South Africa wins consolation T20 thanks to blistering Rossouw ton
In the third game against India on Tuesday, Rilee Rossouw scores his first century in Twenty20 international play to help South Africa win by a score of 49 runs.
After being given the opportunity to bat first in Indore, the left-handed Rossouw struck an unbeaten 100 in 48 balls to lead South Africa to a score of 227-3.
After winning the first two games, the hosts took the three-match series 2-1—their first ever against the Proteas at home. South African bowlers combined to dismiss India for 178 in 18.3 overs.
Before the T20 World Cup in Australia, which begins later this month, it was the final game for both countries, and 32-year-old Rossouw made it count for the visitors.
After captain Temba Bavuma, who had two ducks in the two losses, went down for three, Quinton de Kock (68 off 43 balls) and Rossouw combined for 89 runs for the second wicket.
Mohammed Siraj fumbled a catch on 24, but Rossouw managed to survive when the ball bounced out of his hands for a six. De Kock reached fifty for the second time in a row by hitting Umesh Yadav over the boundary.
Before their partnership came to an end due to De Kock’s run out while attempting to steal a second run, the two of them each struck eight sixes.
Then, after hitting eight sixes, Rossouw and Tristan Stubbs put on a strong 87-run partnership, breaking their previous record of 96 not out, and went on to achieve his century in just 48 balls.
Stubbs scored 23 after receiving a warning from fast bowler Deepak Chahar for backing up excessively at the non-end striker’s when on 13.
Rossouw finished the game unscathed, and David Miller, who scored a century in the second T20, smashed three consecutive sixes in the penultimate over from Chahar to make an unbeaten 19 off five balls.
India’s response saw two early wickets go, including the captain Rohit Sharma for a duck when fast bowler Kagiso Rabada’s inside edge caught his stumps.
Dinesh Karthik (46) and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant (27) made an effort to resurrect the pursuit with an aggressive partnership of 41 off 20 balls.
South Africa wins consolation T20 thanks to blistering Rossouw ton
After making 14 balls and smashing three fours and two sixes, the left-handed Pant was out, but Karthik persisted.
After the batsman attempted a reverse scoop but was bowled, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj prevented Karthik from reaching his fifty.
With the exception of Chahar, who scored a brave 31 off only 17 balls, the remainder of the batting, which was without Virat Kohli and KL Rahul who were resting, failed to pose a threat to the bowlers.
In place of the rested Anrich Nortje, fast bowler Dwaine Pretorius excelled with figures of 3-26 in his 3.3 overs.
