South Africa recovered from nine to score 106 on the seaming pitch after India elected to field first in Thiruvananthapuram.
The skipper is out for a duck and the star batsman, who was batting on three runs, leaves the field before India achieved the win with 20 balls left. The hosts take a one-game lead.
KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav put on an unbeaten 93-run partnership to complete the chase, giving India the win. The team will now move into next month’s T20 World Cup, with two matches remaining before it begins.
It was a pair of bowlers who set up the victory as Chahar bagged two wickets and Arshdeep with figures of 3-32 in prominent bowling to kickstart India’s dominance despite losing the pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah to back pain before the start of the match.
South Africa showed their strength with Keshav Maharaj’s 41 off of 35 balls, adding some respectability to the total.
One partnership was broken up as SA skipper Temba Bavuma got bowled for a duck and Quinton de Kock was the first victim when playing out to left-arm quick Arshdeep.
When the Proteas lost successive wickets, they may have been in trouble. Arshdeep caught Rilee Rossouw off toying and then bowled David Miller.
South Africa’s worst-ever start to a T20 was made during their match with India.
Aiden Markram (25) and Wayne Parnell (24) played together for the sixth wicket for 33 runs, which slowed India’s momentum.
India successfully challenged the on-field umpire who signaled not out for an LBW to Markram. Markram hit three fours and one six before being trapped lbw by Harshal Patel.
In the final over, Patel picked up his second wicket. Parnell fell in the 16th over.
India Struggled Initially
India’s top-order headache appeared early on in its chase
The top-order was struggling in the first six overs with Kagiso Rabada getting Rohit out and India then lost Kohli, getting caught off a fast bowler by Anrich Nortje.
Suryakumar calmed the nerves with consecutive sixes, ending on a lucky hit that just flew over the third man. This gives the entire field some life.
Suryakumar took on the bowlers with Rahul at the anchor point, who hit the winning shot. The two were on a competitive spree, scoring efficiently as they went about their chase.
