Published: Sep 23, 2019, 12:24 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 23, 2019, 12:24 PM (IST)
Despite India being the overwhelming favourites, South Africa, a team in transition, gave a solid account of themselves by drawing the three-match T20I series. After losing the Mohali contest, the tourists bounced backed in emphatic fashion, crushing India by nine wickets in Bengaluru on Sunday night.
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Vice-captain Rassie van der Dussen feels their performance in the series-decider has sent a strong message. “We came here (Bengaluru) today with a goal to win and to send a strong message. The captain led from the front,” van der Dussen said at the post-match press conference.
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After restricting India to 134/9, South Africa overhauled in 16.5 overs at the cost of just one wicket with captain and opening batsman Quinton de Kock scoring an unbeaten 79 off 52.
“They (India) did not have enough runs to put us under pressure and Quinton is a world class player, he has played here so many times, he never even gave them a sniff,” van der Dussen said of his captain.
He had words of praise of Temba Bavuma who made his T20I debut during the series, recording scores of 49 and 27* in two innings. “Temba has come in and has obviously done really well in these two games. He has played a lot of cricket for South Africa so the stage was never too big for him. In the last year or two, he has really improved his white ball cricket, in T20s as well as one-day cricket,” he said.
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De Kock was happy with the way his team came back into the contest and stuck to their plans. “They (India) got off to a great start but I am very impressed with the way the guys fought back, they read the conditions very well, they stuck to their plans, they just kept up the pressure on India. We just stuck to our guns upfront, just tried to soak up the pressure,” De Kock said.
