IND vs SA: With an emphatic 48-run win in the third T20I in Visakhapatnam, Team India have kept the five-match series alive with South Africa leading it 2-1 now after the visitors had registered successful chases in Delhi and Cuttack.
They failed to do so today when chasing the target of 180. The Proteas never really got going in the chase as they kept losing wickets to the Indian bowlers who were much better with their lines and lengths than they had been in the previous two losses.
Kishan–Gaikwad opening stand flourish
Ishan Kishan continued his rampant form, striking another half-century, an innings of 54 runs off 35 balls.
In his sixth T20I, finally, Ruturaj Gaikwad broke his rut at the international level to register his maiden T20I half-century and matched stroke to stroke with Kishan, eventually being dismissed for 57 runs off 35 balls as the two openers stitched a partnership of 97 runs before India suffered a mini-collapse that saw Iyer, Kishan and Pant get out in space of 24 balls.
#TeamIndia win the 3rd T20I by 48 runs and keep the series alive.
Scorecard – https://t.co/mcqjkCj3Jg #INDvSA @Paytm pic.twitter.com/ZSDSbGgaEE
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 14, 2022
India were 158/5 at Dinesh Karthik’s wicket for just 5 runs and with only 9 balls left in the innings, it looked like India would scrap toward 170. But, Hardik Pandya took 12 runs off the last over, bowled by Parnell, to take the team total to 179; Pandya remained unbeaten on 31 off 21 balls.
With the ball, India looked a unit different than they were in the last games, making use of the grip on the surface and bowling tight lines. Heinrich Klaasen, SA’s hero in Cuttack, was once again their top-scorer – but this time with only 29 runs.
After the two Patels – Axar and Harshal – had removed the openers, Yuzvendra Chahal, who has copped huge criticism for being expensive in the last two games, ran through South Africa’s middle-order with wickets of Dwaine Pretorius, Rassie van der Dussen and Klaasen.
Harshal Patel came back to finish things off, with the wicket of Miller, he effectively killed the game and ended up with 4 scalps to his name.
Twitter was abuzz with joy and celebrations as India got back to winning ways and remain alive in the series:
Just putting this on your timeline so you can congratulate #RP17 on his first win as #TeamIndia captain
Job’s not done though, 2⃣ more vital T20Is to go
#INDvSA @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/ZkdUrGj0TT
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) June 14, 2022
Good to see team india making a comeback in the series .. top win with some top bowling performances @yuzi_chahal #harshalpatel
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 14, 2022
A CSK batsman announcing his arrival for India in Vizag. We have seen this before. pic.twitter.com/PAyQUrZSrS
— Manya (@CSKian716) June 14, 2022
India in first 12.1 overs: 126/1
India in last 7.5 overs: 53/4— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 14, 2022
Most losses before first win as India men’s T20I captain:
2 – Rishabh Pant
1 – Virat Kohli#INDvSA— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) June 14, 2022
Solid comeback by team india Defended the total in style. Pant rotated the bowlers well too. #INDvsSA
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) June 14, 2022
Outstanding from India to play the same XI again, resisting the pressure from every Tom, Dick, and Harry suggesting replace this, replace that.
I don’t think I have seen any team go to this extent. Shows the conviction they have in their methods.
— Alagappan Vijayakumar (@IndianMourinho) June 14, 2022
