SA secure thrilling win vs India

Perth, Oct. 31: South Africa moved to the top of Group 2 with a nervy five-wicket victory over India in the Men's T20 World Cup.

Lungi Ngidi took 4-29 as part of a fine Proteas bowling display to restrict India to 133-9, despite Suryakumar Yadav's punchy 68 from 40 balls.

South Africa slipped to 24-3 in reply but David Miller's 59 from 46 balls saw them home with two balls to spare. Victory in Perth moves the Proteas ahead of India, who suffer their first defeat of the tournament.

Miller and Aiden Markram put on 76 for the fourth wicket to tip the match back in South Africa's favour after their poor start with the bat. Markram hit 52 from 41 balls to sustain the South African innings in the middle overs, though he was dropped on 35 by Virat Kohli and survived Rohit Sharma missing a clear run out chance from five yards seven balls later.

Markram eventually fell in the 16th over but Miller kept his composure to see South Africa over the line in a thrilling finish. This was a statement victory by South Africa against an India side ranked number one in T20s.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, India limped to 33-2 after the powerplay, with openers Rohit and KL Rahul falling to Ngidi in the space of four balls. Kohli became Ngidi's third victim as he was dismissed for the first time this tournament for 12, before Depak Hooda edged the fiery Anrich Nortje through to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for a duck.

When Kagiso Rabada took a superb diving catch at deep fine leg to remove Hardik Pandya for two off the bowling of Ngidi, India were reeling on 49-5. Suryakumar smashed six fours and four sixes to launch a gutsy counter-attack but kept running out of partners, with Rohit the next-highest scorer with 15. 

Pakistan, Bangladesh win

Shadab Khan took three wickets and then hit the winning runs as Pakistan beat Netherlands by six wickets with six overs to spare on Sunday, finally posting a victory at the Twenty20 World Cup.

Pakistan lost in a last-ball thriller in its tournament opener against archrival India and was upset by Zimbabwe before a thumping win over the Dutch to start a Group 2 double-header in Perth. Bangladesh held on to beat Zimbabwe by three runs in the earlier Group 2 game in Brisbane after a dramatic last over that produced two wickets and an unusual no-ball that meant the last delivery had to be re-bowled.

In the Western Australian capital, Pakistan's pace attack restricted Netherlands to 91-9, with Shadab taking 3-22 and Mohammad Wasim Jr. returning 2-15. Netherlands won the toss and opted to bat but couldn't cope with Pakistan's quick bowlers and slumped quickly to 26-3.

Colin Ackermann (27) tried rebuilding the innings but Shadab ran through the middle order and Wasim Jr. narrowly missed his hat trick toward the end. He had dismissed Tim Pringle (5) and Fred Klaassen (0) dismissed off successive balls.

Pakistan replied with a sedate innings and knocked up the runs in 13.5 overs, finishing with 95-4. Mohammad Rizwan scored 49 off 39 balls, combining with Fakhar Zaman (20) in a 37-run second-wicket stand after Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (4) was run out.

Pakistan is fifth in the Group 2 standings, and Netherlands has been knocked out of contention after three consecutive losses in the Super 12 stage.

Bangladesh, with four competition points from three games, moved past Zimbabwe with a narrow win in warm, sunny conditions. A dramatic last over at the Gabba produced two wickets and an unusual no-ball that meant the last delivery had to be re-bowled.

Opener Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 71 from 55 balls in Bangladesh's total of 150-7.

Taskin Ahmed (3-19) and Mustafizur Rahman (2-15) combined to skittle Zimbabwe's top order but finished their full allocation with three overs to spare, leaving a chase of 40 off 18 balls. Sean Williams (64) and Ryan Burl (27 not out) took it close, but couldn't get Zimbabwe over the line.

Spinner Musaddek Hossain held his nerve twice, in particular after the players were recalled to the field for re-bowling the last delivery, and helped restrict Zimbabwe to 147-8.

"It was a new experience for us! Musaddek bowled very well in this pressure situation," he said. (BBC/AP)