Abhishek Sharma played a brilliant innings following an impressive display of swing bowling by the pacers, leading India to a comfortable seven-wicket win in the third T20I on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target of 118 for a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, vice-captain Shubman Gill (28 off 28 balls) and his opening partner Abhishek Sharma (35 off 18 balls) added 60 runs in just 5.2 overs, as India reached their target with ease in 15.5 overs.
The only point of interest during India’s chase was whether the South African pacers could replicate their Indian counterparts’ performance with the new ball to make the task more challenging for the Indian batsmen. However, Abhishek and Gill did not let the South African bowlers settle, with Abhishek hitting
Lungi Ngidi for 16 runs in the first over.
In fact, the very first ball of the chase went for a six, signalling the Indian openers’ aggressive intent. Gill joined in the assault in the second over, scoring 16 runs as India raced to 32 for no loss in just two overs.
Abhishek continued his aggressive batting until a brilliant catch by Aiden Markram off Corbin Bosch ended his innings. After his dismissal, India’s chase of the remaining 58 runs became more sedate, with Gill and Tilak Varma (26 not out) avoiding unnecessary risks. Although Gill’s run-a-ball 28 was not among his most fluent innings, it likely boosted his confidence after two lacklustre performances in the earlier matches.
Gill was eventually bowled by Marco Jansen, and skipper Suryakumar Yadav also failed to stay until the end, but these were minor setbacks on an otherwise smooth night.
India’s victory was largely due to their pacers, who bowled a mesmerising spell of swing bowling to dismiss South Africa for a below-par 117. Arshdeep Singh (2/13), Harshit Rana (2/34), and Hardik Pandya (1/23) led the attack after the hosts chose to bowl.
Markram provided a brief spark for South Africa with a spirited 46-ball 61, but the standout performers were India’s quick bowlers, who extracted significant swing and lateral movement with the new ball, affecting South Africa’s power play effort of 25 for three, which included just two boundaries.
Arshdeep, who had a tough outing in the previous match, redeemed himself with an excellent first spell (3-0-9-1). He bowled three deliveries that angled away from Reeza Hendricks before a delivery jagged back to trap Hendricks leg before with the help of DRS.
Rana similarly dismissed Quinton de Kock with a delivery that nipped back, trapping the left-hander inside the crease. Dewald Brevis was unfortunate to be bowled while attempting a release shot off a wide delivery from Rana.
South Africa found themselves at 7 for 3 in 3.1 overs, and it was always going to be a tough climb from there. Markram hit a few sweet drives to keep the scoreboard ticking, but Tristan Stubbs and Bosch fell in quick succession, further derailing the South African innings.
Stubbs’ wicket allowed all-rounder Pandya to complete 100 wickets in T20Is, becoming the third Indian bowler to do so after Arshdeep and Jasprit Bumrah, who missed this match due to a personal matter. The BCCI stated that Bumrah’s availability for the remainder of the series would be announced later. Kuldeep Yadav also came into the eleven for an unwell Axar Patel.
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy (2/11 in 4 overs) reached a milestone by capturing his 50th T20I wicket, dismissing Donovan Ferreira (20 off 15 balls). Ferreira was dropped on 13 by Arshdeep at long-on off Shivam Dube, but it did not affect India.
Chakravarthy dismantled the lower order with his varied deliveries, while the pitch continued to offer good pace and carry. He also claimed the wicket of Jansen, keeping South Africa pinned down.
Markram completed his fifty off 41 balls with a six off Rana, with the 18th over producing 19 runs. However, the late surge from South Africa came too late to change the outcome.
(With PTI Inputs)
