Highlights, India vs South Africa 2018, 3rd T20I at Cape Town, Full cricket score: Visitors win by 7 runs, clinch series 2-1

Virat Kohli: Having received it twice in a row is something very very special. To be able to maintain your performances is very pleasing at the international level. Full credit to the support staff as well as the boys. We are in a very exciting position at the moment. (On learning in South Africa tour) We understood the cricket that we need to play overseas, as well as the mindset that one needs for such a tour. That is something that we’ll take back home. We take a lot of learning back home as a Test team. I would say we are still 80 percent. We haven’t been able to play as we would’ve like. We certainly don’t feel we are 100 percent yet. To be a world-class side for a long period of time, you need to be at your 95-100 percent everywhere you play.

Virat Kohli is handed the ICC mace by Sunil Gavaskar and Graeme Pollock, former batting greats, for being the No 1 Test side in the world.

Most runs by a captain on an away tour across formats:

937 – Graeme Smith in England, 2003 (16 innings)
871 – Virat Kohli in South Africa, 2017/18 (14 innings)*
785 – Allan Border in England, 1985 (14 innings)
769 – Alastair Cook in India, 2012/13 (13 innings)
767 – Andrew Strauss in West Indies, 2008/09 (15 innings)

Man of the Series winners in India’s last three T20I series:

Jasprit Bumrah v New Zealand, 2017

Jaydev Unadkat v Sri Lanka, 2017

Bhuvneshwar Kumar v South Africa, 2018 

All pacers!

Rohit Sharma, India’s stand-in captain: To be honest, I thought we were 15 runs short. How the first half went, I thought we lost our way towards the end. I mean these things happen and we learn from it. It was a decent score and once again, the bowlers did it for us. Hopefully we can move forward as a group in the coming games. We discussed certain plans and it worked. We tried to keep the ball on the stumps. It was a complete bowling unit performance.

Suresh Raina is the Man of the Match. He scored 43 runs and took a wicket.

Raina: You need to show intent in the first 6 overs. Credit to Kohli and Shastri for giving me the freedom. (On his first-ball six) When you get the ball in your area, you hit it. What we’ve done in the last one and a half months, no team has done in years. Credit goes to the support staff, who gave us a lot of confidence to express ourselves.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the Man of the Series! 

“First of all thanks to IPL which makes every bowler a thinking bowler. You’ve to think each and every ballIt’s very important to not give away too much in the first six overs. I always try to keep it simple, knuckle ball and bouncer comes into play. Enjoyed the whole tour, especially Test matches,” says Bhuvi!

JP Duminy, South African captain: They bowled pretty well in our batting powerplay. We couldn’t get boundaries, and when we got boundaries, we couldn’t get the singles either. Definitely thought 170 was gettable. Gotta give them credit for the way they executed their plans. I’m really proud of the way the guys went, especially Jonker in his first game. Full credit to India. Outstanding white-ball tour. First two Tests was good for us, and then winning the third Test gave them a lot of confidence.

This is India’s eighth consecutive bilateral T20I series win of three or more matches. They have not lost any till day.
 
India in bilateral T20I series of three or more matches:
 
v Australia, 2015/16 (3-0) 
v Sri Lanka, 2015/16 (2-1) 
v Zimbabwe, 2016 (2-1) 
v England, 2016/17 (2-1) 
v New Zealand, 2017/18 (2-1) 
v Sri Lanka, 2017/18 (2-1) 
v South Africa, 2017/18

Bhuvneshwar Kumar took seven wickets in this series – the most by an Indian pacer in a bilateral T20I series.

The victorious camp!

🙌🙌 #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/ma8G6Mr6iR

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2018

After 20 overs,South Africa 165/6 ( Farhaan Behardien 15 , )

Bhuvneshwar bowls the final over. Jonker can only collect a single off the first ball, smacking it towards sweeper cover. Behardien uppercuts a short, wide ball over short third man for a four. Single collected off the third ball, with an under-pressure Bhuvneshwar conceding a wide off the fourth. Jonker squeezes a full toss down the ground for a couple of runs. Two off the fifth delivery, with Jonker squeezing a full delivery towards square-leg for a double. Full toss off the last ball, with Jonker getting a leading edge to get caught by Rohit at extra cover. 

India win by 7 runs to win the three-T20I series 2-1. That’s two trophies to India out of three in this tour.

OUT! Jonker is the last man to fall, getting a leading edge towards extra cover, as India win by 7 runs to win the three-T20I series 2-1! Jonker doesn’t quite connect to a full toss from Bhuvi (wouldn’t have matter much even if he had middled it), as the stand-in captain fittingly takes the safe catch to seal off a thrilling win. SA 165/6

Jonker c Rohit b Bhuvneshwar 49(24)

It’s all over… with a ball to spare… Bhuvi has held his line… 8 to win off 1… surely the most reliable Indian pacer can mess this up!!

