South Africa Down India By 49 Runs In 3rd T20I; Avoid 3-0 Clean Sweep

South Africa won by 49 runs in the 3rd T20I and managed to avoid a 3-0 clean sweep in the 3-match series against India

Cricket Image for South Africa Down India By 49 Runs In 3rd T20I; Avoid 3-0 Clean Sweep (Image Source: BCCI.tv)

IND vs SA: After an impressive batting performance, the visitors South Africa pounced with an equally good bowling performance, dismantling the Indian batting lineup to 178 runs. South Africa won the 3rd T20I by 49 runs and managed to avoid a clean sweep in the 3-match series. 

Chasing 228, India lost captain and opener, Rohit Sharma, on the second bowl of the innings for a duck against Kagiso Rabada. Shreyas Iyer (1) was dismissed in the next over against Lungi Ngidi, and India were down to 4/2. Thereon, Rishabh Pant, who was promoted to openers, and Dinesh Karthik (promoted to number 4), etched a partnership of 41 runs in 20 balls for the 3rd wicket. 

Birthday boy Rishabh Pant was dismissed after scoring 27 runs in 14 balls (4x3, 6x2) in the 5th over by Lungi Ngidi. Dinesh Karthik (46 off 21 balls, 4x4 & 6x4) was also dismissed after a quick knock while man-in-form Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for just 8 runs in the 8th over, where it seemed all over for team India. 

Harshal Patel scored 17 runs off 12 balls while Deepak Chahar smashed 31 runs off 17 balls. But the target was too big to be chased down by tail-enders. For South Africa, Dwaine Pretorius was the top wicket-taker with 3 wickets to his name. Wayne Parnell, Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Mahara grabbed 2 wickets each while Kagiso Rabada managed 1 wicket to his name.

After being put in to bat first at the batter-friendly Holkar Stadium in Indore, South African batter Rilee Rossouw smacked a ton after getting out for two ducks in this series, powering South Africa to 227/3 against India in the 3rd T20I. Quinton de Kock also scored a half-century. 

Opening the innings, South African captain Temba Bavuma yet again failed with the bat, getting dismissed to Umesh Yadav in the 5th over for just 3 runs. Quinton de Kock however held the crease with Rilee Rossouw, etching a partnership of 89 runs. De Kock was dismissed via run-out in the 13th over after scoring 68 runs off 43 balls with 6 fours & 4 sixes. 

Thereon, Rilee Rossouw and Tristan Stubbs etched a partnership of 87 runs for the 3rd wicket. Rilee Rossouw smacked his maiden T20I ton as he scored unbeaten 100 runs off 48 balls with 7 fours & 8 sixes. Rossouw was dismissed for consecutive ducks in the first two T20Is. 

Tristan Stubbs contributed with 23 runs off 18 balls before getting dismissed in the last over by Deepak Chahar. For India, Umesh Yadav and Deepak Chahar managed 1 wicket each.

Earlier, India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss & opted to field first against South Africa in the 3rd T20I. This match was played at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore. 

Brief Score:

• South Africa – 227/3 (Rossouw - 100*(48), Umesh - 1/34)
• India – 178/10 in 18.3 overs (Karthik - 46(21), Pretorius - 3/26)