Can India's Bowlers and Abhishek Secure a Seven-Wicket Win Over South Africa in 3rd T20I?
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Synopsis
India showcased excellent bowling and batting in the third T20I against South Africa, leading to a seven-wicket victory. With Abhishek Sharma's explosive innings, the team chased down the target comfortably. This match highlights India's strong performance and sets an exciting tone for the remainder of the series.
Key Takeaways
- India leads the series 2-1.
- Abhishek Sharma's explosive innings
- Strong bowling performance
- South Africa struggled
- Challenging weather conditions
Dharamshala, Dec 14 (NationPress) In chilly weather and conditions favorable for seam bowling, India clinched a solid seven-wicket triumph against South Africa during the third T20I at the HPCA Stadium on Sunday, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
With an impressive display from both spinners and seamers, South Africa was bowled out for just 117 runs. India successfully chased down the target of 118 runs with 25 balls to spare. Notable performances included Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav each claiming two wickets, while Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube contributed with one wicket each, leaving South Africa reeling at 30/4 within the first seven overs.
India's innings was spearheaded by Abhishek Sharma, who scored 35 off 18 deliveries during the powerplay. Shubman Gill (28) and Tilak Varma (25 not out) had minor struggles, and Suryakumar Yadav managed only 12 runs. However, Abhishek's explosive start ensured the target remained achievable, with Shivam Dube sealing the victory with some powerful hitting.
The chase commenced with a bang as Abhishek took on Lungi Ngidi in the first over—hitting a six, glancing for a four, and lofting another boundary over cover. He struck three additional boundaries in his innings before South African captain Aiden Markram executed a brilliant catch at long-off to dismiss him, but by then, India was comfortably ahead.
Meanwhile, Gill, after narrowly avoiding an lbw call against Marco Jansen, began to find his rhythm with boundaries, followed by two fours off Ottniel Baartman. Promoted to the number three spot, Tilak Varma opened his account with a steer to third man off Corbin Bosch and continued to pile on runs with well-timed shots.
However, with seam movement available, Gill's innings was cut short in the 12th over when he unintentionally chopped the ball onto his stumps from a delivery angled around fourth stump by Jansen. Suryakumar briefly sparked with back-to-back boundaries off Ngidi, but ultimately fell to a catch while attempting his signature shot.
Dube capped off the innings with a magnificent six over long-on off Baartman and pulled a short ball through midwicket for the winning runs, ensuring a dominant victory for India.
Brief Scores: South Africa 117 all out (Aiden Markram 61, Donovan Ferreira 20; Varun Chakaravarthy 2-11, Kuldeep Yadav 2-12) lost to India 120/3 in 15.5 overs (Abhishek Sharma 35, Shubman Gill 28; Corbin Bosch 1-18, Lungi Ngidi 1-23) by seven wickets.
Point of View
I emphasize the remarkable synergy between India's bowlers and batters in this match. It is a testament to the team's resilience and strategic gameplay, particularly in adapting to challenging conditions. India’s performance not only boosts morale but also sets a clear path for the remaining matches in the series.
NationPress
15/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the standout performers in the match?
The standout performers included Abhishek Sharma with 35 runs, and bowlers Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav, each taking two wickets.
What was the final score of the match?
India scored 120/3 in 15.5 overs, successfully chasing South Africa's total of 117 runs.
Where was the match played?
The match took place at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, India.
