Heinrich Klaasen top-scored for the Proteas in a losing cause on Tuesday. Photo: Pradeep Dambarage/BackpagePix
REPORT: Proteas slip to defeat as India launch series fightback
The Proteas were outplayed from start to finish as India claimed a deserved 48-run victory in the third T20 on Tuesday.
Heinrich Klaasen top-scored for the Proteas in a losing cause on Tuesday. Photo: Pradeep Dambarage/BackpagePix
Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma had won the toss and elected to bowl in the third T20 international against India in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. Tabraiz Shambi earned his 50th T20 cap in an unchanged Proteas’ line-up.
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However, South Africa got off to a poor start as both Indian openers recorded half-centuries, and powered the hosts to 128/1 at one stage. The Proteas battled back from there, with Dwaine Pretorius the pick of the bowlers, ultimately restricting India to a total of 179/5.
Chasing down what was always going to be a tricky total, though, the Proteas never really got any momentum into their innings, with regular wickets and an increasing required run-rate constantly building pressure.
Heinrich Klaasen top-scored with 29, but he couldn’t replicate the heroics of the second T20 as India ultimately claimed a comfortable victory as South Africa were bowled out for a paltry 131.
South Africa still lead the five-match series 2-1.
You can check out he full scorecard here
TEAMS: PROTEAS V INDIA
South Africa
Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Dwaine Pretorius, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi
India
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (captain & wkt), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal
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