It was a case of so close and yet so far for the South African Mens cricket team on Saturday in Barbados as India won the T20 World Cup by seven runs.
The class of Virat Kohli with the bat and Jasprit Bumrah with the ball was simple a bridge too far for the brave Proteas who gave it their all but couldn't get over the line.
India won the toss and batted first with Kohli playing the anchor role to perfection with his 76 off 59 balls.
He was ably supported by Axar Patel (47 off 31) and Shivam Dube (27 off 16) as India posted 176/7, a score that was more than they should have got and also less than they would have wanted.
Marco Jansen struggled with the ball (1/49) from the start and Tabraiz Shamsi went wicketless (0/26) but Keshav Maharaj (2/23 in three overs) and Anrich Nortje (2/26) kept South Africa in the fight.
Kagiso Rabada started well but took some tap in his last over (1/36) while Aiden Markram's two overs went for 16.
Heinrich Klaasen was exactly that in the field, class, as he took two vital catches.
To be fair the whole 11 deserve credit for the way they fielded, with Quinton de Kock's run out of Patel a special moment for the wicketkeeper at the non-striker's end.
South Africa would have gone out to bat feeling confident that they could chase down the highest winning score in a T20 World Cup final as this was by far the best pitch that they'd batted on at the tournament but their tendency to lose an early wicket struck again as Reeza Hendricks got done by a pearler by Bumrah in the second over for four.
Markram (4) hit a great boundary before heading back to the changeroom after chasing a wide one from Arshdeep Singh (2/20), who was on fire on Saturday but won't get the flowers he deserves because of other, bigger, names stepping up.
Tristan Stubbs joined De Kock in the middle and started middling the ball from the off, he was looking in top form as he dominated the 58-run partnership with De Kock, who seemed to be happy to play the Kohli role for the Proteas and bat deep.
Stubbs (31 off 21) was bowled by Patel after moving over to the off-side to hit through the leg and went too far, something he'll regret.
De Kock and Klaasen kept the men in yellow and green on track before De Kock fell for an obvious trap and his innings ended on 39 off 31.
Having flicked the ball to fine-leg for four, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma moved Kuldeep Yadav to the boundary, Singh bowled the same ball and the SA wicketkeeper hit the same shot, straight down the fielder's throat.
The odds on a South African win were long at that point but Klaasen was still in and so was his eye ...
He showed his power straight down the ground, over midwicket and, most impressively, over cover on his way to the fastest fifty in a T20 World Cup final (23 balls).
With him and Miller at the crease South Africa got the run rate down to a run a ball but then Rishabh Pant (who earlier hadn't walked for the most obvious caught behind in history) needed treatment.
That break did what India wanted and it broke Klaasen's concentration as he chased a wide slower ball from Hardik Pandya and was caught by the fit as a fiddle Pant behind the stumps.
Jansen had no chance against the skill of Bumrah and soon came and went, leaving it up to Maharaj and Miller and with the big hitting lefty still there, there was hope.
Needing 16 off the final over, Miller thought he'd made the perfect start with a six over long-on only for Suryakumar Yadav to pull off a moment of magic.
He caught the ball centimeters from the rope (which had been pushed back), threw the ball up, ran over the rope (both ways) and then completed the catch.
His calmness under press needs to be studied ...
Rabada edged a four but the writing was on the wall, India were going to end their 13-year drought and South Africa were going to have to keep trying to get their first World Cup title.
Guess the C-word will continue to be linked to South African cricket for a while longer ...
Meanwhile, Cricket South Africa (CSA) wishes to congratulate the Proteas Men’s team on their achievement as runners-up in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
CSA Chief Executive Officer, Pholetsi Moseki, said: “A heartfelt congratulations to the Proteas for their valiant efforts. This team has shown tremendous tenacity and strength throughout their entire T20 World Cup campaign and for that I commend them.
“The Proteas remain champions in their own right. While we may not have the silverware, we have witnessed a team that embodies greatness and unity which is unbreakable.
“Despite not being able to clinch the victory, reaching the World Cup final for the first time holds immense significance in the world of cricket. We will continue to support the Proteas as they pursue their journey and aim for that number one spot in future World Cups.”
CSA Director of Cricket, Enoch Nkwe, said: “Congratulations to Coach Rob Walter and the Proteas team. As a team, I commend the commitment shown by each and every squad member, both on and off the field. Achieving this milestone and witnessing today's heroics will be etched into the history books.
“We are extremely proud of the way the team has conducted themselves and the great cricketing moments they have produced throughout this World Cup. This journey is far from over.”
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