Tag: India vs South Africa

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh rattled the opposition batting on a seaming pitch to set up India’s eight-wicket win over South Africa in their opening Twenty20 international on Wednesday.

South Africa recovered from 9-5 in 2.3 overs to post 106-8 after India elected to field first at the start of the three-match series in Thiruvananthapuram.

Arshdeep, a left-arm quick, returned figures of 3-32 and fellow pace bowler Deepak Chahar took two wickets on an unusually bowler-friendly track in India.

India lost skipper Rohit Sharma for a duck and star batsman Virat Kohli for three before the hosts achieved their target with 20 balls to spare and take a 1-0 lead.

KL Rahul (51) and Suryakumar Yadav (50) put on an unbeaten 93-run partnership to complete the chase as India move into their final two matches ahead of the T20 World Cup starting next month in Australia.

“We have played in a few difficult conditions like these but I haven’t got runs in those, so this was hard work,” Rahul said after hitting the winning six.

“Ice baths and wickets like these is not something we enjoy, but we have to do it sometimes.”

Rohit expressed surprised with the nature of the pitch and said, “We knew there will be something for the bowlers, but not through the 20 overs we bowled.”

New-ball bowlers Chahar and Arshdeep made it count after India lost pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to “back pain” before the start of the match.

Number eight Keshav Maharaj hit 41 off 35 balls to help South Africa bat the full 20 overs and add some respectability to their meagre total.

Chahar bowled skipper Temba Bavuma for a fourth-ball duck and fellow opener Quinton de Kock dragged a delivery on to his stumps from left-arm quick Arshdeep.

The Proteas slipped further into trouble when Arshdeep had Rilee Rossouw caught behind for nought and then bowled David Miller the next ball.

It was South Africa’s worst-ever start to a T20 international when Tristan Stubbs fell to Chahar in the third over.

Aiden Markram (25) Wayne Parnell (24) put together 33 runs for the sixth wicket to slow India’s momentum.

Markram smashed three fours and one six before being trapped lbw by Harshal Patel as India successfully reviewed the on-field umpire’s initial decision.

Parnell fell in the 16th over but Maharaj stood firm before his knock ended in the final over as Patel picked up his second wicket.

“We didn’t expect that (pitch), we practiced here two days, ago,” said Bavuma.

“We saw the wicket was spicy, but we didn’t expect it like that. You expected to hit through the line coming to India.”

In reply, India struggled to 17-1 in the first six overs with Kagiso Rabada sending back Rohit and then the hosts lost Kohli, caught behind off fast bowler Anrich Nortje.

Suryakumar eased the nerves with two sixes including a lucky one with an edge that sailed over deep third man to bring the crowd alive.

The in-form Suryakumar hit five fours and three sixes in his 33-ball knock and took on the bowlers with Rahul, who stood anchor, for the company as the two set about the chase with clinical precision.

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KARACHI: Pakistan’s former leg spinner Danish Kaneria has raised concerns over Indian captain Rishabh Pant for his fitness while calling him slightly overweight and bulky.

Kaneria raised concerns over Pant’s wicketkeeping stance and claimed that the issues with his keeping were due to his weight.

“I have noticed one thing that when a fast bowler is bowling, he doesn’t crouch and sit down. He keeps standing,” said Kaneria in a video posted on his Youtube Channel.

“Maybe because he is slightly overweight and bulky, he can’t come up that quickly, and he doesn’t have that much time. He just stays bent back and low, he doesn’t sit down properly,” he claimed.

Kaneria opined his concerns over the Indian skipper’s physical fitness and questioned whether he was fully fit.

“I think that shows a little concern over his fitness. Is Rishabh Pant fully fit?” he questioned.

The 41-year-old spinner also criticized the left-handed batter for his batting and asked him to take a break to improve his batting skills.

“Rishabh Pant will have to improve his batting style. There is KS Bharat available and I don’t see any wrong in bringing in Wriddhiman Saha. Just give a break to Rishabh Pant,” he concluded.

Pant, who is currently leading the Indian side in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, has been under enormous pressure for his batting form as he has scored just 57 runs in four matches at an average of 14.25.

Meanwhile, he has been praised for his captaincy for making a comeback in the series after being defeated in the first two games against the host.

The tie-breaker final T20I match of the five-match series between the two teams will be played today.

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RAJKOT: India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik smashed a brilliant half-century before the young pacer Avesh Khan wreaked havoc over the South African batting line-up to bolster the home side to a comprehensive 82-run victory in the fourth T20I.

India have made a remarkable turnaround after falling behind 2-0 in the first two games to force the series to tie at 2-2 going into the final game on Sunday.

Batting first, the home side posted a commendable total of 169/6 in the allotted 20 overs, thanks to the blistering half-century from Karthik.

