IND vs SA 3rd T20I: An all-round India Cricket Team returned to Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg after five years to play a T20I and ran away with a superb win. It was a tale of two Yadavs: Suryakumar Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav as they powered India to a 106-run win to level series 1-1. Kuldeep bagged a fifer to bowl out Proteas for 95 after Suryakumar smashed fourth T20I ton to help India post 201/7.
A target of 202 at the new Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg is not much. T20 matches at the venue have often witness 200+ chases and 400+ runs being scored. And South Africa would have been confident of chasing down 202. But it was not to be the case.
Mukesh Kumar struck in the second over to dismiss Matthew Breetzke before Reeza Hendricks was run-out. And even though Aiden Markram showed glimpses of how dangerous he could be, by 6.1 overs, South Africa were 42/4. Both Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram had departed.
It was now up to David Miller to pull off a heist. And he did keep Indian bowlers on their toes with 35 off 25. However, superb bowling by Mohammed Siraj (0/13 in 3 overs) had them pinned down. Birthday boy Kuldeep Yadav bagged three wickets while Ravindra Jadeja scalped two as South Africa were bowled out for 95 runs in 13.5 overs. And India claimed a comfortable 106-run victory to level the series 1-1.
Kuldeep Yadav Show
In race with Ravi Bishnoi for the lone wrist-spinner’s slot, Kuldeep Yadav made a statement with 5/17 in just 17 deliveries.
He kept it straight, gave it a bit of turn turn and also bowled some top-spins to dismantle Proteas in a span of 17 deliveries. His victims included David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger and Lizaad Williams as he cleaned up the tail with ease.
Shubman Gill under fire
Sent to bat, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal were off to a blazing start, scoring 29 runs in 2.1 overs. Of the two, Gill showed early intent, smashing two boundaries. But then, he fell prey to his own innocence. Keshav Maharaj’s delivery struck him on the pad. As South Africa appealed, the on-field umpire gave this an out.
An innocent Shubman Gill walked away, sure of his dismissal without even consulting Yashasvi Jaiswal for a DRS check. However, replays showed that the ball was missing the stumps and with no DRS call, he only had himself to blame.
But Keshav Maharaj wasn’t done yet. Tilak Varma was his next victim as the youngster departed for a golden duck. Suddenly, India were reduced to 29/2 within a span of three deliveries.
Jaiswal leaves a mark
However, with that, it was time for India to pay back. In golden touch once again in his favourite format, Suryakumar Yadav took charge with Yashasvi Jaiswal also going all guns blazing.
Even though it was Yashasvi Jaiswal who was the early aggressor, smashing six fours and three sixes en route 41-ball 60 before falling to Tabraiz Shamsi. And with another blazing half-century, he has only increased pressure on the selectors and the team management.
While Shubman Gill is the obvious favourite to partner Rohit Sharma once he is back, Jaiswal is not doing any favour to the team management by scoring in difficult situations. Before him, Ruturaj Gaikwad too slammed a century to make it difficult.
SKY has no limits
While Jaiswal was the aggressor, Suryakumar Yadav showed his class once again, proving why he is World No 1 T20 batter. From 35 off 29 deliveries, SKY suddenly accelerated, taking on Andile Phehlukwayo in the 13th over. He hit three sixes and a four to complete his fifty. And there was no looking back.
From 35 off 29, he took just 26 deliveries to score the rest of 65 runs. And his sublime 100-run knock included seven fours and eight sixes. With that, he equalled Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell for most T20I centuries. He now has four T20I centuries and another one will make him the first batter to score five centuries in T20Is.
Most T20I Centuries:
- 4: Rohit Sharma
- 4: Glenn Maxwell
- 4: Suryakumar Yadav
- 3: Babar Azam
- 3: Colin Munro
- 3: Sabawoon Davizi
However, with SKY departing off Lizaad Williams, India turned to hara-kiri. Rinku Singh did not last long while Jitesh Sharma was hit-wicket and Ravindra Jadeja was run-out. In the end, what promised to be a big show, ended with 201/7 on the board.