FOUR! Short and wide from Bhuvneshwar, and Behardien cuts this one over short third man! SA 159/5, need another 14 from four balls.

Bhuvneshwar returns to the attack to bowl the final over. For a change, both batsmen as well as bowler are under pressure now.

Jonker is seriously quick between the wickets… some running that. Are South Africa, nay, is he turning this game?

South Africa need 19 off the last over, with debutant Jonker on strike.

After 19 overs,South Africa 154/5 ( Christiaan Jonker 44 , Farhaan Behardien 10)

Behardien smacks a full toss along the leg stump towards the backward square-leg fence off the first ball. Two balls later, we have Jonker smashing the ball over the long on fence for his second six. Two quick doubles collected off the next two deliveries, with the 150 coming up for the Proteas. Single collected off the last ball. 16 off Bumrah’s final over. South Africa still have a slim chance.

18 off that last over… Jonker making a mark on T20 debut. Pretty ordinary from Thakur that over. More work for Bumrah to do.

SIX! Smashed over the long on fence, and suddenly the South African hopes have been restored! SA 149/5

FOUR! Smashed away towards the leg side by Behardein, who is providing some valuable support to Jonker right now! SA 142/5

South Africa need 35 off the last 12 balls.

After 18 overs,South Africa 138/5 ( Christiaan Jonker 33 , Farhaan Behardien 5)

Huge over for the Proteas, although one wonders if it arrived a tad to late for them. 18 collected off it, with Jonker smashing a six and three fours off it to race away to 33. Whether he guides the Proteas home today or not, he certainly would’ve impressed the national selectors on international debut.

FOUR! Flat hit from Jonker, with the ball landing just short of the padded cushion at deep midwicket! SA 138/5

FOUR! Jonker smashes a full delivery from Thakur down the ground to collect his fourth boundary! SA 134/5

FOUR! Right after the six! Jonker gets a thick edge, which travels over short third man and runs away to the fence! SA 130/5

SIX! Jonker carves this one over the cow-corner fence for his first six! SA 126/5

South Africa need 53 off the last 3 overs — a near-impossible equation for the Proteas now.

After 17 overs,South Africa 120/5 ( Christiaan Jonker 15 , Farhaan Behardien 5)

Bumrah starts his third over off with a wide, with Morris getting off the mark with a thick edge that sends the ball running away to the third man fence. Morris however, is castled off the third delivery, getting his middle stump uprooted. Behardien gets off the mark with a single off the first ball that he faces, before smacking the ball down the ground for a four two balls later.

FOUR! Smacked down the ground by new batsman Behardien, guiding it towards the long off fence! SA 120/5

Bowled him and jumps… Bumrah making a difference again in this game!

BOWLED EM! Bumrah’s made an absolute mess of the middle stump as Morris misses the ball completely while looking to slog one towards the leg side. SA 114/5

Morris b Bumrah 4(3)

FOUR! First boundary for Morris, as a thick edge off his bat sends the ball flying towards the third man fence. SA 114/4

After 16 overs,South Africa 110/4 ( Christiaan Jonker 14 , Chris Morris 0)

Thakur returns to the attack, with Duminy and Jonker exchanging singles off the first two deliveries before the captain decides to change his bat. Gets a boundary off the third delivery, which brings up his 11th T20I fifty. Goes for a double off the penultimate ball, before perishing off the last delivery, getting caught by Rohit near extra-cover. Eight runs and a wicket off it.

And Duminy is gone… the main batsman is gone… he needed to finish this game for South Africa, set batsman is very valuable on this pitch…. but he is gone now. The game turns in India’s favour… they are in the driving seat now.

OUT! Duminy perishes off the last ball of the 16th over, and that nearly puts all South African hopes to an end, as the SA captain lobs the ball up in the air towards extra-cover, where his Indian counterpart Rohit takes a safe catch. SA 109/4

Duminy c Rohit b Thakur 55(41)

Most 50-plus scores for South Africa in T20Is:

11 – JP DUMINY*

10 – AB de Villiers

8 – Faf du Plessis

JP Duminy becomes the fourth captain to score two fifty-plus scores in a bilateral T20I series after Kumar Sangakkara, Mohammad Hafeez and Kane Williamson.

South Africa have to go after everything now… Duminy marshalling the innings but this is getting beyond his reach too… Two big overs needed… atleast one and a half!

South Africa have to go after everything now… Duminy marshalling the innings but this is getting beyond his reach too… Two big overs needed… atleast one and a half!

FOUR! Another captain’s knock from Duminy, as he smacks the ball towards the extra-cover fence for his second four, bringing up his 11th T20I half-century and his second on the trot! Takes 38 balls to bring up the milestone. SA 107/3

Thakur back into the attack in the 16th over of the innings. SA need 72 off the last 30 balls.

