Rossouw sets up a win for SA as concerns over Indian bowling continue

A brilliant maiden T20I century from Riley Rossouw, along with Quinton De Kock’s 68 off 43 balls, led South Africa to a comfortable 49-run victory against India in the third T20I at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Tuesday.

India saw their first defeat in the last 17 T20Is while chasing at home, but managed to win the series 2-1.
 
After being asked to bat first, Quinton De Kock started well as he smashed Indian pace bowlers Deepak Chahar and Mohammed Siraj for boundaries and sixes. But on the other hand, Temba Bavuma’s poor form continued as he was out to Umesh Yadav on the first ball of the fourth over, leaving South Africa at 30/1 in 4.1 overs.
 
Left-handed batter Riley Rossouw, who came out to bat at No.3, was dismissed for two consecutive ducks in the previous matches of the series, and he surely had a point to prove this time.
 
Riley Rossouw started his innings well by scoring two consecutive fours off Umesh Yadav after facing three dot balls in the fifth over. In the very next over, he smashed Ashwin for a six-over deep mid-wicket by playing a slog sweep off a ball that was in his slot.
 
He continued to score boundaries and sixes at regular intervals and smashed Indian bowlers all around the park. On the other hand, Quinton De Kock scored too many boundaries and completed his fifty off just 33 balls.
 
Rossouw and De Kock took full advantage of the batting pitch in Indore as they added 90 runs for the second wicket off just 48 balls. However, that partnership ended when De Kock tried to go for the second run and got himself run out by a quick throw from Shreyas Iyer.
 
Rossouw brought up his maiden T20I century off 48 balls with a single off Deepak Chahar on the first ball of the last over. On the next ball, Tristan Stubbs got out to Chahar after scoring 23 runs off 18 balls with two fours and one six, which brought the dangerous David Miller to the crease.
 
Miller continued his brilliant form as he smashed Chahar for three consecutive sixes in the last over, out of which one was off a waist-height no ball. Chahar went for 24 runs in the final over as South Africa reached a total of 227/3 in 20 overs. Umesh Yadav (1/34) and Deepak Chahar (1/48) were the wicket-takers for India.
 
Chasing a massive total of 228, India didn’t have a good start as they lost Rohit Sharma for a duck on the second ball of the first over by Rabada. In the very next over, Shreyas Iyer, who came in place of Virat Kohli in the third T20I, got out LBW off left-arm pacer Wayne Parnell while playing across the line.
 
India made many changes in their batting order as they wanted to give some time in the middle to other batters who didn’t have much opportunity to bat in the previous matches. Rishabh Pant was sent as an opener along with Rohit Sharma, while Dinesh Karthik was sent to bat at No.4. Despite losing early wickets, Pant and Karthik scored boundaries at regular intervals to ensure that the asking rate was under control.
 
Pant was looking good as he scored two sixes and two fours in the fifth over off Lungi Ngidi, but got out caught on the last ball of the over as he smashed the ball straight to Tristan Stubbs, standing at cover-point.
 
Karthik was looking in terrific form as he smashed two sixes and one four off Parnell in the sixth over as India managed to reach 64/3 in the powerplay despite losing crucial early wickets.
 
In the seventh over from Keshav Maharaj, Karthik scored two consecutive sixes but got out bowled while playing a reverse scoop shot on the last ball of the over. Karthik scored 46 off 21 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes with a strike rate of 219.05 but he would have hoped to continue his innings as the ball was coming off well from his bat. 
 
Suryakumar Yadav came to bat at No.5 and started with his favourite scoop shot over fine leg for a six off Dwayne Pretorious. However, just one ball later, Suryakumar got out caught to Pretorious as Tristan Stubbs took an outstanding diving catch while running in from deep extra cover. India were in a poor position at 86/5 after the end of 8 overs. 
 
India lost wickets at regular intervals until Deepak Chahar and Umesh Yadav showed some fight and added a 48-run partnership off 26 balls for the 8th wicket. Chahar scored a quick-fire 31 off 17 balls before being out caught at long-off in the 17th over by Pretorious.
 
Mohammed Siraj was the last man to get out to Pretorious as India were bowled out for 178 in 18.3 overs. Dwayne Pretorious (3/24) and Keshav Maharaj (2/34) were the most successful as India lost the match by 49 runs. However, India still ended up winning the series 2-1.
 
Riley Rossouw was awarded Player of the Match for his unbeaten 100 runs off 48 balls while Suryakumar Yadav was named Player of the Series for his 119 runs in the three-match T20I series.
 
South Africa beat India 178-10 in 18.3 overs (Dinesh Karthik 46, Deepak Chahar 31; Dwaine Pretorius 3/26, Keshav Maharaj 2/34) by 49 runs in 20 overs (Rilee Rossouw 100 (48)*, Quinton De Kock 68(43), Umesh Yadav 1/34).