The home side were in all sorts of trouble when Karthik came out to bat at 81/4 in the 13th over. The wicket-keeper batter then showed character and put on a match-defining partnership with the all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

The pair added 65 runs for the fifth wicket and excelled at the pace to power the side to a commendable total. Pandya, who was a touch slow in the proceedings, fell short to Lungi Ngidi in the 19th over. He scored 46 off 31 balls, laced with three boundaries and as many sixes.

Karthik, on the other hand, fell in the final over after making sure to pull his side out of danger as India finished on 169/6 in 20 overs. The wicket-keeper batter top-scored for the side with 55 off a mere 27 deliveries with the help of nine boundaries and two sixes.

In the run chase, Indian bowlers displayed sheer dominance over the Proteas batting line-up and bowled out the touring side for a skimpy 87 in the 17th over.

Rassie van der Dussen resisted a bit with his gritty 20, but he too, could not hold on for long against the strong Indian bowling attack. The rest of the batters also looked helpless as eight of them could not enter into the double figures.

For India, Avesh was the pick of the bowlers as he bagged his career-best 4-18, while Yuzvendra Chahal bagged two. Harshal Patel and Axar Patel, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

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CUTTACK: South African wicket-keeper batter Heinrich Klaasen shone with his career-best T20I knock of 81 runs after the bowlers displayed combined effort to power the touring side to outclass India by four wickets in the second T20I of the ongoing five-match series.

At the toss, the South African captain Temba Bavuma put the hosts in to bat first as the coin flipped in his favour.

India, in response, could only manage to score 148/6 in the allotted 20 overs as the Proteas bowlers kept things tight for the host batters.

The home side were off to a poor start as the South African pacer Kagiso Rabada struck in the first over to remove the opener Raturaj Gaikwad for one at a combined score of three.

Following the early disaster, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer attempted to anchor the inning as the pair put on the highest partnership for India in the match.

The pair appeared firm as they were ticking the scoreboard at a decent pace before Kishan lost his wicket to Anrich Nortje in the seventh over. The left-handed batter scored 34 off just 21 deliveries with the help of two boundaries and three sixes.

Following his dismissal, the home side began to lose wickets at a regular interval and slipped 98/5 in the 14th over as their top-scorer Iyer also made his way back falling prey to the match-defining collapse. Iyer scored 40 off 35 balls, including two boundaries and as many sixes.

The wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik then bolstered his side to a commendable following a blistering knock in the death overs. He remained unbeaten with 30 runs off just 21 balls, laced with two boundaries and as many sixes.

For South Africa, Nortje led the way with two wickets, while Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorious, Keshav Maharaj, and Rabada claimed one wicket each.

In the run chase, the touring side were off to even more dismal as they lost three wickets for a mere 29 runs in the sixth over.

The South African captain Bavuma and hero of the match Klaasen then anchored the run chase with a magnificent 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket and made sure to cope up with the required run rate.

Bavuma, however, fell short to Yuzvendra Chahal, who castled him in the 13th over. He scored 35 off 30 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six.

Klaasen, on the other hand, kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly during his career-best knock. The right-handed batter, however, perished in the 17th over but had taken the game out of India’s grasp.

Klaasen top-scored for his side with a valiant knock of 81 runs off just 46 deliveries, smashing seven boundaries and five sixes.

South Africa’s last match hero David Miller remained unbeaten with his 20 and made sure of his side to steer to the victory.

For India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar starred with the ball; taking four wickets, while Harhsal Patel and Chahal made one scalp each.

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CHRISTCHURCH: South African opener Laura Wolvaardt top-scored with her astonishing knock of 80 runs before middle-order batter Mignon du Preez shone with a half-century to propel her side to a thrilling victory over India in the last round match of the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup.

In the 28th match of the ongoing World Cup, South Africa sealed a thrilling victory over India by three wickets and knocked the latter out of the semi-final hunt.

With India’s exit from the World Cup, West Indies have made their way into the knockout stage of the global event.

Batting first in the last round match, India get to a commendable 275/7 in the allotted 50 overs, thanks to the half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and the skipper Mithali Raj.

The openers Mandhana and Verma provided a solid start to the side with a brilliant 91-runs partnership. Verma made her way back early after scoring 53, while Mandhana stood firm and top-scored for the side with her 71.

Later, Mithali and Harmanpreet Kaur bolstered the side to a decent total with their valiant knocks. Mithali scored 68 off 84 balls, while Harmanpreet chipped in with 48.

For South Africa, Masabata Klaas and Shabnim Ismail bagged two wickets each, while Chloe Tyton and Ayabnonga Khaka made one scalp each.

In the run chase, South Africa steered to the victory on the final delivery with three wickets in hand.

Deepti Sharma, who was bowling the final over for India, managed to pick du Preez’s wicket but overstepped and hence the proteas women steered to the victory on the final ball.