After 15 overs,South Africa 101/3 ( JP Duminy (C) 48 , Christiaan Jonker 13)

Bumrah returns to the attack in the 15th over of the innings. Jonker gets a single off the first ball, with Duminy smashing his second six two balls later, with the ball sailing over the long on boundary. Singles collected off the next two balls, with the 100 coming up for the Proteas. Duminy keeps the strike with a single off the last ball. 10 off the over.

SIX! Smashed down the ground by Duminy, getting his timing off a full delivery right on the occasion! SA 98/3

Jasprit Bumrah returns to the attack in the 15th over of the innings.

After 14 overs,South Africa 91/3 ( JP Duminy (C) 40 , Christiaan Jonker 11)

Raina returns to the attack. “13.5 chahiye” yells Dhoni to his CSK teammate, talking about the required run rate. Debutant Jonker gets off the mark with a double off the third delivery, before collecting back-to-back fours. Collects a single off the last delivery to keep the strike. 12 off the over.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Jonker already, although this one’s hit a little squarer than the previous one. SA 90/3

FOUR! First boundary for Jonker in international cricket, as he guides a short, quicker delivery towards the fine-leg fence, guiding it past the fielder stationed inside the circle. SA 86/3

Raina returns to the attack from the Wynberg End for his third over.

After 13 overs,South Africa 79/3 ( JP Duminy (C) 39 , Christiaan Jonker 0)

Duminy hooks a short ball from Pandya towards backward square-leg, getting enough time to come back for a second run. Singles collected off the next three deliveries, before Klaasen smacks the ball straight into the safe hands of Bhuvneshwar at mid off, resulting in the fall of the third wicket. Debutant Jonker walks out to bat alongside Duminy in his first international game.

Klaasen gone! Pandya with a smiling send off… You don’t see many of those. Game changing moment?

OUT! Huge wicket for the Indians, as Klaasen walks back after hitting the ball straight down Bhuvneshwar’s throat at mid off. Pandya cannot resist offering a wide smile to Klaasen as he turns around to trudge back to the dressing room. SA 79/3

Klaasen c Bhuvneshwar b Pandya 7(10)

Klaasen dropped…. Tough chance but Thakur did well to reach there… Just couldn’t hold on. Axar being targeted.

After 12 overs,South Africa 74/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 35 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 6)

Axar is brought into the attack in the 12th over, and he misses out on the prized wicket of Klaasen off his first delivery of the tour, as Thakur puts down a chance at long on after a mishit by the keeper-batsman. Duminy makes the most of his dented confidence with back-to-back sixes off the next two deliveries. Huge over for the Proteas, with 16 coming off it, although the Proteas will need a another couple of such overs to stay in the hunt.

SIX! It’s back-to-back sixes for Duminy, as he decides to target the left-arm spinner playing his first game of the tour! Goes for a slog sweep once again, with the ball going even further into the crowd. SA 71/2

SIX! Duminy gets down on one knee, and smacks the ball beyond the midwicket fence! SA 65/2

Axar Patel brought into the attack in the 12th over of the innings. This is the left-arm spinner’s first match of the tour.

After 11 overs,South Africa 58/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 22 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 3)

Duminy gets a single off the first ball of the over, as Pandya continues from the Kelvin Grove End to bowl his third over. New batsman Klaasen pulls towards square-leg, but gets only a single off it. Duminy collects a double off the next ball after hitting the full toss towards the off side. Singles collected off the last two deliveries, with six coming off the over.

After 10 overs,South Africa 52/2 ( JP Duminy (C) 18 , Heinrich Klaasen (W) 1)

Miller mistimes an ambitious pull to offer Axar an easy catch at deep midwicket off the first ball of the over, giving Raina his first wicket. Duminy smacks the ball towards the square-leg fence with a pull off the next delivery, collecting his first boundary. Single collected off each of the next three deliveries, with the 50 coming up for the Proteas in the meantime. Seven off the over aside from the wicket.

Raina with the breakthrough… Huge moment. Pegs South Africa back more…  Klaasen in the house.

FOUR! Duminy pulls this one powerfully towards the square-leg fence off the second ball of the over. Not very different from MIller’s shot, except this one came off the middle of the bat. SA 49/2

25/1 in 6 overs. India have been superb in the power play. South Africa have a mountain to climb now. RRR now over 10. The ball isn’t really coming on to the batsmen.

OUT! The pressure of the mounting required rate got the better of Miller on this occasion, as he ends up getting caught by Axar at deep midwicket, mistiming his slog off Raina. SA 45/2

Miller c Axar b Miller 24(23)

After 9 overs,South Africa 45/1 ( David Miller 24 , JP Duminy (C) 12)

Miller collects the first six of the innings with a short-arm pull off the second delivery of over, as Pandya gets his line wrong while bowling a slower one. The Proteas hardly help their cause with their required run rate continuing to climb, as just a bye is collected off the over aside from the six.

