India vs South Africa 4th T20I: Can India extend a fightback to take the series to the final decider?
With the visiting team of South Africa having a lead of 2-1 in the ongoing five-match T20I series against India, it’s now time for the fourth match to be played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
India will take on the visitors South Africa at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot on June 17 (Friday)In the must-win match for the hosts, they registered a thumping win in the last game in Visakhapatnam.
Indian top-order clicked well in the previous match, with Hardik Pandya acing his finisher role down the order. The biggest positive for the team was the confidence and skill displayed by bowlers throughout the game after having a couple of poor outings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar continued to exploit Proteas with the new balls, whereas Yuzvendra Chahal spun the web for wickets. The team all together has been buoyed by their biggest T20I win over South Africa.
On the other hand, the visitors are just one win away from clinching the series, and it will be a thing to see how much the last defeat will play on their minds. Their batting has been hot and cold, mainly if David Miller or Heinrich Klaasen do not perform in the middle order; it looks shaky and wobbly. Their pacers have been clinical with their bowling, whereas spinners looked to struggle a bit, especially Tabraiz Shamsi. The team will be looking forward to the return of their experienced opener Quinton de Kock.
Pitch Report
The pitch at Rajkot usually offers a good flow of runs. India had successfully chased down a target of 202 here in 2013. After playing in extremely humid conditions, the weather conditions here can come as a relief for the players.
Stats to keep an eye on
- South Africa has outdone India significantly in the 11th-16th-over phase during this series. They scored 11.00 per over while restricting the hosts to a run rate of 7.72 in the same phase.
- South Africa has struggled in the powerplay, losing six wickets across the three matches while only going at a run rate of 7.11. India has done much better, going at 8.33 while losing just the one wicket.
It will be interesting to see if South Africa can shrug off the defeat and get back to winning ways to clinch the series. Or hosts will extend their fightback to level the series to 2-2.