India had a bat first at SuperSport Park and scored 219/6 in their 20 overs with Tilak Varma scoring 107 off 56, while Abhishek Sharma scored 50. While Marco Jansen took the wicket of Sanju Samson for a duck with the second ball of the innings, a 107-run partnership for the second wicket in 8.2 overs between Varma and Sharma put the South African bowlers under pressure.

Keshav Maharaj was the pick of the Proteas bowler with 2/36. Jansen however was excellent with the ball with his 1/28 in 4 overs, while Andile Simelane bounced back nicely with 2/34 in 3 overs after his first over went for 18 runs.

In reply, Jansen blasted 54 of 17 balls while Heinrich Klaasen scored 41 as the Proteas were restricted to 41. Jansen hit 4 fours and 5 sixes in his knock which gave South Africa a chance. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the India bowlers with 3/37 in his 4 overs.

Following the match Klaasen said it’s disappointing that they don’t play longer series’ anymore, especially against India, and it would have been wonderful to level the series and go into a decider.

“I think that’s the nature of where we are in South African cricket.”

“We don’t play any more five-match series. Our testing is playing a two-match series, which is ridiculous in my eyes. How nice would it be if we win on Friday and Sunday is another game going into it two-all?

Heinrich Klaasen. Photo: Cricinfo

“It’s disappointing and it doesn’t sit well with the players because we want to play more cricket against these guys. Against other countries as well, but we always find a way to just play two games, three games.

“It’s annoying and then you see India is playing Friday and Friday, which is incredible. Two half sides of the world. Yeah, it’s disappointing, but it is what it is and we have to make sure that we don’t lose the series.

“But there’s no time to hover on this. We will make small tweaks and enough planning which we can do tomorrow and the day of the game. But other than that, that’s part of professional cricket these days and it’s also a beauty that the next game is in two days.

“If you’re in good form, or bad form, everything happens quickly and you can just move on.”

The fourth and final T20 International will be played on Friday at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. Play at the Bullring is scheduled to start at 17:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh