India men do likewise wrapping T20I series
CAPE TOWN: Experienced firstclass cricketer Christiaan Jonker, who was handed his international debut on Saturday night, brought South Africa close to a shocking win before India held their nerve in the last over to win the third and final T20 International by seven runs here at the Newlands.
Jonker made 24-ball 49 and put on 51 runs in 3.3 overs with Farhaan Behardien for the sixth wicket at over 14.5 runs an over to bring his side close after they had looked down and out as late as the 18th over.
South Africa’s strategy to open the innings with David Miller didn’t work out as the lefthanded batsman, who has earned his stripes as a dasher, was probably expected to give a rousing start to the team.
But the slow pace of the wicket, its two-paced nature, was too much for him as he failed to get going, first out of his own volition perhaps in order to settle down and then failing to connect the shots. His watchful 23-ball 24 coupled with the slow knock from fellow opener Reeza Hendricks left a lot for the latter order batsmen.
It were probably the starts that made the difference. After seven overs, India were 62 for one while South Africa had snailed to 30 for one. Then, after 10 overs, while the Proteas were 52 for one, India had been 81 for two and a 17-run over from Tabraiz Shamsi was just around the corner.
South Africa had no such luxury of finding a weak link in the India bowling attack and when they found a couple, it was too late at
the end. Perhaps not trusting his leftarm spinner Axar Patel, Rohit bowled Suresh Raina for a couple of runs in the initial part of South Africa innings. The experienced offie did well to restrict the run flow. And although Axar did leak a few runs in the over he was given, Rohit had the luxury of fall back on Raina for the final over of the fifth bowler’s quota. Eventually, Raina did prove expensive but he had done enough to complement India’s tight start in the powerplay.