The middle-order batter du Preez remained unbeaten with her gritty knock of 52 off 63 balls, while Wolvaardt top-scored with 80 off 79 deliveries. The left-handed batter Lara Goodall, on the other hand, also chipped in with 49.

For India, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Harmanpreet managed to pick two wickets each.

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CAPE TOWN: South Africa whitewashed India after defeating India in a thriller, defeating the touring side by four runs in the third ODI of the ongoing series, here on Sunday.

Dwaine Pretorious held his nerve calm defending a mere five runs in the last over; claiming the last wicket of the touring side on the second delivery of his over to guide his side to the victory.

Set to chase 288, India could manage to score 283 despite Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, and Deepak Chahar’s half-centuries. The rest of the batters failed to make an impact with the bat, departed after scoring cheaply.

Dhawan scored 61 off 73 deliveries, followed by the top-scorer for the side – Kohli, who scored 65 off 84, laced with five boundaries. Following their departure, the Indian middle-order collapsed and despite Chahar’s fighting 54, the side fell four runs short in the run chase.

For the Proteas, Lungi Ngidi and Andile Phehlukwayo bagged three wickets each, while Pretorious claimed two. Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj made one scalp each.

Batting first, the home side posted a commendable total of 287 in the allotted 50 overs, led by the wicketkeeper batter – Quinton de Kock’s magnificent century; scoring 124 off 130 deliveries; smoking 12 boundaries and two sixes.

Rassie van der Dussen too chipped in with his brilliant half-century; scoring 52, while the rest of the batters too chipped in with significant contributions to assist the home side to amass 287 in the end.

For India, Prasidh Krishna claimed three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Chahar picked two wickets each. Yuzvendra Chahal, on the other hand, made one scalp.

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PAARL: South African top-order stood up to set up the run chase for the home side; defeating India by seven wickets in the second ODI of the ongoing series, here on Friday.

South African openers anchored the run chase with a solid 132-runs partnership. Both the openers – Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan scored magnificent half-centuries setting up the perfect foundation for the home side.

India’s Shardul Thakur managed to provide the breakthrough for the touring side; dismissing de Kock for 78. He faced just deliveries, smashed seven boundaries and three sixes.

Malan, on the other hand, kept going and scored an astonishing 91 off 108 balls, laced with eight boundaries and a six before getting castled by Jasprit Bumrah.

Following their departure, the Proteas’ middle-order batters contributed significantly to steer the side to the victory in the 49th over. Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen remained unbeaten; scoring 37 each.

For India, Thakur, Bumrah, and Yuzvendra Chahal made one scalp each.

Batting first, India too, had a decent start to their innings; putting a firm 63-runs opening partnership. The duo appeared solid but Shikhar Dhawan departed after scoring 29. The left-handed batter faced 38 deliveries and smashed five boundaries.

KL Rahul, on the other hand, kept going and partnered brilliantly with Rishabh Pant following Virat Kohli’s five-ball duck. The pair added a 115-runs partnership for the third wicket as both the batters scored half-centuries.

The duo appeared to have put the touring side in the commanding position before Rahul departed after scoring 55 deliveries. He hit four boundaries.

Pant, on the other hand, top-scored with his quick 85 off 71 balls, laced with 10 boundaries and two sixes before getting dismissed by Tabraiz Shamsi in the 33rd over.

Following his departure, the side began to lose wickets at an alarming rate, despite the late contributions from Thakur (40), the men in blue finished at 287/6 in the allotted 50 overs.

For South Africa, Shamsi bagged two wickets, while Sisanda Magala, Markram, Keshav Maharaj, and Andile Phehlukwayo struck out a batter each.

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PROVIDENCE: Vicky Ostwal picked up five while Raj Bawa bagged four wickets to help India bowl out South Africa for 187 and win their opening match by 45 runs in ICC U19 Cricket World Cup here on Saturday. 

Set to chase 233, Australian batting line flopped in front of rookie bowling attack of India. Dewald Brevis fought hard with his 65 runs including two sixes and six boundaries. George Van Heerden made 36 including a six and three boundaries.

Earlier, Yash Dhull smashed 82 runs laced with 11 boundaries to drive India to post 232 runs. Matthew Boast bagged three wickets while Aphiwe Mnyanda and Dewald Brevis took two wickets each.

In another match, UAE beat Canada by 49 runs. Punya Mehra (71) and Ali Naseer (73) guided UAE to 284/7 after they decided to bat first.

Parmveer Kharoud and Gurnek Johal Singh took two wickets each for Canada.

In reply, Mihir Patel’s 96 went in vain as Canada managed to get 235. Mihir smoked eight boundaries and two sixes.

