same XI. Rohit and Virat will open the innings for us."
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Siddanth Deva (vc), Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c/wk), Irfan Pathan, R. Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Pragyan Ojha.
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The umpires called "Play." Dale Steyn, his eyes wide and veins popping, marked his run-up. The Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, walked out to the middle, greeted by a massive roar from the traveling 'Bharat Army'.
The Indian strategy was clear: survive the initial onslaught, blunt the new ball, and lay a foundation.
Over 1: Dale Steyn to Rohit Sharma
Steyn started with a 148 kmph outswinger. Rohit, displaying immense discipline, shouldered arms.
0.4: Steyn went fuller, angling it into the pads. Rohit flicked his wrists effortlessly, guiding the ball to the deep square-leg boundary.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"Whipped away! The first boundary of the night! Rohit Sharma uses the extreme pace of Steyn, just a mere flick of the wrists, and it races to the fence!"(FOUR)
Over 3: Morne Morkel to Virat Kohli
Morkel's steep bounce from a good length was immediately troublesome. The ball was skidding off the damp surface.
2.2: Morkel banged it in short. Kohli rolled his wrists and pulled it fiercely in front of square.
[Commentary - Kepler Wessels]:"Cracked! Kohli is so strong off the back foot. He rides the bounce beautifully and dispatches it. India is off to a solid, watchful start."(FOUR)
The openers navigated the hostile spells of Steyn and Morkel with grit. They didn't take undue risks, ticking the scoreboard over with quick singles and capitalizing on anything slightly loose.
Over 4: Albie Morkel to Rohit Sharma
Rohit drove a full delivery elegantly through the covers.
[Commentary - Harsha Bhogle]:"Picture perfect! The lazy elegance of Rohit Sharma. It's like he has an extra fraction of a second to play the ball."(FOUR)
By the middle of the 5th over, India had reached 38/0. It was a brilliant, mature start against a terrifying attack.
But the South African captain had a plan. He brought Morne Morkel back into the attack.
Over 5: Morne Morkel to Virat Kohli4.3: Morkel hit the deck hard. The ball pitched on a length on the off-stump line and seamed back in sharply off a crack. Kohli, looking to punch it off the back foot through the covers, was cramped for room. The extra bounce caught the inside edge of the bat, ballooning up.
Wicketkeeper AB de Villiers leaped forward and took a stunning one-handed catch.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"EDGED AND TAKEN! A spectacular catch by the captain! Morne Morkel gets the breakthrough South Africa desperately needed! The extra bounce does the trick. Virat Kohli departs for a well-made 17. The opening stand is broken!"
WICKET (Virat Kohli 17). India 38/1.
A hush fell over the Indian supporters, but it was quickly replaced by a deafening chant.
"DE-VA! DE-VA! DE-VA!"
Siddanth Deva, adjusted his helmet, his eyes scanning the aggressive field set by de Villiers. Slips, gully, a short leg. The Proteas were going for the kill.
Deva met Rohit mid-pitch.
"It's zipping around off the seam, Sid," Rohit warned, wiping sweat from his brow. "Morkel is getting steep bounce. Stay low."
"I'll use the depth of the crease," Deva replied, "You keep rotating."
Over 6 (End of Powerplay): Dale Steyn to Siddanth Deva
Steyn was brought back to welcome his former IPL teammate. Steyn flashed a brief, wicked smirk before turning to his mark.
5.4: Steyn bowled a 150 kmph yorker. Deva jammed his bat down, digging it out to mid-on. Steyn paused on his follow-through, glaring down the pitch. Deva stared right back, emotionless.
5.5: Steyn went short, aiming for the badge on the helmet. Deva swayed out of the line gracefully, his eyes tracking the ball into the keeper's gloves.
5.6: Steyn went wide outside off. Deva leaned in and punched it crisply past point for a single.
Powerplay Score: India 48/1.
Over 8: Johan Botha to Rohit Sharma
Spin was introduced to control the run rate. Rohit saw an opportunity to accelerate.
7.3: Rohit stepped out, got to the pitch of the ball, and lofted it inside-out over extra cover.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Glorious! Rohit Sharma is looking in sublime touch tonight! He clears the infield with ease. One bounce over the ropes!"(FOUR)
Deva and Rohit were building a steady, calming partnership. They added 30 runs, neutralizing the South African attack. Rohit was batting on 25 and looking set for a big one.
But then, disaster struck in the 9th over.