SIX! Miller slogs a slower delivery from Pandya that is bowled along the leg stump, with the southpaw executing a short-arm pull on the occasion! SA 44/1

After 8 overs,South Africa 38/1 ( David Miller 18 , JP Duminy (C) 12)

Duminy collects a single off the first ball as Raina gets introduced into the attack in the eighth over. Miller smacks a boundary — a welcome one for the Proteas — off a short delivery next ball. Three singles exchanged off the next four deliveries, with Raina conceding eight off his first over.

FOUR! Raina bowls one short and outside off to Miller, with the batsman responding with a slog down the ground towards the wide long-off fence! SA 35/1

Spin introduced into the attack for the first time, as Rohit brings part-time off-spinner Raina into the attack with two left-handed batsmen out at the centre.

25/1 in 6 overs. India have been superb in the power play. South Africa have a mountain to climb now. RRR now over 10. The ball isn’t really coming on to the batsmen.

After 7 overs,South Africa 30/1 ( David Miller 12 , JP Duminy (C) 10)

Pandya is brought into the attack in the first over after powerplay, and he took keeps it tight at a time when the Proteas are desperately looking for the big hits. Gives away just five off it, including a double to the South African captain off the fourth delivery.

Hardik Pandya introduced into the attack in the first over after powerplay, with India already in a position of advantage thanks to some tight bowling in the powerplay.

After six overs today:

India – 57/1

South Africa – 25/1

This could well prove to be the difference between both the sides at the end.

After 6 overs,South Africa 25/1 ( David Miller 11 , JP Duminy (C) 6)

Duminy guides the ball towards third man off the third delivery of the over, where a fumble by Bhuvneshwar allows the batsman to come back for a second. The SA captain gets a single off the next ball, with some sharp work by Raina at midwicket restricting the possibility of collecting any more. Just three off the over, with SA scoring a meagre 25 off the powerplay. The hosts need another 148 to win from 14 overs.

After 5 overs,South Africa 22/1 ( David Miller 11 , JP Duminy (C) 3)

Bhuvi continues from the Kelvin Grove End. Miller sets off for a run off the first delivery. Superb piece of fielding by Raina at cover to block a single next ball. Three singles collected off the next four deliveries, with four coming off the over. Bhuvneshwar’s had an excellent evening with the ball so far, with his figures reading 1/13 from three overs.

Bhuvi with the breakthrough…. in-form Hendricks gone. The danger man Miller is still there though. India need more wickets in the powerplays before Axar Patel comes on, especially if Miller is still there.

After 4 overs,South Africa 18/1 ( David Miller 9 , JP Duminy (C) 1)

Thakur introduced into the attack in this over. Duminy gets off the mark with a single off the first ball of the over. Miller gets some width off the next delivery, and slaps the ball away towards the extra-cover fence for a one-bounce four. Six off the over.

FOUR! Slapped away towards the extra-cover fence by Miller off Thakur! Lands just short of the padded cushion for a one-bounce four. SA 17/1

After 3 overs,South Africa 12/1 ( David Miller 4 , JP Duminy (C) 0)

Bhuvi begins his second over. After a dot of the first ball, Bhuvneshwar bowls the change of pace, 116 kph, Hendricks adjusts well and taps it for a single towards third man.Hendricks calls for a quick single of the next ball to short fine leg. Holes out the next ball. Captain JP Duminy walks in.

First bowling change, as Shardul Thakur replaces Bumrah from the Wynberg End.

OUT! Kumar tried the slower ball earlier in the over, Hendricks resisted the temptation then, couldn’t do it one more time. Lures into a false stroke as he skies one to midwicket.

Hendricks c Dhawan b Bhuvneshwar 7(13)

After 2 overs,South Africa 8/0 ( Reeza Hendricks 6 , David Miller 1)

Bumrah bowls from the Wynberg End, with Hendricks bringing opening partner Miller on strike after a single off the first delivery. Miller gets off the mark after nudging the ball towards backward square-leg off the fourth delivery. Leg-bye off the last delivery, with Hendricks keeping the strike for the next over. Three off Bumrah’s first.

This is the first time that David Miller has been opening in T20 cricket.

Jasprit Bumrah to bowl from the Wynberg End.

After 1 over ,South Africa 5/0 ( Reeza Hendricks 5 , David Miller 0)

Five runs collected off the first over of the innings, as Hendricks gets the Proteas off the with a boundary off a square punch off the fourth delivery of the over. Takes a single off the last delivery to keep the strike.

