All Round India Thrash South Africa By 48 Runs In 3rd T20I

A clinical performance from all the departments helped India defeat South Africa by 48 runs in the 3rd T20I and keep themselves alive in the five-match series. 

Chasing a target of 180, Indian bowlers were all over the South African batter right from the beginning. The visitors lost two wickets inside the powerplay and only scored 38 runs. The domination continued as Yuzvendra Chahal finally got his magic touch back as he wrecked South Africa's middle order. 

Chahal got Dwaine Pretorious, Rassie Van der Dussen, and Heinrich Klaasen in his four over spell that only costed 20 runs. He got support from Harshal Patel who four wickets and didn't let the rest of the batters even come slightly into the game. 

South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals and eventually got bowled out for 131 in the last over to lose their first match of the series after two consecutive wins in the first two games. 

Earlier, India were once again asked to bat first and posted a competitive total of 179/5 in the first inning. 

Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad gave a terrific start and slammed 97 runs for the opening wicket in just 10 overs. Gaikwad scored 57 off 35 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes. Ishan scored another fifty in this series, scoring 54 off 35 balls including five fours and two sixes. 

India did lose three back-to-back wickets between 12-15 overs but Hardik Pandya made sure they finish well with his 31 off 21 balls. 

Pretorious picked two wickets while Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Keshav Maharaj got a wicket each for South Africa. 

Brief Scorecard: 

India - 179/5 (Ruturaj Gaikwad - 57; Dwaine Pretorious - 2/29) 
South Africa - 131/10 in 19.1 overs (Heinrich Klaasen - 29; Harshal Patel - 4/25)