IND VS SA 3RD T20I: India thrash South Africa by 48 runs to keep series alive

A clinical effort from the bowlers helped Team India thrash South Africa by 48 runs in the third T20I at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. With the victory, India cut down South Africa's lead and keep the series alive. The Proteas now lead the five-match T20I series 2-1.

Chasing a modest 180-run target, South Africa got off to a horrid start, losing three wickets in the powerplay for just 38 runs. Unlike the previous two matches, Indian bowlers kept chipping away at the wickets in the middle overs.

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Yuzvendra Chahal, who went for cleaners in the second T20I, bowled a sensational spell to rock the visitors with a 3-wicket haul which also earned him the Player of the Match award. Harshal Patel also starred with the ball, finishing with figures of 4/25.

Earlier, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad gave India a superb start. The duo stitched a 97-run opening stand in the first 10 overs. Gaikwad got his mojo back with the bat and blasted 57 runs off 35 balls while his opening partner Kishan smashed 35-ball 54. But that was the only high point in the Indian innings as middle-order batters failed to capitalise on the great start and managed to add only 82 runs in the final 10 overs.