The third and final match of the ongoing T20I series between India and South Africa was won by the visitors. India, having rested Virat Kohli and KL Rahul did not have answers to South Africa’s high-intensity batting and equally threatening bowling.
India however also paid back for poor fielding, the worst of which was Mohammed Siraj’s attempt at the boundary line. Siraj, fielding at Deep point, took David Miller’s catch but stepped on the boundary line in the process nullifying the catch and turning it into a six. What followed was a show of anger from both, captain Rohit Sharma and bowler Deepak Chahar.
Siraj really deserve that ? pic.twitter.com/6ev3TOVVnM
— Raga (@Raga_07) October 4, 2022
It was an easy catch which should have been taken without much fuss but the fielder made a mess of it. Many fans have questioned his catching technique for the high catch. The Indian bowler went for the Indian technique where one allows the ball to fall into their hands at the stomach level.
Australia’s technique where one stands in the line of the ball and catches it above eye level would have been a better technique for this catch and Mohammed Siraj would not have to walk back in order to complete the catch.
Eye-opening loss for India
David Miller went on to make 19 runs in just five balls to take South Africa’s score to a massive 227/3 in 20 overs. Rilee Rossouw was the batting leader as he made a quickfire 100* in just 48 balls while toying with the Indian bowling attack. The other opener Quinton de Kock also continued his rich vein of form as he hit 68 in just 43 deliveries to give a great start to the South Africa side.
In reply, Indian batters failed to showcase a fighting spirit as all apart from Dinesh Karthik went out cheaply. Lower order batters like Deepak Chahar (31) and Umesh Yadav (20) showed some fight at the end, but the huge target proved a destination too far for the Indian side and they lost by 49 runs. As a result, the series ended with India winning 2-1.
