India have beaten South Africa by seven runs in a heartstopping final to win the Twenty20 World Cup at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
India have captured their first major international title, since winning the ODI World Cup in 2011, while South Africa's wait for a first World Cup title drags on.
Electing to bat on a dry surface, 2007 champions India overcame a top-order meltdown to post a competitive 176/7. Virat Kohli (76) struck his best innings and first 50 of this World Cup, and Axar Patel smashed 47 to power India to a healthy total.
Anrich Nortje and Keshav Maharaj claimed two wickets apiece for South Africa, who suffered a top-order collapse of their own, but Quinton de Kock (39) and Tristan Stubbs (31) put their chase back on track.
The game turned in South Africa's direction, when Heinrich Klaasen smashed a 23-ball 50 to get the run rate down to just six runs an over. However, after Klaasen was dismissed for 52 by Hardik Pandya, South Africa struggled to score runs, leaving themselves 16 off the final over to win.
David Miller looked to have his country off to the perfect start, when he smashed the first ball of the final over towards the boundary, but a spectacular Suryakumar Yadav catch seized the game and title for India.
Kohli, who was awarded Man of the Match for his performance, announced he has played his final T20 International for India.
"This was my last T20 game playing for India", he said. "Time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward."
Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah was named Player of the Tournament after the win.
Reuters/Newshub
