LONDON: South Africa, run-outs, and the word 'choke' go way, way back, as far back as the 1999 World Cup semifinal. The team's famed hesitancy in pressure situations isn't really a point of debate anymore. It's only now, though, that their mental fragility has started acquiring tragicomic overtones. It's only now that the perennial chokers appear to be parodying themselves.
A bizarre, perplexing mix of events, including three run-outs - two of them game-changing ones - meant South Africa lasted only 44.3 overs, being all out for 191 in their virtual quarterfinal against India.
Virat Kohli's men, not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, chased down the meager total without incident, in only 38 overs, to sprint into the semifinals, in which they will play Bangladesh in Birmingham on Thursday.
Shikhar Dhawan (78 off 83 balls; 12x4, 1x6) became the first batsman to score three consecutive 50-plus scores in the
Champions Trophy, while Virat Kohli (76 not out; 101 balls, 7x4, 1x6) too raced away to his 41st ODI half-century, playing some imperious strokes to ensure there were no magical rebuttals from SA's famed bowling attack.
In between,
Rohit Sharma lit up the Oval with his usual gorgeous strokeplay, meaning the defending champions appear to be in a good frame of mind heading into the business end of the tournament.
The story, however, was not how India won but how South Africa lost. The world's No. 1 team, boasting the world's No. 1 ODI batsman and bowler, played like pushovers. The team's fortunes, and their poise, seem to be waning like captain AB de Villiers' batting powers. India, disciplined with the bowling and unafraid to tamper with team dynamics by introducing an extra spinner, cashed in gleefully as some moments of madness led to SA losing two wickets in six balls.
It started with AB de Villiers' run out. Struggling with a reported hamstring injury coming into this game, he darted off for a quick single in the 29th over, with du Plessis on strike and SA having just lost their openers.
Hardik Pandya's throw was on point, and
Dhoni whipped off the bails in a flash, beating the scrambling, desperate dive.
The game had tilted India's way and sparked South Africa's brain freeze. Four balls later, du Plessis was at it again, comically setting off for a run, then stopping, then setting off again, before finally deciding that he was best off returning to his own crease. The only problem was, by that time non-striker
David Miller was occupying the same end! At 142/4, it need not have been all over, but the wickets kept falling as panic set in. From 140/2, SA lost eight wickets for 51 runs. Only
JP Duminy (20 not out off 41 deliveries) seemed immune to the mayhem around. In the end, though, he was reduced to refusing singles and was mute witness to the final, infuriating run out of Tahir, which completed the orchestrated symphony of chaos that was South Africa's innings.
In between,
Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled beautifully, new-man-in Ashwin made his presence felt, Jadeja redeemed himself after the poor outing against Lanka and Kohli switched his options around with expert ease. It didn't seem things would so easily go India's way when De Kock and Amla were batting, but India kept the runs in check and as pressure mounted, the opening pair went for ill-advised strokes and paid the price. The pitch, the same one used for the Lanka game, was a bit on the slower side and suited India's needs well.
South Africa, with their campaign having sputtered to an all-too-familiar end, now have all the time for some healthy introspection.