IND vs SA | 3rd T20I | Gaikwad, Kishan lead batting extravaganza; Chahal, Harshal seal the deal with ball

As it happened, the Indian Team went in full throttle on Tuesday (June 14), registering their first victory of the ongoing T20I series versus South Africa.

While openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan set up a marvellous show with their exquisite striking, Yuzvendra Chahal and Harshal Patel made the run-chase an improbable task for the visitors.

Losing their third consecutive toss in the series to South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, India were put in to bat. But, with all the talk surrounding intent, the opening batters lived up to modern-day T20 expectations, smashing the tourists right from the word go.

It was Gaikwad who led the attack taking Kagiso Rabada to the cleaners, giving a glimpse of what was yet to come. Then, the talented right-hander hit as many as five boundaries off Anrich Nortje to help India reach a formidable powerplay score.

Gaikwad's charge enabled him to bring his maiden T20I half-century quickly. However, after his caught and bowled dismissal off Keshav Maharaj, Kishan changed colours, taking it upon himself to go for boundaries.

Kishan also hit another fifty, his second of the series. But as he holed to Reeza Hendricks off Dwaine Pretorius, the hosts stumbled, losing the wickets of Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik consecutively. 

Hardik Pandya's unbeaten 21-ball 31 pushed India to 179 in 20 overs.

Contrary to India, South Africa failed to gather momentum at the start. Their openers, Bavuma and Hendricks, had already been given the walking papers by the time powerplay concluded.

Four of their batters, Heinrich Klaasen, Wayne Parnell, Hendricks and Pretorius, reached 20 runs and above. However, none of them could carry on after gaining the starts. 

Harshal and Chahal were the two chief architects of Proteas' misery, giving just 45 runs and sharing seven wickets between themselves.

Eventually, South Africa folded for 131 runs in 19.1 overs, losing the match by 48 runs.

Brief scores:

India - 179/5 (20)

Ruturaj Gaikwad 57(35), Ishan Kishan 54(35);

Dwaine Pretorius 2-29 (4)

South Africa - 131/10 (19.1)

Heinrich Klaasen 29(24), Reeza Hendricks 23(20);

Harshal Patel 4-25 (3.1), Yuzvendra Chahal 3-20 (4)

India won by 48 runs.