The India vs South Africa 3rd T20I proved that T20 cricket is not always about big sixes and high scores. On a cold Sunday evening in the hills, swing bowling took center stage. India’s bowlers used the conditions perfectly to dominate South Africa and secure a convincing win, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead in the series. The India vs South Africa 3rd T20I stood out as a rare match where the ball clearly ruled over the bat.
ALSO READ:
- Top 10 Legendary Players in ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings
- Messi 3 Day India Tour Chaos: Fans Riot in Kolkata After Superstar’s Early Exit
Swing Bowling Defines India vs South Africa 3rd T20I
After winning the toss in the India vs South Africa 3rd T20I, captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to bowl first, a decision that changed the course of the match. Under lights and in chilly conditions, the ball swung sharply, and Arshdeep Singh along with Harshit Rana made full use of it. At a venue usually known for big totals, South Africa were left struggling early.
Arshdeep and Rana struck within the first two overs, trapping Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock lbw. The movement off the pitch forced batters to play defensively, something rarely seen in T20 cricket. By the fourth over of the India vs South Africa 3rd T20I, Rana removed Dewald Brevis, reducing the visitors to 25 for 3 at the end of the powerplay.
The conditions were so helpful that every Indian seamer picked up a wicket in their first over. Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube joined the act, underlining South Africa’s struggle against swing. Most top-order batters fell while trying to defend rather than attack, showing how difficult batting had become in the India vs South Africa 3rd T20I.
Aiden Markram was the lone bright spot for South Africa. Showing excellent technique, he played with a straight bat and handled the moving ball far better than his teammates. Markram scored a composed 61 off 46 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes. He punished Rana when the pacer experimented with variations instead of sticking to swing, especially towards the end of the powerplay and later in the innings.
Donovan Ferreira offered brief support, scoring 20 off 15 balls. His short partnership with Markram added 35 runs and gave South Africa some hope in the India vs South Africa 3rd T20I. However, Ferreira lost his stumps while attempting a big shot against Varun Chakravarthy, who went on to finish with impressive figures of 2 for 11. South Africa were eventually restricted to just 117.
India’s Calm Chase Ends India vs South Africa 3rd T20I Early
Chasing a modest target in the India vs South Africa 3rd T20I, India never looked under pressure. South Africa’s bowlers struggled with the new ball, allowing India to get off to a smooth start. Abhishek Sharma played freely at the top, smashing 35 off just 18 balls to ease any early nerves.
Shubman Gill had a slower outing, scoring 28 off 28 balls and surviving a few close calls. However, the low target meant his knock did not hurt India’s chances in the India vs South Africa 3rd T20I. Captain Suryakumar Yadav continued his poor run and was dismissed for 12 off 11 balls, but the game was already firmly in India’s control.
Tilak Varma played a steady hand, remaining unbeaten on 26 off 34 balls, while Shivam Dube stayed alongside him to finish the chase. India reached the target in 15.5 overs, winning by seven wickets and sealing the India vs South Africa 3rd T20I comfortably.
The bowling effort was especially encouraging for India after Jasprit Bumrah’s late withdrawal from the match. Arshdeep Singh bounced back strongly from a poor previous game, returning figures of 2 for 13, while Harshit Rana ended with 2 for 34. Varun Chakravarthy’s tight spell further strengthened India’s dominance.
Despite dropping three simple catches in the field, India were never threatened. The early breakthroughs with the new ball had already decided the contest. Overall, the India vs South Africa 3rd T20I was a clear example of how smart bowling, aided by conditions, can overpower even in a format designed for batters.
SEE MORE:
