Visakhapatnam: India roared back into contention in the T20 International series against South Africa on Tuesday evening, winning the third match by a comprehensive margin of 48 runs.
South Africa still lead 2-1, thanks to victories at Delhi and Cuttack, and India will have to win the next two games at Rajkot (June 17) and Bengaluru (June 19) to clinch the five-match series.
Rishabh Pant lost his third toss in as many games, and Temba Bavuma had no hesitation in asking India to bat first once again. Openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan blazed away to 97 in just 10 overs, with both scoring half-centuries.
A total of 200 looked to be on the cards, but the Indians slowed down in the middle overs. It was Hardik Pandya’s late blows that helped the home team set the Proteas set a 180-run target.
Indian bowlers didn’t allow the South African batsmen to get off to a blinding start, and once the opening partnership was separated in the fourth over, wickets fell at regular intervals.
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (3/20 in 4 overs) and medium-pacer Harshal Patel (4/25 in 3.1 overs) were the standout bowlers for India as they managed to contain the hard-hitting Proteas.
Scores: India 179/5 in 20 overs. South Africa 131 in 19.1 overs.
Result: India won by 48 runs.
Man of the Match: Yuzvendra Chahal
Series: South Africa lead 2-1.
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