Over 9: Jacques Kallis to Rohit Sharma8.2: Kallis, the veteran all-rounder, bowled a heavy, cross-seam delivery that stopped slightly on the pitch. Rohit, attempting to pull it over mid-wicket, committed to the shot too early.
The ball took the top edge, going high up into the night sky.
[Commentary - Kepler Wessels]:"In the air! He's early on the pull shot! Kallis's variation in pace deceives him! JP Duminy is under it at deep square leg... and he takes it safely! A huge blow! Rohit Sharma goes for 25!"
WICKET (Rohit Sharma 25). India 68/2.
At 68/2 in 8.2 overs, the innings was at a crossroads. Enter Yuvraj Singh, twirling his bat. He didn't believe in rebuilding; he believed in counter-attacking.
Over 10: Johan Botha to Yuvraj Singh
9.2: Yuvraj got down on one knee and slog-swept the off-spinner.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"INTO THE STANDS! Vintage Yuvraj! He doesn't need sighters! He launches Botha into the deep mid-wicket crowd for a massive maximum!"(SIX)
9.4: Yuvraj made room and slashed Botha past backward point. (FOUR)
Deva stood at the non-striker's end, admiring the raw power of the southpaw. Yuvraj was single-handedly transferring the pressure back onto the South African bowlers.
Over 11: Albie Morkel to Yuvraj Singh
10.3: Morkel bowled a length ball. Yuvraj cleared his front leg and launched it straight over the bowler's head.
[Commentary - Harsha Bhogle]:"BANG! Down the ground! Yuvraj Singh is playing a blinder here! He is dealing in boundaries! The run rate is shooting up!"(SIX)
Over 12: Dale Steyn to Yuvraj Singh11.5: AB de Villiers, sensing the game slipping, brought his ace back into the attack. Steyn steamed in.
He bowled a 148 kmph slower bouncer—a brilliant piece of deception.
Yuvraj, expecting extreme pace, swung hard for a pull shot. The ball arrived a fraction late, taking the thick top edge.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Skied! Steyn wins the battle! The slower bouncer completely fools Yuvraj! AB de Villiers takes a simple catch behind the stumps! Yuvraj falls for a breathtaking 25 off 15 balls, but he has injected massive momentum into this innings!"
WICKET (Yuvraj Singh 25). India 104/3.
Suresh Raina walked in at Number 5.
Score: 104/3 in 11.5 overs.
Deva met Raina in the middle. "We need to bat through, Suresh. The platform is set. Just rotate the strike, and I'll take the risks."
Raina nodded. "Got it, Sid."
The duo settled the nerves. They milked the spinners, running hard twos and turning dots into singles. Deva, who had been relatively quiet, watching his partners attack, decided it was time to attack.
Over 14: Robin Peterson to Siddanth Deva
13.1: Peterson darted it into the pads. Deva reverse-swept it powerfully past short third man.
[Commentary - Kepler Wessels]:"Audacious! The reverse sweep comes out, and it's executed to perfection! Deva is starting to expand his horizons."(FOUR)
13.4: Deva stepped out and lofted Peterson inside-out over extra cover. (SIX)
In the 15th over, Deva utilized his crease masterfully against the towering Morne Morkel. Knowing Morkel extracted steep, awkward bounce from a good length, Deva intentionally took guard six inches outside his crease to force the bowler to alter his trajectory. Then, as the ball was released, he rocked deep back onto his stumps at the last split-second, playing the ball late and right under his eyes to comfortably negate the venomous lift, punching it softly through point for a couple of runs. It was a masterclass in spatial awareness and adaptability.
As they ran the second run off Morkel, the milestone was breached.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"And that is a magnificent half-century for Siddanth Deva! He came in under pressure, weathered the storm, and is now anchoring this innings brilliantly! 50 off just 32 balls!"
Deva completed the run, and he simply raised his bat to the Indian dressing room, offering a modest, grounded smile to his teammates. He gave a quick nod to Suresh Raina at the other end and settled right back into his stance. The applause rang around Colombo, acknowledging a young man totally focused on the larger job at hand.
Over 16: Johan Botha to Suresh Raina
Raina had played a vital stabilizing knock, scoring 18 runs off 13 balls. But the urge to accelerate took over.
15.4: Botha tossed it up wide. Raina stepped out, trying to clear the long-off boundary. He didn't get to the pitch of the ball.
The bat turned in his hand. The ball skewed high into the air.
[Commentary - Harsha Bhogle]:"In the air... and taken at long-off! Faf du Plessis makes no mistake! Suresh Raina tries to up the ante but perishes for 18! A crucial stand is broken just before the death overs!"
