IND vs SA, 3rd T20I: Proteas Solid Bowling Restrict India To 134/9 At Bengaluru

Virat-led India have now a tough task to defend 135 runs in tough conditions at Bengaluru

A solid bowling performance from South African bowlers restricted team India to 134/9 after 20 overs. Beuran Hendricks  (4 for 14 runs) was the pick of the bowlers. Virat-led India have now a tough task to defend 135 runs in tough conditions at Bengaluru. 'Hitman' Rohit Sharma, playing his 98th T20I, failed to deliver as he could score 9 runs before getting out to Hendricks in the third over. Meanwhile, Rohit equaled MS Dhoni’s record for most number of T20I appearances for team India. Rohit's opening partner Dhawan looked is supreme touch and form but just when he was beginning to play some biggies and up the run-rate, Tabraiz Shamsi managed to send him back to the pavilion for a well-made 36 off 25 deliveries . Skipper Kohli (9) looked confident as he played some promising shots. Shockingly, the skipper got out for single figures. A wristy shot by the skipper whipped up the ball in air and Phehlukwayo showed great athleticism to grab Kohil's catch and silence the Indian fans. Left-hander Pant (19 off 20 balls), 'the bad shot-selector', continued his dismal form with the bat as he yet again played a careless shot to hand over a catch to Phehlukwayo, who secure the ball before it touched the ground at mid-off. India lost its another wicket in form of reliable batsman Shreyas Iyer (5). South African spinner Fortuin spots Iyer charging down the track to smack him hard, but Fortuin fired the ball down the leg side and skipper De Kock was quick to clip the bails off. India were in some serious trouble having lost two wickets in the same over. With Pant gone and Iyer stumped, Pandya brothers came in the middle to rescue their squad. Paceman Beuran Hendricks was introduced again in the attack and he didn't let his skipper down as he bowled a beauty to get all-rounder Krunal Pandya (4) nick one behind to wicket-keeper de Kock. At this point it seemed that team India would struggle to even put 150 on board with six wickets down for 99, but with Hardik and Jadeja on the crease and final five overs to go, some firepower was still expected. The duo kept trying hard to find gaps for fours and hit sixes. With Jadeja getting caught and bowled by Rabada, Hardik Pandya came up with a hard swing of the bat to strike a boundary in the last ball of the penultimate (19 th) over. At the other, Washington Sundar, after playing a beautifully improvised shot over the keeper head, but got out shortly.