Rishabh Pant won his first match as captain of the Indian team as the hosts managed to keep the five-match series alive with a convincing 48-run win over South Africa in the third T20I in Vishakhapatnam. South Africa’s middle-order did not fire and Indian bowlers tightened the screws towards the end and win the match by a record margin (runs).
Lacklustre attack
Unlike Indian openers, South African openers did not make use of the fielding restrictions. Skipper Temba Bavuma scored eight runs whereas Reeza Hendricks scored 23 runs from 20 deliveries. In the powerplay overs, they could manage only 38 runs while chasing 180.
Chahal’s redemption
Yuzvendra Chahal made an emphatic comeback after getting hammered in the previous game. Rassive van der Dussen became his first victim as he could score just one run before losing his wicket. Sticking with Dwaine Pretorius at no.3 did not provide dividends. Pretorius got out after scoring just 10 runs.
Middle-order misfires
On the other end, Harshal Patel got the wicket of David Miller to push South Africa on the back foot. Chahal returned to bowl and got the big wicket of Heinrich Klaasen, who was under pressure due to rising required run rate. Klaasen top-scored for the visitors with 29 runs from 24 deliveries.
One-sided victory
In the slog overs, South Africa kept on losing wickets as the target looked way out of their grasp. Harhsal Patel took two more wickets and finished with four wickets in his 3.1 overs. Also, Chahal finished with three wickets for 20 runs in his quota of four overs. In the end, South Africa were all out for 131 with five balls left in the innings as India managed to keep the series alive.
The opening clicks
Earlier, Bavuma won the toss and opted to field first. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan did not throw their wickets early in the innings. Both batters scored their respective half-centuries and shared a 97-run opening partnership which was broken at the halfway stage by Keshav Maharaj. Before getting caught and bowled, Gaikwad scored his maiden T20I half-century. Gaikwad scored 57 runs from 35 deliveries including seven fours and two sixes.
Wickets spoil momentum
Shreyas Iyer did not look in good nick and got out in the 13th over. Shreyas became chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi's only victim of the night. India ended up losing couple more wickets before the slog overs. Kishan got out after scoring his half-century. The southpaw scored 54 runs from 35 deliveries including five fours and two sixes.
Skipper Pant played another disappointing knock and got out to Pretorius. In the slog overs, designated finisher Dinesh Karthik tried the scoop but it did not work against Kagiso Rabada.
Finishing on a high
Hardik Pandya helped India finished with a flourish as he scored quickfire 31 runs from 21 deliveries. The late surge helped India post 179/5 in the first innings. For South Africa, Pretorius was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets. The Proteas pacer was economical as well as he conceded 29 runs in his quota of four overs.