WICKET (Suresh Raina 18). India 148/4.
Score: 148/4.
Overs: 15.4.
Enter MS Dhoni.
The Captain walked out. The ultimate finishing pair was at the crease. Deva was batting on 54.
"Finish it, Skipper?" Deva asked, a fierce grin finally breaking his stoic demeanor.
"Let's show them the fireworks," Dhoni replied calmly.
Over 17: Dale Steyn to Siddanth Deva
Steyn was brought in to bowl a quiet over. Deva had other plans.
16.2: Steyn bowled a searing yorker. Deva, anticipating it, stepped deep into the crease, turning it into a half-volley, and whipped it over square leg.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"UNBELIEVABLE! He has whipped a 150 kmph yorker into the stands! The wrists of this young man are made of pure titanium! Six runs!"(SIX)
16.5: Steyn went short. Deva hooked it flat, one bounce into the fine-leg fence. (FOUR)
Over 18: Morne Morkel to MS Dhoni
17.3: Morkel missed his length. Dhoni unleashed the helicopter shot. The ball rocketed over long-on.
[Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"The Helicopter takes flight! MS Dhoni joins the party! The South African pacers are under immense pressure here!"(SIX)
Over 19: Jacques Kallis to Siddanth Deva
18.1: Deva sliced a wide delivery over backward point for four. (FOUR)
18.4: Deva danced down the track and launched Kallis straight into the sightscreen. (SIX)
Deva was on fire. He was moving around the crease, predicting the bowlers' length.
Over 20: Dale Steyn (The Final Over)
Steyn looked ragged. Deva was on 75.
19.1: Deva smashed a low full toss over long-off. (SIX)
19.2: Deva drove powerfully through covers. (FOUR)
19.3: Deva pushed a single.
19.4: Dhoni hit a blistering boundary through mid-wicket. (FOUR)
19.5: Dhoni pushed a single.
19.6: Last ball. Deva on 86.
Steyn bowled a fast, wide yorker. Deva reached out and squeezed it past short third man for a single, finishing the innings with a sprint.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"A single to finish! What a spectacular end to the innings! India posts a colossal 205 for 4! Siddanth Deva is walking off unbeaten on 87 off just 48 balls! An absolute masterclass in T20 batting!"
Steyn stood at the end of his follow-through, his chest heaving, his eyes burning with competitive fire. The over had gone for 16 runs. He marched down the pitch directly towards Deva. The stadium held its breath. The umpires took a tentative step closer. Virat Kohli half-stood in the dugout, ready to jump the barrier. MS Dhoni took a protective step forward.
Steyn stopped mere inches from Deva's face, his jaw clenched tight.
"You ruined my figures, mate," Steyn growled, his voice dangerously low, radiating pure hostility.
Deva stared right back, his expression ice-cold, not giving a single inch. For two agonizing seconds, it looked like a physical altercation was imminent.
And then... Steyn's face broke. A massive, genuine grin split his features, and he grabbed Deva in a rough, brotherly headlock, playfully rubbing his knuckles against Deva's helmet.
"Brilliant knock, you absolute freak," Steyn laughed loudly.
Deva burst into laughter, hugging the fiery South African pacer back. The tension in the stadium evaporated in an instant, replaced by a roar of appreciation for the respect displayed between two ultimate competitors who had fought in the IPL trenches together.
Target: 206 Runs.
Required Run Rate: 10.30.
Chasing 206 under lights against a versatile Indian attack was a daunting task. South Africa sent out Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis to set the pace.
Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan opened the bowling. The Indian pacers found immediate swing.
Over 4: Irfan Pathan to Hashim Amla3.2: Amla, who had raced to 30 with some elegant boundaries, tried to flick Irfan across the line. The ball swung late, taking the leading edge.
[Commentary - Kepler Wessels]:"Caught at mid-on! Irfan Pathan strikes! Amla was looking dangerous, but that late swing was his undoing. A vital wicket for India!"
WICKET (Hashim Amla 30). SA 42/1.
Kallis played a gritty knock of 20, but the required rate climbed.
Over 8: R. Ashwin to Jacques Kallis7.4: Ashwin tossed up the carrom ball. Kallis, trying to accelerate, stepped out and was beaten in the flight. Dhoni whipped the bails off in a flash.
WICKET (Jacques Kallis 20). SA 65/2.
The South African captain, AB de Villiers, walked out. If anyone could chase down this total, it was him. And he didn't just attack; he suffocated the Indian defense. He treated Ravichandran Ashwin with disdain, reverse-sweeping the premier spinner deep into the stands. He walked casually across his stumps to ramp Zaheer Khan over fine leg for a one-bounce four.