FOUR! First runs on the board for the Proteas, as Hendricks punches the ball through square on the off side. Got his timing spot on on the occasion. SA 4/0

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will bowl the first over from the Kelvin Grove End, with Reeza Hendricks on strike at the start of South Africa’s response. Opening with him, for a change, is middle-order batsman David Miller, with Jon-Jon Smuts missing out on this game.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar will bowl the first over from the Kelvin Grove End, with Reeza Hendricks on strike at the start of South Africa’s response. Opening with him, for a change, is middle-order batsman David Miller, with Jon-Jon Smuts missing out on this game.

It seems like a par score for India. Always looked a struggle in this innings. That acceleration never came. 172 can be competitive given the record at this ground. Will depend a lot on how Bhuvi and Bumrah bowl today. David Miller opening the innings is one to watch out for in the powerplay overs.

The highest target successfully chased at Newlands, Cape Town in T20Is is 179 which was chased by Australia against South Africa in 2016.

After 20 overs,India 172/7 ( Axar Patel 1 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3)

Karthik sets off for a run at the start of the over, failing to connect after attempting a reverse-paddle. Pandya gets a thick top-edges that sends the ball high up in the air, making for an easy catch for keeper Klaasen. Karthik gets a boundary off a full delivery down leg off the next ball. He is trapped lbw off the next legal delivery however, as he misses a full toss after shuffling to his right, and ends up getting trapped plumb lbw, but not walking off before wasting the team’s review. Bhuvneshwar collects a triple off the only delivery that he faces, with Axar collecting a single off the last ball. 10 runs and two wickets off the last over, as India finish on a competitive score.

OUT! Karthik misses a yorker from Morris and gets hit on the back-foot, with the umpire raising his finger instantly. DK tries reviewing it, but to no avail, as Morris collects his second wicket. IND 168/7

Karthik lbw Morris 13(6)

FOUR! Third boundary for DK, as he gets a bit of bat to a full delivery pitched along leg from Morris, with the ball zooming away past the keeper. IND 167/6

OUT! Pandya perishes in the last over of the innings, skieing the ball off a mis-hit, with Klaasen calling out for the catch and collecting it comfortably in the end. First wicket for Morris. IND 163/6

Pandya c Klaasen b Morris 21(17)

Morris bowls the final over of the Indian innings.

After 19 overs,India 162/5 ( Hardik Pandya 21 , Dinesh Karthik 9)

Dala bowls his final over. Dhoni collects a four off an inside-edge off the first delivery, with the ball running past short fine-leg and away to the boundary. Dhoni, however, perishes off the next delivery, as he mishits off a short delivery from the bowler, getting caught by Miller near the long-off rope. Karthik walks out to bat for the first time in the tour, and smacks back-to-back fours off the first two deliveries that he faces. 15 off the over, with Dala finishing with figures of 3/35.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Karthik now! Tees off after noticing the long-off area vacant, lofting the full delivery down the ground. IND 161/5

FOUR! What a way for Karthik to get off the mark! Guides a back-of-length delivery from Dala past the man at backward point! IND 157/5

The highest total at Newlands, Cape Town in T20Is is 188/9. It was made by England against Zimbabwe in 2007.

Dhoni goes… India’s acceleration just hasn’t come through. 152 is average score here batting first, so they have managed to achieve that. Even so, India would have liked to have a few more runs.

OUT! Dhoni holes out to Miller at long-off, the result of a mishit off a back-of-length delivery, as Dala ends up collecting his third wicket. IND 151/5

Dhoni c Miller b Dala 12(11)

FOUR! Dhoni gets an inside-edge off a wide yorker that beats the man at short fine-leg, and runs away for a four! IND 151/4

Dala bowls the penultimate over of the Indian innings. He has been the pick of the South African bowlers so far in the innings.

After 18 overs,India 147/4 ( Hardik Pandya 20 , MS Dhoni (W) 8)

Morris returns to the attack in the 18th over of the innings. Dhoni collects a second run with some sharp running between the wickets. Pandya collects the first boundary in 29 deliveries, as he smacks a full toss straight down the ground to collect his first six. Two singles collected off the last three balls, with 11 coming off the over.

SIX! Poor stuff from Morris, as he fires a full toss at Pandya, who responds with a straight bat that sends the ball flying over the long-on fence. IND 145/4

Morris returns to the attack with three overs left in the Indian innings.

After 17 overs,India 136/4 ( Hardik Pandya 13 , MS Dhoni (W) 4)

Phehlukwayo into his third over. Two singles at the start of the over. Pandya comes back for a second run off the third delivery after guiding the ball towards the leg side. Singles collected off the last two deliveries of the over, with Dhoni and Pandya rotating the strike between themselves. Six off the over.

Dhawan’s run out has left India in the lurch. 130/4 is an ordinary score and India need atleast 180 here. Of course, these two batsmen can still go big and dig them out, but unlike in Centurion, they are both new at the crease. In the previous game, Pandey and Dhoni had been at the crease for a while.

