South Africa's bowlers restrict India to a total of 124 runs, with Hardik Pandya being the top scorer with 39 runs. Varun Chakaravarthy's 5 for 17 spell wasn't enough as Stubbs and Coetzee's partnership secures a win for South Africa. India's batting struggled, with the exception of Pandya, as they lost their openers and skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Despite a close game, South Africa emerged victorious with a 4 wicket win.
India Suffers Historic Loss to South Africa as Bowlers Restrict India to Lowest Total in T20I History
In a dramatic turn of events, South Africa's bowlers demolished India's batting lineup, restricting them to a mere 124 runs in the third and final T20I match in Visakhapatnam. This marks India's lowest total in T20I history.
India's Batting Collapse:
India's openers, Ishan Kishan and Rituraj Gaikwad, were dismissed cheaply, setting the tone for a dismal batting performance. Captain Suryakumar Yadav also fell for 13 runs, leaving India reeling at 39/3.
The lone bright spot for India was Hardik Pandya, who top-scored with 39 runs off 31 deliveries. However, India's star-studded batting lineup failed to live up to expectations, with only Deepak Chahar (12) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (11) managing double-figure scores.
South Africa's Bowling Dominance:
South Africa's bowlers were clinical in their execution, led by the impressive spin bowling of Varun Chakaravarthy. Chakaravarthy claimed 5 wickets for just 17 runs, including the dismissals of Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav.
The seamers also played their part, with Kagiso Rabada taking 2 wickets and Tabraiz Shamsi and Anrich Nortje chipping in with one each.
Stubbs and Coetzee Partnership Seals Victory:
Chasing 125 runs, South Africa's batting lineup got off to a shaky start, losing Reeza Hendricks for just 5 runs. However, Tristan Stubbs and Heinrich Klaasen formed a crucial partnership, scoring 30 and 29 runs respectively.
With South Africa needing 33 runs from the last three overs, Rilee Rossouw and David Miller accelerated the innings. Coetzee, who came in at number seven, hit two crucial boundaries to seal the match for South Africa with four wickets in hand.
Historical Context:
India's loss marks their first T20I defeat on home soil since 2019. It is also the first time India has been dismissed for under 130 runs in T20Is.
Top 5 FAQs about Cricket in India:
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