The Indian fielders, usually so sharp, started to look frantic. Misfields crept in. The deafening roar of the Bharat Army was reduced to a nervous, biting silence. De Villiers raced to 45 off just 20 balls. He was manipulating the field like a chess grandmaster, picking gaps behind the wicket with impossible geometric precision, and dragging the required run rate down rapidly. The momentum was violently swinging toward the Proteas. Panic was setting in.
Dhoni, realizing the game was slipping away at an alarming pace, threw the ball to Siddanth Deva in the 15th over.
Over 15: Siddanth Deva to AB de Villiers
14.3: Deva ran in, his face a mask of total concentration. He knew de Villiers's game inside out—they had the same template in his system. ABD backed away, trying to create room to launch over extra cover.
But Deva didn't follow him. He bowled a 148 kmph inswinging yorker aimed right at the base of the middle stump.
De Villiers, cramped for room due to his own movement, couldn't bring his bat down in time to counter the sheer pace and late tail of the ball. It crashed violently into the stumps.
[Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"BOWLED HIM! Siddanth Deva gets the big fish! A phenomenal yorker, right on the money, and AB de Villiers has to go for a magnificent 45! The Proteas' chase has suffered a fatal blow! The Devil answers the call once again!"
WICKET (AB de Villiers 45). SA 125/3.
The wicket of de Villiers broke the South African spirit.
Deva was relentless. In his next over, he bowled a deceptive knuckleball that JP Duminy chipped straight back to him for a caught-and-bowled.
WICKET (JP Duminy 12).
The Indian bowlers, invigorated by Deva's breakthroughs, tightened the noose. Zaheer Khan returned to clean up the tail, finishing with 2/25. Irfan Pathan ended with 2/30.
Over 20: Siddanth Deva to Faf du Plessis19.4: Deva finished his spell with another pinpoint yorker, trapping du Plessis LBW.
WICKET (Faf du Plessis 18).
Deva finished with outstanding figures of 3/28 in his 4 overs.
South Africa could only manage 175/8 in their 20 overs.
India won by 30 runs.
The presentation ceremony was set up on the outfield. The Indian team was relaxed, chatting and laughing, having secured a massive victory against a top-tier opponent.
Ravi Shastri: "What a fantastic game of cricket! India has put down a massive marker in this tournament. First, let me invite the losing captain, AB de Villiers."
AB de Villiers: "We were outplayed today. 205 was always going to be tough. We started well, but Deva's innings at the end took the game away from us. And then his bowling... he's a special talent. We need to regroup quickly."
Ravi Shastri: "Now, the winning captain, MS Dhoni."
Dhoni: "It was a complete performance. Rohit and Virat gave us a good start, Yuvraj provided the momentum, and Sid was exceptional. That partnership at the end was exactly what we needed. The bowlers executed the plans perfectly against a very dangerous batting lineup."
Ravi Shastri: "And finally, no surprises here. For a brilliant, unbeaten 87 off 48 balls, and taking 3 crucial wickets for 28 runs... The Man of the Match is Siddanth Deva!"
Deva walked up to the podium, a wide smile replacing the intense game-face. He accepted the trophy amidst thunderous applause.
Shastri: "Sid, 87 not out and 3 wickets. You are making this look ridiculously easy. What was the mindset when you walked in after Virat fell?"
Deva: "The mindset was just to build a partnership with Rohit, and then with Suresh. The pitch had a bit of moisture early on, but it eased out. Once the platform was set, Mahi bhai and I just backed our instincts in the death overs."
Shastri: "That battle with Dale Steyn out there today—he's your IPL teammate. Did that make it easier or harder?"
Deva: "Harder," Deva chuckled. "Dale is a fierce competitor. There's no friendship when you cross the boundary line, just pure cricket. I'm just glad I got the better of him tonight."
Shastri: "Well played, Sid. You are having a tournament to remember!"
The Digital Pulse:
@CricketKing18: "Deva 87* and 3 wickets. He isn't just a player; he is the entire team! Unbelievable! 🔥🏏 #INDvSA"
@HarshaBhogle: "The maturity of Siddanth Deva is frightening. He built his innings like a Test match veteran and finished it like a T20 mercenary. That yorker to de Villiers was the highlight of the night. 🎯💥"
@ProteasFan: "Deva ruined our night. That yorker to AB was just unplayable. Respect where it's due. 🇿🇦💔"