India defeated South Africa by 7 wickets thanks to a thrilling display of swing bowling by the pacers, which was followed by a brilliant little effort from Abhishek Sharma in the third Twenty20 International in Dharamsala on Sunday.
Vice-captain Gill (28, 28 balls) and his opening partner Abhishek (35, 18 balls) added 60 runs in 5.2 overs as India easily reached their target in 15.5 overs, chasing a modest 118 for a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Whether the South African pacers could imitate their Indian counterparts with the new ball and make the opponents’ work more difficult was the only intriguing aspect of India’s chase.
But Abhishek and Gill never let the South African bowlers off the hook; in the first over, the former smashed Lungi Ngidi for 16 runs. The Indian openers’ plan was revealed early on when the chase’s opening ball went for a six.
India reached 32 for no loss in the first two overs, as Gill joined his partner to score 16 runs in the second over.
As usual, Abhishek batted in a single gear, and his stay was ended by a brilliant catch by Aiden Markram in the deep off Corbin Bosch.
After the left-hander was removed, India’s chase of the remaining 58 runs became considerably more leisurely as Tilak Varma (26 not out) and Gill (saved by a DRS call early in his innings) did not seek any adventure.
Although Gill’s run-a-ball score of 28 will undoubtedly not be among his best, it may have given him more confidence following two lackluster performances in the series’ opening two games. Eventually, he dragged a Marco Jansen delivery back onto his stumps, and captain Suryakumar Yadav was also unable to stay till the very finish. However, those were the night’s minor anomalies.
Earlier, India bowled out South Africa for a below-average 117 thanks to a captivating run of swing bowling by the pacers. After the hosts decided to bowl, Arshdeep Singh (2/13), Harshit Rana (2/34), and Hardik Pandya (1/23) led India’s performance with early wickets.
With a 46-ball 61, captain Aiden Markram provided the only spark for South Africa. India’s fast bowlers, who achieved deadly swing and lateral movement with the new ball, were unquestionably the brightest stars beneath a cold sky.
With just two fours in the phase, it had an impact on South Africa’s low-key power play performance of 25 for three.
After a terrifying performance at Mullanpur a few days ago, Arshdeep made amends with an incredible first spell (3-0-9-1). He angled three deliveries across Reeza Hendricks before sneaking one back in, trapping the South African opener lbw with the aid of DRS.
Rana then repeated the act against Quinton de Kock, jagging one back to pin the left-hander, rooted to the crease, in front. While attempting a release shot after a wide delivery from Rana, Dewald Brevis was unlucky enough to be castled.
It was always going to be difficult for South Africa as they found themselves at 7/3 in 3.1 overs. The South African innings was further derailed when Tristan Stubbs and Corbin Bosch left quickly after Markram crushed a couple of beautiful drives in between to keep the board ticking.
All-rounder Pandya became the third Indian bowler to reach 100 wickets in Twenty20 Internationals thanks to Stubbs’ wicket, behind Arshdeep and Jasprit Bumrah, who missed this game due to personal reasons. His availability for the rest of the series would be revealed soon, according to the BCCI.
Donovan Ferreira’s stumps were flattened by spinner Varun Chakravarthy (2/11 in 4 overs), who also achieved a milestone by taking his 50th T20I wicket.
Arshdeep dropped the big-hitting Ferreria at long-on off Shivam Dube on 13, but it didn’t affect India.
The pitch continued to provide good pace and carry, and Chakravarthy’s inexhaustible bag of tricks opened up the lower order. To keep South Africa pinned to the mat, the spinner also claimed Marco Jansen’s wicket.
The 18th over yielded 19 runs, as Markram finished his fifty off 41 balls with a slashed six off Rana. However, the surge from South Africa arrived a little too late.
