Lungi Nigdi takes 4 for 29 before half-centuries from Aiden Markram and David Miller in a nervy chase secures a statement victory in Perth
Perth: India 133-9, South Africa 134-5 – South Africa win by five wickets
Fifties from Aiden Markram and David Miller capitalised on an electrifying bowling performance as South Africa beat India by five wickets and take a step towards qualification for the semi-finals.
The South African seamers were outstanding and were backed up in the field to restrict the Indian batters, the highlights being Lungi Nigdi with 4 for 29 and 3 for 15 from Wayne Parnell.
While India will be disappointed, the loss does not overly affect their chances of qualification too much and Suryakumar Yadav and the seam attack will take solace from pushing The Proteas hard despite being reduced to 49 for 5 after electing to bat first.
The returning Ngidi struck twice in his first over to remove the Indian openers as the pressure of 16 dot balls in the first four overs took its tole.
Suryakumar Yadav struck an enterprising 68 (TREVOR COLLENS/AFP via Getty Images)
Ngidi issued the perfect response to back-to-back boundaries and removed Virat Kohli who was caught excellently by Kagiso Rabada at fine leg. After seven overs, Ngidi had 3 for 13 and India were struggling at 41 for 3.
South Africa continued their rampant start, Deepak Hooda was caught behind off the pace of Anrich Nortje and then Rabada produced another special moment as he dived forward to get Hardik Pandya and give Ngidi his fourth.
Suryakumar and Dinesh Karthik put together a vital partnership of 52, the former still at his aggressive best to bring up a 30-ball 50 while the latter consolidated until falling for six off 15 balls.
Suryakumar, who exceptionally dominated the batting effort with 68 out of 133, fell to Parnell who also got Ashwin before Nortje ran Shami out in the final over.
Early wickets were needed, Arshdeep Singh did just that to remove Quinton de Kock and then Rilee Rossouw in the space of three balls and the pressure was heaped back onto South Africa as they ended the powerplay on 24 for 3.
David Miller guided The Proteas home (Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Halfway through the chase, South Africa had just 40 on the board with David Miller and Aiden Markram setting a foundation to go at the required 9.4 an over in the last 10.
A shift occurred in the 11th over, which went for 16 and then an over later Kohli uncharacteristically dropped Markram, and Sharma then missed a simple run-out chance.
The South African push for victory was stalled when Markram was caught shortly after bringing up a 50 off 38 balls, leaving South Africa needing 34 off 26. Rohit's risk to re-introduce Ashwin seemed detrimental when Miller hit back-to-back sixes, but he removed Tristan Stubbs to give India hope.
Six were required off the final over, but Miller held his nerve with a match-winning boundary off Bhuvneshwar Kumar.