For UAE, Nilansh Keswani, Adhitya Shetty, Jash Giyanani, Alishan Sharafu bagged two wickets each.

On the other hand, Ireland beat Uganda by 39 runs. Centurian Joshua Cox drove Ireland to 236-9 in 50 overs. His innings included eight boundaries and a six.

Juma Miyaji, Pascal Murungi, Joseph Baguma, Matthew Musinguzi bagged two wickets each for Uganda.

Uganda’s captain Pascal Murungi fought hard with his 63 runs in run-chase. But, Ireland was on top with their bowling. Matthew Humphreys picked four wickets.

In last match on Sunday, Zimbabwe outclassed Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 238 runs. Emmanuel Bawa (100) helped Zimbabwe post 321-9.

For PNG, Rasan Kevau bagged three wickets.

In reply, PNG were bowled out for mere 98 runs. Ngenyasha Zvinoera, Brian Bennett, and Victor Chirwa bagged two wickets each for Zimbabwe.

CAPE TOWN: South Africa’s captain – Dean Elgar alongside Keegan Petersen, put on a crucial 78-run partnership to put the home side on the brink of victory over India at stumps on day three of the ongoing third Test.

South Africa needs 111 runs to clinch the series. Petersen (48*) and Rassie van der Dussen will now resume the run chase for the home side at 101/2 on the fourth day.

Earlier, the duo of Elgar and Petersen looked to stretch their partnership into the fourth day, but, Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant outswinger forced the South African captain to walk back to the pavilion for his individual score of 30. Elgar faced 96 balls and hit three boundaries.

Petersen, on the other hand, looks solid with his unbeaten 48 off 61 balls, laced with seven boundaries.

For India, Mohammed Shami and Bumrah shared one wicket apiece on the third day’s play.

Earlier, at the commencement of the third day of the ongoing Test, India resumed their innings at 57/2. The side, however, halted by a poor start as Cheteshwar Pujara walked back to the pavilion on the second ball of the day after failing to add a run to his overnight score of nine. Soon after, in the next over, Ajinkya Rahane departed after managing to score just one run off nine deliveries.

Indian captain – Virat Kohli, alongside the wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant, looked to anchor the innings. The pair added a crucial 94-runs partnership before Kohli departed after scoring a highly defensive 29 off 143 balls.

Following Kohli’s departure, the men in blue began to lose wickets at an alarming rate, but, Pant stood firm and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly. The left-handed batter went on to score his fourth Test century and also became the first Asian wicketkeeper to score a Test hundred in South Africa.

Pant remained not-out for his magnificent 100 off 139 balls, laced with six boundaries and four sixes as the touring side lost all their 10 wickets following Bumrah’s departure after bagging a duck. As a result, India, bundled out for 198 in the second innings; setting a 212-runs target for the home side.

For the proteas, Macro Jensen starred with the ball; taking four wickets, while Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada claimed three wickets each.

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CAPE TOWN: At the stumps of day two of the third Test, Indian batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli anchored the second innings after Jasprit Bumrah’s five-fer assisted the touring side bowling out South Africa for 210 in the first innings.

Kohli and Pujara anchored the innings with an unbeaten 33-runs partnership before the men in blue lost both their openers at a combined score of 24. Mayank Agarwal scored seven, while KL Rahul managed to score 10.

The duo of Kohli and Pujara will now resume the innings for India at 57/2 on the third day of the ongoing Test. Kohli scored an unbeaten 14, while Pujara scored 9* at the stumps.

At the commencement of the second day, South Africa resumed the proceedings at 17/1. The side, however, had the worst possible start; losing the opener Aiden Markram without adding a run on the second day’s play. He scored eight off 22 balls before falling short to Bumrah’s brilliant delivery; knocking the off-stump.

The nightwatchman for the Proteas – Keshav Maharaj, too, soon dismissed after scoring 25 as Shardul Thakur uprooted the middle stump; resulting in the home side slipping from 17/1 to 45/3.

Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen then anchored the innings with a valiant 67-runs partnership. The duo appeared immovable before Umesh Yadav sent van der Dussen back to the pavilion for his individual score of 21.

Bavuma, too, put on a brief partnership with Petersen, the duo added a 47-runs partnership before the 31-years-old walked back to the pavilion after scoring 28. Bavuma faced 52 balls and smashed four boundaries.

Following his departure, the home side began to lose wickets at an alarming rate, but, Petersen stood firm and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly. Petersen scored an astonishing 72 before falling short to Bumrah’s brilliant outswinger; handing an easy catch to Pujara in the slip cordon.

With Petersen’ dismissal, the home side soon bundled out for 210 in the first innings; handing a 13-runs lead to the men in blue.

For India, Bumrah starred; taking a five-fer, while Yadav and Mohammed Shami bagged two wickets each. Thakur, on the other hand, made one scalp.

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