Twitter Reactions: South Africa thump India in Bengaluru to level the series

South Africa have comfortably defeated India in the third and final T20 International at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. Their bowlers did exceptionally well to restrict the power-packed line-up of the hosts and then the Proteas openers did the bulk of scoring in the chase to script an easy victory. India once again failed to win a home T20I series against South Africa.

Virat Kohli opted to bat first in order to challenge his team keeping in mind the T20 World Cup in mind. But the step backfired completely as the Indian batsmen never looked comfortable in the middle. Rohit Sharma once again failed to get going while Virat Kohli too couldn’t replicate his show in Mohali. Shikhar Dhawan was impressive during his 36-run knock but he was bluffed by Tabraiz Shamsi.

India’s score read 63/1 in the 8th over before Dhawan got out and the middle-order crumbled completely as they couldn’t come to the terms with the pace of the surface. Rishabh Pant (19), Hardik Pandya (14) and Ravindra Jadeja (19) tried hard to get a move on but the South African bowlers were exceptional on the day. Beuran Hendricks was on top of his game as he extracted movement from the surface to trouble the batsmen.

Kagiso Rabada came back well in the final over to pick three wickets as India ended on a below-par score of 134/9 after 20 overs.

A stroll in the park for SA

India needed early wickets to have any chance of defending a small total. They started well too with Washington Sundar and Deepak Chahar keeping a lid on the run-scoring in the four overs conceding only 19 runs. But Quinton de Kock opened up in the next over and Reeza Hendricks also got his eye in as the opening pair prospered in the overs to come.

Both of them added 76 runs before Hardik Pandya struck off the very first delivery of his spell to send back Hendricks. But the wicket didn’t stop South Africa from getting the runs at pace. De Kock was set by then and crossed the 50-run mark soon. Temba Bavuma came out and played some crisp shots and in no time, the result of the match was out of the question.

De Kock literally threw his bat at everything and made sure that he stayed until the end in the middle as South Africa cantered to victory with nine wickets and more than three overs to spare. He remained unbeaten on 79 while Bavuma played second fiddle to end not-out on 27 as the visitors levelled the series comfortably.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Nice win proteas 👍

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) September 22, 2019

Great bowling effort 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 @Beuran_H13 @shamsi90 @Bjorn_Fortuin @andileluck19

— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) September 22, 2019

South Africa coasting. India hasn't really turned up today.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 22, 2019

#TeamIndia losing too many wickets one after another. Throwing away their wickets. @RishabhPant17 again playing a poor shot to get out.
How's the Josh?#INDvSA

— VINOD KAMBLI (@vinodkambli349) September 22, 2019

Quinton De Kock likely to runaway with the awards tonight. Man of the match. Man of the series. #IndvSA

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 22, 2019

In #DRS for #LBW decisions the predictive path of the ball should be picked a few inches before the ball comes in contact with the Pad, not after ,simple reason being ball can deviate after contact #INDvsRSA

— subramani badrinath (@s_badrinath) September 22, 2019

India have bowled way too short. And have been punished for it

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 22, 2019

Miserable day of sport . Man Utd lose . India lose . Sucks !!

— Rohan Gavaskar (@rohangava9) September 22, 2019

#IndvSA #IndvsSA – series 1-1
But South Africa should take the series if we consider the results on NRR!

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 22, 2019

An outstanding win for SA, showed India how to play at a home venue which should be loss that should sting no matter approach. It's the tactics and the chances of them coming off. Will help if India learn the right lessons. Individuals have saved side before, may not happen ahead

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) September 22, 2019

A sketchy T20 series, no wonder it ended in a draw. #IndvSA

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) September 22, 2019

Quinton de Kock in T20I cricket:

As captain – 2 matches, 2 fifties
Not as captain – 36 matches, 2 fifties#INDvSA

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) September 22, 2019

50-plus runs in first two innings as a captain in T20Is:

Paul Stirling
Navneet Singh Dhaliwal
Quinton de Kock*#INDvSA

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) September 22, 2019

QDK leading from the front!

1000 T20I runs for @QuinnyDeKock69 🙌#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #INDvSA

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) September 22, 2019

Quinton de Kock's fifty helps SA to draw the T20I series 1-1. #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/jnQMLZOV4I

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) September 22, 2019

Well played Proteas! This will serve as a confidence booster ahead test series. Kudos to De Kock for setting an example by leading a young team to victory.#INDvSA

— Amrinder Singh Juneja (@18AmrinderSingh) September 22, 2019

Indian team is totally ruined by @imVkohli and @RaviShastriOfc
autocratic mindset.
Worst team selection, need Kuldeep and Chahal back.#INDvSA

— Aadi (@Aditya_Dwivedi_) September 22, 2019

So now the QdK captaincy detractors aren't saying anything. #INDvSA

— Dwain (@dwain_trollip) September 22, 2019

Fans in Chinnaswamy shouting 'RCB'. Shameful! Just because India lost one game doesn't mean you can call them RCB. #INDvSA

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) September 22, 2019