Ahmedabad, February 22 India were left struggling at 88/8, needing an improbable 100 runs from the last five overs, in their chase of 188 against South Africa in their T20 World Cup Group 1 Super Eights match here on Sunday.
Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube tried to accelerate after Lungi Ngidi, with his off-cutters and slower deliveries, had been effective in the middle overs, choking India.
However, wily left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj struck thrice in one over, dismissing Hardik Pandya (18), Rinku Singh (0), and Arshdeep Singh (0) just after the drinks break in the 15th over, effectively sealing the match for South Africa.
Star opener Abhishek Sharma ended his streak of three successive ducks, but only to be dismissed for 15 off 12 balls (2x4, 1x6).
He struck a boundary off Aiden Markram, upper-cut Kagiso Rabada for six, and punched a full toss through cover point.
However, Marco Jansen ended his innings with Corbin Bosch taking a stunning catch. India managed to reach 31/3 in the powerplay, with the tall pacer taking two wickets in six overs.
After this, Bosch provided crucial breakthroughs and dismissed Washington Sundar (11) and Suryakumar Yadav (18) as the required run-rate kept climbing, with India losing wickets at regular intervals.
Credit should also go to Lungi Ngidi, who didn't take any wickets but bowled economically and conceded only 12 runs in his three overs, preventing India's comeback.
Earlier, David Miller played some brilliant shots, but Jasprit Bumrah's superb bowling restricted South Africa to 187/7.
Miller scored 63 off 35 balls, with fine support from young Dewald Brevis (45 off 29 balls), as the duo put on a 97-run fourth-wicket stand in just 51 balls.
Bumrah (3/15 in 4 overs) and Arshdeep Singh (2/28 in 4 overs) had reduced South Africa to 20/3 inside the first four overs after they chose to bat.
