India managed to stay alive in the five-match T20I series against South Africa after defeating the tourists by 48 runs at Vizag. The Indian openers, who both reached half-centuries, dominated the batting. Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal then combined to bowl out the Proteas, with the former picking up career-best figures of 4-25. We look at some of the key moments from the third INDvsSA T20I.
India’s opening stand
Ruturaj Gaikwad finally found some rhythm in his sixth T20I, notching his maiden half-century. Gaikwad took the charge and gave India early momentum in the Powerplay. The hosts ended the first six overs with 59 runs on the board – their highest Powerplay score of the series. While Ishan Kishan was struggling at the other end, scoring at just a run-a-ball, Gaikwad led the attack, scoring at 173.91 in the Powerplay. His leg-side play was the most pleasing aspect of his batting, nailing his flick shots with sublime timing.
After Gaikwad’s dismissal, Kishan took over the aggressor’s role, scoring his fourth T20I fifty. He was severe on the left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj, scoring 16 runs off just five balls, striking at 320. On a pitch where no other batter from either side reached even 30, half-centuries from the Indian openers set up the match for them.
Shamsi learning his lesson
Tabraiz Shamsi, the #1 bowler in the T20I rankings for Men, had received heavy smashing from Shreyas Iyer in this series. Of the 12 balls faced by Iyer against Shamsi, he scored 33 runs at a strike rate of 275. This included four Sixes and a Four.
All these boundaries came off balls pitched on the fuller length or just short of a fuller length. However, at Vizag, Shamsi finally figured out a way to deal with this onslaught from Iyer. After getting hit for another Six and an LBW appeal that was overturned by DRS, Shamsi got one to pitch on a good length. The length was just short enough to induce a false slog shot from Iyer.
Chahal setting up Klaasen
Heinrich Klaasen was in a rich vein of form coming into the third T20I, especially against Yuzvendra Chahal. In the first two T20Is, Klaasen attacked Chahal brilliantly. The Protea wicket-keeper scored 30 runs off the Indian leg-spinner’s 13 balls at a strike rate of 230.8. However, Chahal had the last laugh on Tuesday by smartly setting up Klaasen.
Before the wicket-taking delivery, Chahal bowled four balls at Klassen. All four were quick balls pitched around the good length. The first three were aimed at his stumps, not giving any room. The fifth ball, the wicket-taking one, was not only the slowest of them all but also the widest of all the balls, tempting Klaasen to hit a big shot and hence, inducing a false shot.
It was far from a perfect game for India as, in the middle overs, they struggled to build on the start given by the openers. But a good show from the bowlers, especially Chahal finding his mojo, will boost the hosts before their game in Rajkot. South Africa would want to brush this game aside and focus on completing their series win in the fourth T20I.