After 16 overs,India 130/4 ( Hardik Pandya 9 , MS Dhoni (W) 2)

Shamsi bowls his final over of the innings, with Dhawan getting dismissed off the very first delivery, getting run out while coming back for a second run thanks to a brilliant direct hit by Dala from deep square-leg. Just five off the over, as Shamsi signs off with figures of 1/31 from four overs.

OUT! Dhawan misses out on a half-century by three runs in the final game of the tour, thanks to a superb direct hit by Dala from deep square-leg! Dhawan starts walking off even before the replay is shown on the giant screen. India in a bit of a bother now. Tries coming back for a risky second run, but Dala’s too good in the deep. IND 126/4

Dhawan run out (Dala) 47(40)

Shamsi brought back into the attack for his final over of the innings.

After 15 overs,India 125/3 ( Shikhar Dhawan 46 , Hardik Pandya 7)

Phehlukwayo returns to the attack in the 15th over of the Indian innings, and starts off by conceding a wide. Doubles collected off the next two deliveries of the over, with Pandya and Dhawan exhibiting fine running between the wickets. Another wide conceded off the last delivery, this one going down the leg-side to Dhawan. Eight off the over.

Hardik Pandya on this tour with the bat since his 93 in the first innings of the first Test:

1, 15, 6, 0, 4, 3*, 14, 9, 0, 13*

Phehlukwayo returns to the attack in the 15th over of the Indian innings.

After 14 overs,India 117/3 ( Shikhar Dhawan 45 , Hardik Pandya 2)

Dala returns to the attack in the 14th over of the innings, and he starts his second spell off with a bang as he removes Pandey, the top-scorer from the previous game, off the very first ball of the over. Pandya walks out to bat, with Dhawan collecting a double off the next delivery, the second one coming off an overthrow. Singles collected off the remaining deliveries of the over.

Dala with another wicket. Pandey mistimes a pull and is caught down the ground. India needed to up the ante and it hasn’t happened… which also explains why Pandya is at the crease now.

OUT! Dala strikes as soon as he returns to the attack, as Pandey holes out to Miller moving forward from long-on, getting a top-edge while looking for a pull. IND 111/3

Pandey c Miller b Dala 13(10)

Junior Dala brought back into the attack from the Wynberg End.

After 13 overs,India 111/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 41 , Manish Pandey 13)

Phangiso bowls his second over. Shamsi drops Dhawan for a second time in this innings, as the batsman skies the ball towards short fine-leg, where the chinaman bowler isn’t able to hold on to the ball after a dive. As if to rub salt on their wounds, Dhawan smacks the ball down the ground for a boundary off the very next delivery. Nine off the over.

FOUR! One ball after getting dropped by Shamsi for a second time, he shuffles forward and smashes the ball down the ground to collect his third four! IND 109/2

After 12 overs,India 102/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 34 , Manish Pandey 11)

Huge over for the Indians with 17 coming off it, as Pandey rocks back and smacks the ball over a leaping Miller at long-on for a flat six. Dhawan gets his first boundary two balls later, getting down on one knee and sweeping it towards the square-leg fence. Collects his second boundary off the last delivery of the over, this time smashing it towards the wide long-on fence. 17 off the over.

FOUR! Took a while for Dhawan to settle himself at the crease, and now he has two boundaries inside an over already! Smashes the ball towards the wide long-on fence off the last delivery of the 11th over, bringing up the 100 for the visitors. IND 102/2

FOUR! First boundary for Dhawan, as he gets down on one knee, and smacks this one towards the square-leg fence! IND 96/2

Sixes are tough to come by on this ground…. but Manish Pandey gets one over the ropes… a flat shot hit over long on just away from the leaping fielder.

Manish Pandey has been dismissed only once out of his last five T20I innings. 32*, 1*, 32, 29* and 79*.

SIX! This one’s hit flat by Pandey, targetting the long-on area, where Miller fails to hold on to the ball despite a leap. IND 91/2

After 11 overs,India 85/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 25 , Manish Pandey 3)

Dhawan and Pandey exchange singles off the first two deliveries of the over. Dhawan advances down the track and hammers the ball back to the bowler after a bump off the pitch, with the crowd raising it’s volume for a moment thinking it to be a catch. Four off the over, all the runs coming off singles.

Suresh Raina will have to wait for the next T20I to become the third Indian batsman to hit 50 sixes in the shortest format as Behardien took his catch at long on.

Raina is gone… holes out down the ground. But he has done his job. The run-rate is being maintained over 8/over, but Dhawan is patchy at the other end.

Aaron Phangiso introduced into the attack for the first time in the innings, bowling from the Kelvin Grove End.

