South African pacer Kagiso Rabada praised the young Proteas side after winning the Bengaluru T20I and saving the T20I series against the hosts India.
On Sunday (22nd September), South Africa and the hosts India played the last T20I of the three-match T20I series at Bengaluru. Before that game, India were leading the series by 1-0. Dharamshala hosted the first T20I and it had no result due to the rain washout. India comfortably won the second T20I at Mohali by seven wickets.
Read More: India Vs South Africa 2019/20: Third T20I – Statistical Highlights
The Bengaluru T20I was the must-win game for inexperienced young Proteas side to save the T20I series. They dominated the Indian cricketers in every aspect during the Bengaluru T20I and clinched an easy victory.
After losing the toss, the South African bowlers restricted the hosts to 134/9 (20 overs) in the first innings. South African pacer Kagiso Rabada was the most wicket-taker in that game as he had the bowling figures of 4-0-39-3.
However, the left-arm pacer Beuran Hendricks was the best bowler for South Africa in that game. Coming as a replacement of the right-arm pacer Anrich Nortje in Bengaluru T20I, Beuran won the Player of the Match award for his outstanding bowling effort. He had the bowling figures of 4-0-14-2. Also, the spinners Tabraiz Shamsi (1/23) and Bjorn Fortuin (2/19) bagged one and two wickets respectively.
In reply, South Africa easily chased down the target in 16.5 overs after losing only one wicket. Openers Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock had a 76-run partnership. After Reeza lost his wicket on 28 runs, T20I captain de Kock provided another 64 runs partnership with Temba Bavuma for the unbroken second wicket.
Quinton de Kock scored 79 not out off 52 balls with the help of six boundaries and five over-boundaries. Bavuma also remained not out on 27 runs.
Kagiso Rabada came with a strong message
After that impressive victory, Kagiso Rabada praised the young South African team. He wrote on his official Instagram account, “We stood up as a young team”.