IND vs SA: 3rd T20I Review – Harshal-Chahal keep India alive
India registered a morale-boosting 48-run win over South Africa in the all-important third T20I at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vizag. By the virtue of this win, the Men in Blue live to fight another day in the five-match series.
South African skipper Temba Bavuma called it right at the toss for a third consecutive time and elected to bowl first. However, unlike the previous two games, the visiting bowlers could not do anything exceptional with the new ball or even in the Powerplay overs as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan added 97 runs for the opening stand. While Gaikwad scored 57 runs off 35 balls, Kishan contributed with a 35-ball 54. Even though the hosts suffered a middle-order collapse, an unbeaten 21-ball 31 from Hardik Pandya powered India to 179/5. Dwaine Pretorius starred with the ball for the visitors with 2/29.
In reply, South Africa did get off to a good start, but failed to capitalize on it as quick wickets derailed the momentum of their run chase. Opener Reeza Hendricks (23) and Dwaine Pretorius (20) got starts, but failed to convert them into impactful knocks. Last match’s hero Heinrich Klaasen did score a 24-ball 29, but his dismissal at the wrong time proved to be the turning point for South Africa.
Veteran pacer Wayne Parnell tried his level best to fight back and remained unbeaten on 22 runs off 18 balls. Nonetheless, with no support from the other end, the visitors were bundled out for 131 in the final over. As far as the wickets column is concerned, Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal starred with figures of 4/25 and 3/20 respectively.
Top Performers of the match
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad made it matter when it mattered the most as he slammed his maiden international half-century on the big occasion. Not only did he lay a solid foundation along with Ishan Kishan, but his 57 runs off 35 deliveries at an outstanding strike rate of nearly 163 helped India post a stiff total of 179/5.
Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel did the bulk of the damage to South Africa’s chances of registering a series win as he completely broke the backbone of the Proteas with his remarkable bowling performances with some vital scalps. The medium-pacer finished with figures of 4/25 from his 3.1 overs.
What’s next for both sides?
The two sides will now be locking horns at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot in the fourth T20I on June 17.