After 10 overs,India 81/2 ( Shikhar Dhawan 23 , Manish Pandey 1)

Dhawan grabs a double off the second delivery of the 10th over, going for a reverse-sweep on this occasion. Raina then falls short of a fifty as he gets caught by Behardien near long-on. Pandey walks out to bat at No 4, and gets off the mark with a single. Six runs and a wicket off the over. India going going at over eight-an-over at the halfway mark in their innings.

OUT! Raina perishes after a well-paced knock, as Behardien takes a fine catch near the boundary rope at long-on. The southpaw played this one with a straight bat, and was looking to clear the boundary rope for the second time in his innings. First wicket to Shamsi. IND 79/2

Raina c Behardien b Shamsi 43(27)

After 9 overs,India 75/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 19 , Suresh Raina 42)

10 off Duminy’s third over of the innings, with Raina cutting the ball towards Behardien at cover — which should’ve been a dot, except for a misfield that resulted in a dot being converted to a boundary. Four singles and a double off the remainder of the over.

FOUR! Poor stuff from Behardien stationed at cover, as the ball passes past Behardien’s hand to run away to the fence! IND 72/1

After 8 overs,India 65/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 17 , Suresh Raina 34)

Shamsi’s brought into the attack in the eighth over. Appeal for lbw off the second delivery, though the impact seemed to have been well above height. Raina collects a single off the fourth delivery to bring up the fifty-stand for the second wicket. Just three off the over, a tight one from Shamsi, though he will have to do a lot more to make up for the silly dropped chance of Dhawan two overs ago.

50 partnership for Raina-Dhawan… run-rate has dipped a bit though. Duminy has bowled a wonderful first spell… just 12 runs from 2 overs coming on in powerplays.

FIFTY-PARTNERSHIP up between Raina and Dhawan for the second wicket, with the former collecting a single in the eighth over to bring up the milestone! The pair take 37 deliveries to get to the mark in what has been a superb counter-attack from the visitors after Rohit’s dismissal. IND 64/1

Tabraiz Shamsi brought in from the Wynberg End.

After 7 overs,India 62/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 15 , Suresh Raina 33)

Duminy returns to the attack in the seventh over, with five coming off the over, including a double to Dhawan off the penultimate delivery.

Duminy brings himself back into the attack in the seventh over of the innings.

Dropped… Dhawan gets a life as Shamsi drops a sitter. So far luck is playing out for these two. India’s top-order has to make things work today in Virat’s absence. The ball seems to be stopping in the outfield, unlike Centurion and Johannesburg.

After 6 overs,India 57/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 11 , Suresh Raina 32)

Morris replaces Dala from the Wynberg End. Raina collects a double at the start of the over, before slashing the ball towards the backward point fence to collect his fourth boundary. DROPPED! Shamsi’s poor run in the field continues as he drops a sitter off Dhawan at short third man, after Raina edges straight down his throat. 10 off the over, as India finish the powerplay with a score of 57.

FOUR! Back-of-length from Morris, with Raina making room for a square-cut that beats the fielder running in from third man near the backward point boundary. Brings up the 50 for the Indians. IND 53/1

Change of ends for Morris, as he replaces Dala from the Wynberg End.

After 5 overs,India 47/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 9 , Suresh Raina 24)

Phehlukwayo is brought into the attack for the fifth over, and he is smacked for back-to-back fours by Raina off the first two deliveries. 12 off the over, with three singles and a wide coming off the remainder of the over. The second-wicket stand is worth 33 already.

FOUR! This time it’s overpitched by Phehlukwayo well outside off, and invites a cracking cover drive from Raina! Back-to-back fours for the southpaw batting at No 3 today. IND 43/1

Official word… “Nothing serious” on Virat’s injury. Serious enough to not play in a series decider.

FOUR! Smacked down the ground by Raina, welcoming Phehlukwayo into the attack the hard way. IND 39/1

Another bowling change from the Kelvin Grove End. Andile Phehlukwayo to bowl the fifth over.

After 4 overs,India 35/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 8 , Suresh Raina 14)

Dala continues from the Wynberg End, giving away five off this over. Dhawan goes for a mistimed slog off the penultimate delivery of the over, with the ball landing in the vacant region between midwicket and long-on.

After 3 overs,India 30/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 4 , Suresh Raina 13)

Duminy introduces himself into the attack in place of Morris. Eight off the third over of the innings, with Raina now collecting a boundary for himself with a punch through the off-side.

FOUR! Now Raina helps himself to a four, rocking back and smacking the ball through the off-side! IND 27/1

Jean-Paul Duminy, the South African captain, introduces himself in the attack in the third over of the innings.

