In a rain-curtailed encounter, Aiden Markram-led South Africa won the game while chasing a revised target of 152 at St George's Park, Gqeberha on December 12. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh’s half-centuries went in vain as South Africa chased down the target with five wickets in hand and seven balls to spare.
Earlier, Markram won the toss and opted to field first. Marco Jansen struck with the third ball as David Miller took a sharp catch to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal for a three-ball duck. In the next over, Shubman Gill was hit on the pad by Lizaad Williams with a ball that kept low. This was the first time in seven years, India lost both openers for a duck in T20I cricket. Tilak Varma did not let the pressure get to him and smashed Jansen for a six followed by two fours. In the next Suryakumar hit Gerald Coetzee for two fours and a six. Tilak and Varma fired from both ends. In the sixth over, Coetzee got the wicket of Varma who scored 29 runs from 20 balls.
At the halfway stage, India were 84/3. Suryakumar got to his half-century from 29 balls. Rinku smashed Jansen for two fours. Rinku then smashed Andile Phehlukwayo for three fours. In the 14th over, Tabraiz Shamsi dismissed Suryakumar. He scored 56 runs from 36 balls featuring five fours and three sixes. After Suryakumar's wicket, Rinku hit three boundaries off Williams. Jitesh Sharma could not make an impact and was dismissed by Markram trying to play a big shot.
Ravindra Jadeja joined the party and hit a six in the 17th over. In the penultimate over, Markram was hit by Rinku for two consecutive sixes. In the final over, Coetzee got the wickets of Jadeja and Arshdeep Singh off consecutive deliveries. Rain played spoilsport and India’s innings ended with 180/7 on the board from 19.3 overs. Rinku remained unbeaten for 68 off 39 balls featuring nine fours and a couple of sixes.
In the revised run chase of 152 from 15 overs, Reeza Hendricks hit Mohammed Siraj for three fours. Arshdeep took a beating in his first over. Hendricks and Matthew Breetzke hit a six each in the 20-run over. The breakthrough came in the third over bowled by Jadeja as Breetzke was run out. He contributed with a seven-ball 16. Markram started well with three consecutive boundaries off Mukesh Kumar. Kuldeep was introduced into the attack. He was hit for two fours in the 11-run over by Hendricks. After five overs, South Africa were 67/1. During the powerplay overs, Indian bowlers struggled to grip the ball as South African batters smashed them around the park.
Arshdeep came back into the attack and Hendricks hit him for two more boundaries. Jadeja conceded nine runs in the next over. The partnership was broken by Mukesh after getting hit for a six. Markram was caught on the boundary by Siraj. He scored 30 runs from 17 balls including four fours and a six. Heinrich Klaasen got off the mark with a six off Kuldeep. On the next ball, he dismissed opener Hendricks. He scored 49 runs from 27 balls including eight fours and a six. In the next over, Siraj dismissed Klaasen for a single-digit score.
Tristan Stubbs after playing a few dot balls got off the mark with a boundary. South Africa were 116/4 after 10 overs. Kuldeep finished his quota of three overs conceding just three runs. Siraj came back and bowled well barring the boundary off David Miller's bat. The 13th over was eventful. Mukesh bowled a no ball but Stubbs could not score a boundary. Miller hit a six and then got out the next ball. In the penultimate over, Jadeja could not make an impact. First, Stubbs hit a boundary playing a reverse sweep. On the fifth ball, Phehlukwayo smashed a massive six to finish off in style. South Africa won the match by five wickets as per DLS method with seven balls to spare.
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