Electing to bat on a dry surface, 2007 champions India overcame a top-order meltdown to post a competitive 176-7, the highest total in a T20 World Cup final. Virat Kohli (76) made his first 50 of this World Cup and Axar Patel smashed 47 to power India to a healthy score. Heinrich Klaasen (52) counter-attacked in spectacular fashion but India's impeccable death-overs bowling restricted South Africa to 169-8. After Klaasen plundered 24 runs from Axar's final over, South Africa looked to be cruising to victory, needing 30 runs from 30 balls with six wickets in hand. With David Miller in the middle South Africa still looked well capable of scoring 20 runs from the last 12 balls.