After 2 overs,India 22/1 ( Shikhar Dhawan 2 , Suresh Raina 8)

Dala bowls from the other end at the start of the Indian innings. Dhawan collects a single off the first ball. Rohit, however, is trapped lbw two balls later as Dala draws first blood for the Proteas. Raina walks out next, and starts off with a bang with a six towards the leg side. Nine off the over.

Mixed start for India… Rohit made it count for the first over but plumb lbw off Dala..  looking for a no ball call but no DRS.

SIX! Raina smacks the ball over the long-leg fence as soon as he arrives at the crease, as he starts off with a bang.  IND 20/1

This is the third consecutive time that Junior Dala has got the wicket of Rohit Sharma.

OUT! Rohit ends what has been a mixed tour on a disappointing note, as he is trapped lbw by Dala, getting beaten by pace on this occasion. Decides not to review the decision after a bit of a chat with opening partner Dhawan. IND 14/1

Rohit lbw Dala 11(8)

Junior Dala bowls the second over of the innings from the Wynberg End.

After 1 overs,India 13/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 11 , Shikhar Dhawan 1)

Morris starts off with a big front-foot no-ball off the first ball of the innings, with stand-in captain Rohit grabbing a double at the same time. Rohit though, gets only a single in the free-hit that follows. Dhawan gets off the mark with a single off the first ball that he faces. Expensive start for Morris, as Rohit collects back-to-back boundaries off the last two deliveries, with 13 coming off the over.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for the Indians, as Rohit whips a full delivery going down leg towards the fine-leg fence! IND 13/0

FOUR! Boundary number one for the Indians, and it comes off the bat of stand-in captain Rohit Sharma, who smacks a full delivery from the all-rounder down the ground! IND 9/0

India have never lost the third match of a bilateral T20I series. They have played six and won all till date.

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan walk out to bat at the start of the Indian innings, with the former dealing with the additional pressure of captaincy in Virat Kohli’s absence today. Chris Morris starts off for the Proteas from the Kelvin Grove End.

Kohli warmed up a bit and everything seemed fine but suddenly Rohit came for the toss. Surprising yet huge development. Changes a lot in the complexion of the side.

South Africa have won only one out of their last six T20Is at Newlands, Cape Town. It was against England in 2016.

Huge news from the toss… 

Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the third and final T20I against South Africa in Cape Town. 

Rohit Sharma is leading the side in Kohli’s absence. It was a surprising development as Sharma walked out for the toss. 

Kohli is suffering from a stiff back and hence has been ruled out of this game as a last minute call. Dinesh Karthik will replace him.

At Newlands, Cape Town in T20Is:

Team winning batting first – 3

Teams winning batting second – 12

Pitch Report: There is little bit of grass but nothing like the Test wicket. Should be decent wicket to bat. 160-170 would be good.

“Kohli’s got a stiff back, he’s had a long season So he misses out,” says stand-in India captain Rohit Sharma. 

India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni(wk), Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur

​

Kohli misses out for India in their last match of the tour, and Dinesh Karthik is his replacement. The other changes are Bumrah coming back in place of Unadkat, and Axar replacing Chahal.

“It’s been a formula that’s worked for us, so it’s going to be the same,” says SA captain JP Duminy at the toss. 

SA XI: David Miller, Reeza Hendricks, JP Duminy (c), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Farhaan Behardien, Christiaan Jonker, Andile Phehlukwayo, Aaron Phangiso, Chris Morris, Junior Dala, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Two changes for the Proteas — Christiaan Jonker comes in place of JJ Smuts, with Miller set to open, while Aaron Phangiso replaces pacer Dane Paterson.

TOSS: South Africa win the toss for the third time in the series, and captain JP Duminy opts to field once again!

It’s Rohit Sharma, and not Virat Kohli, who walks out to the toss instead of Virat Kohli.

Here’s what Rohit Sankar has to say on the Indian team’s batting performances and how they can improve.

India vs South Africa: Following IPL template for batting order in T20Is could bring Virat Kohli and Co more consistent success- Firstcricket News, Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Read Devdutt Kshirsagar’s preview of the 3rd and final T20I between India and South Africa shared below.

India vs South Africa, 3rd T20I: Virat Kohli and Co eye perfect ending in Newlands’ mouth-watering ‘final’- Firstcricket News, Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Earlier this evening, the India women’s team ended their tour of South Africa in style with a 54-run win at the venue where the men are to face off later today, winning the five-match T20I series 3-1 as a result. 

Relive the match through our highlights shared below.

Highlights, India women vs South Africa women, 5th T20I at Cape Town: Visitors beat hosts by 54 runs, win series 3-1- Firstcricket News, Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

The three-match series is currently locked at 1-1, with the Proteas levelling the series in style with a six-wicket victory at Centurion on Wednesday. India, though, will look to sign off in their tour on style at the venue where the two-month-long tour began.

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s live coverage of the 3rd and final T20I between India and South Africa at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on Saturday.