Vishakhapatanam : The Indian bowling unit produced an impressive comeback in the third T20 against South Africa. With two matches remaining, India now have a fair chance to win the series.
Yuzvendra Chahal scalped four wickets, while Harshal Patel grabbed three to restrict the Proteas before 48-runs. The first innings was handled well by Ruturaj Gaikwad (57) and Ishan Kishan (54) to power India to 179 for five.
Opener Gaikwad turned things around with a scintillating knock with Ishan scoring his second fifty of the series. Gaikwad hit two maximums and seven fours in his 35-ball knock. Ishan scored 54 runs in 35 balls.
Defending the total, skipper Rishabh Pant introduced the spinners in early action. Axar Patel gifted the first breakthrough for India. Temba Bavuma (8) holed out to Avesh Khan in the 4th over.
Chahal was rewarded for bowling quick bouncers to get the better of Rassie van der Dussen (1), Dwaine Pretorius (20) and Heinrich Klassen (29). Harshal had a mixed performance to remove Reeza Hendricks (23) and David Miller (3). Later he finished things off with the wickets of Kagiso Rabada (9) and Tabraiz Shamsi (0) bundling South Africa for 131.
Gaikwad and Ishan hit two sixes each and shared 12 boundaries in the first innings to set the platform but South Affrica tightened the screws later on to keep India inside 180. Gaikwad turned aggressor after a watchful start and exploded in the fifth over, slamming five successive boundaries off Anrich Nortje.
