3 Things We Learned From India's Narrow Victory In 3rd T20I Vs South Africa

Anurag Dasgupta

India won the 3rd T20I [Source: @BCCI/X.Com] India won the 3rd T20I [Source: @BCCI/X.Com]

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India won a hard-fought battle against the South African side in the 3rd T20I and have taken a 2-1 lead in the series. The batters made a mockery of the Proteas bowling attack and the assault was led by two dynamic youngsters in Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma.

While Abhishek scored a whirlwind half-century, Tilak went one step ahead and notched up his maiden T20I century and remained unbeaten at 107 as India posted a commanding 219 runs.

In reply, South Africa lost a flurry of wickets and Heinrich Klaasen's dismissal looked like final nail in the coffin. However, Marco Jansen took his stocks to the next level as he smacked a 16-ball fifty and almost pulled off an impossible win as Proteas were restricted to 208/7.

With the match done and dusted and India in the lead, we look at 3 things we learned from this riveting contest.

3) India's death bowling still a cause of worry

For two consecutive matches, India's death overs bowling remains a cause of worry for the management. In the second T20I, South Africa had lost 6 wickets, chasing a target of 125.

However, from there on, Gerald Coetzee and Tristan Stubbs kept their cool as India failed to get a wicket and it allowed the Proteas to run away with the contest. Similarly, India had the match in their pockets once Klaasen was dismissed. But the same old story occurred as Jansen almost pulled off a heist, but somehow India survived.

2) Suryakumar, Hardik's form not a good sign for India

For his standards, this has been a disastrous series for Suryakumar Yadav. The India captain is yet to light up the series as the Proteas bowlers have found a way to keep him quiete. Despite the bulk of runs scored by other batters, Surya remains India's best T20I batter, and his run-scoring is crucial for India.

The skipper of the team will look to come back amongst run-getters as India face South Africa in the 4th T20I on Friday.

1) What has happened to Sanju Samson?

A scintillating hundred in the first T20I followed by back-to-back ducks. He was at the peak of his powers in the first match, but somehow, he couldn't get off the mark in the next two games. From being an instant starter for this team, Samson has once again be thrown in the middle of the ocean with nowhere to go.

He will surely play the 4th T20I, but needs to go back amongst the run-scorers, especially with the middle-order not firing all guns blazing.