India vs South Africa, 3rd T20I: India keep series alive with 48-run win over South Africa

The players responded well and carved out a comfortable 48-run win at the Dr YSR ACA-VDCA stadium, here on Tuesday night. The return to form of opener Ruturaj Gaikwad and the bowlers getting back their wicket-taking ability augurs well for the hosts as they head to Rajkot for the fourth game. Scorecard | As it happenedSouth Africa, chasing 180 for a series win, failed to get the start that they wanted as the Indian spinners did the early damage. The surface here is known to aid spinners in the second innings and skipper Pant brought in left-arm spinner Axar Patel in the fourth over itself. Patel didn't disappoint as he got rid of South Africa captain Temba Bavuma (8). Harshal Patel, who was struck for a four by Dwaine Pretorius and a six by Reeza Hendricks, had the last laugh as he dismissed Hendricks (23) to leave the visitors 38 for two. Leggie Yuzvendra Chahal then made it 40 for three as he had Rassie van der Dussen caught behind for 1.

There was further trouble for the visitors as Chahal had the dangerous-looking Pretorius (20; 16b; 2x4, 1x6) caught behind to leave them tottering at 57 for four in the ninth over. At the end of the 10th over, South Africa were 63 for four. Harshal then removed David Miller (3) - a rare failure in recent times - to put India on top. South Africa needed 109 in nine overs. Heinrich Klaasen (29; 24b 3x4, 1x6) and Wayne Parnell tried to take the innings deep but Chahal got rid of the former to set up the celebrations in the 15th over itself. They ended up with 131 as Harshal got four for 25 and Chahal three for 20. Earlier, openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan gave the side a dream start as they garnered 57 in the powerplay - the best in this series for India. An under-fire Ruturaj,