India delivered a commanding all-round performance to defeat South Africa by seven wickets in the third T20I at Dharamsala on Sunday, taking a crucial 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
A clinical display of swing bowling by the Indian pacers laid the foundation for the win as South Africa were bundled out for a below-par 117. The hosts then completed a comfortable chase, reaching 120/3 in just 15.5 overs, with 25 balls to spare.
Indian Pacers Set the Tone
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, India’s pace attack made full use of the helpful conditions in Dharamsala. Arshdeep Singh was outstanding with figures of 2/13, while Harshit Rana (2/34) and Hardik Pandya (1/23) provided strong support. The relentless pressure from the pacers left South Africa struggling to build partnerships.
Skipper Aiden Markram was the lone bright spot for the visitors, playing a fighting knock of 61 off 46 balls. However, with little support from the rest of the batting lineup, South Africa could only manage 117, a total that was always going to be difficult to defend.
India Cruise in the Chase
India’s chase began steadily with openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill laying a solid platform. Abhishek scored 35, while Gill contributed 28 before being dismissed. Tilak Varma then ensured there were no hiccups, remaining unbeaten on 26 and guiding India home comfortably.
Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles continued as he once again failed to convert his start. After hitting a couple of boundaries off Lungi Ngidi, the Indian skipper attempted an audacious scoop but was caught, adding another low score to his recent run of failures.
Dube Seals the Win in Style
Shivam Dube put the finishing touches on the chase, smashing a six followed by a four off Ottneil Baartman to seal the victory. India needed just nine runs from 32 balls at that stage, highlighting the dominance of their performance.
Series Situation
With this emphatic seven-wicket win, India now lead the five-match T20I series 2-1. South Africa fought hard, but the low target meant India were always in control. The visitors will need a strong comeback in the remaining matches to stay alive in the series.
