India made it 2-1 in the five-match series with a comfortable 48-run victory in the third T20I against South Africa at Vishakapatnam.

In the third T20 between India and South Africa at Vishakapatnam, Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to field first.

Indian openers, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan, gave India a flying start with a 97-run partnership in 10 overs. Gaikwad took a particular liking to Anrich Nortje, as he dispatched him for five consecutive boundaries to swing the momentum in India’s favour.

He finished with 57 off 35 balls, with seven boundaries and two sixes. Kishan scored 54 off 35 balls, with five boundaries and two sixes.

Gaikwad and Kishan’s dismissals caused a disruption in India’s batting rhythm because the middle-order was unable to dominate like the openers did. Hardik Pandya continued his fine form to score 31 off 21 to take India to a respectable 179/5 in 20 overs.

Dwaine Pretorius was South Africa’s standout bowler, picking two wickets and conceding 29 runs in his quota of four overs. At one point, India looked like they would have crossed 200, but South Africa’s bowling attack pulled it back to restrict India to 179 runs.

South Africa got off to a slow start, as neither Temba Bavuma nor Reeza Hendricks were able to push the scoring rate. Scoring at five runs an over in the powerplay, Bavuma had to take the game on, but was caught at Mid-On by Avesh Khan for 8 off 10 balls.

Hendricks scored 23 off 20 balls, and was dismissed in the sixth over. Pretorius continued batting at 3, but was unable to replicate his pyrotechnics from the first T20, and was out to Yuzvendra Chahal for 20 off 16.

Heinrich Klaasen tried to salvage the innings with 29 off 24 balls, except he lost partners consistently and was left with too much to do in the last ten overs. Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal were India’s standout bowlers, picking four and three wickets, respectively,

The fourth T20 will be played on Friday, the 17th of June, in Rajkot.