India bounces back in third T20I against South Africa, keep series alive

Team India ensured they kept the fivematch series alive by beating South Africa by 48 runs in the third T20I here on TuesdayChasing a target of 180 the visitors were bowled out for just 131 in 191 overs Heinrich Klaasen top scored for South Africa with 29 as none of their batters were able to score bigPacer Harshal Patel 420 was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 420 and was ably assisted by leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal 320Gaikwad in full flowEarlier India openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan produced scintillating fifties to set the platform before India lost the momentum to stop at 179 for fiveUnder the scanner for his patchy form of late Gaikwad finally came good with a sizzling 57 off 35 balls while Kishan smashed his second fifty of the fivematch series He made a 35ball 54However South Africa tightened the screws in the second half to keep India inside the 200mark The hosts managed just 20 runs while losing two wickets from over 13 to 17 before Hardik Pandya took them close to 180 with some lusty blows in the final stagesIt was Gaikwad who turned aggressor after a watchful start and exploded in the fifth over slamming five successive boundaries off Anrich NortjeAlso Read lsquoI almost jumped off my 26th floor balcony says former Australian tennis ace Jelena DokicIf the first one was cut with aplomb he danced down the track for the second four The third boundary was a lucky one as the ball hit his grill while Gaikwad tried to move away from a nasty bouncerGaikwad then punished Nortje for bowling a half volley and the fifth ball was sent across the third manThe Maharashtra batter also deposited Dwaine Pretorius over deep backward square for his second six as India posted 57 for no loss in six overs their best Powerplay in the seriesIshan scores 50 againKishan who was playing second fiddle got into the act in the ninth over smacking Shamsirsquos overpitched ball for a maximum before sweeping him for another four as 13 runs came from the overGaikwad completed his 50 in 30 balls and then welcomed Keshav Maharaj with an insideout lift for a four but the spinner caught him off his own bowling with India on 97 for one at the halfway stageKishan then picked two fours and a six en off Maharaj route a 31ball 50 his second of the seriesBrief scoresIndia 1795 in 20 overs R Gaikwad 57 I Kishan 54 D Pretorius 229 beat South Africa 131 all out in 191 overs H Klaasen 29 W Parnell 22 H Patel 425 Y Chahal 320 by 48 runsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever