India vs South Africa 2019: 5 things to note from the final T20I

South Africa put up a professional performance to thrash India by nine wickets at Bengaluru in the third and final T20 of the series. With the victory, South Africa levelled the three-match series 1-1, with the first game at Dharamshala being rained out.

Virat Kohli placed a challenge before the team when he won the toss and elected to bat first on a small ground which aids chasing. The results were not too encouraging as, apart from Shikhar Dhawan (36 from 25), no one really fired, and India stumbled to 134 for 9 from 63 for 1.

The South African bowlers had a field day as Beuran Hendricks (2 for 14), left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin (2 for 19) and Kagiso Rabada (3 for 39) combined to put India in all sorts of strife. Skipper Quinton de Kock then led the way with sublime, unbeaten 79 from 52 balls and featured in two half-century stands -- 76 with Reeza Hendricks (28) and an unbeaten 64 with Temba Bavuma (27 not out) as the visitors romped home.

Here are top 5 highlights from the third T20 between India and South Africa

#5 Dhawan’s dismissal after blazing start

Shikhar Dhawan

After beginning with a four off the first ball from Fortuin, Shikhar Dhawan seemed in his elements for the second game in a row. After Rohit Sharma again perished cheaply having taken a couple of impressive boundaries off Rabada, the southpaw led the way for India in the power plays.

Having hit back-to-back boundaries off Andile Phehlukwayo to get the innings back to track, Dhawan then proceeded to hit consecutive sixes off Tabraiz Shamsi -- one over long on and the other charging down the track and dispatching ball to long off. Shamsi, however, had his revenge soon as Dhawan mistimed one and was caught Bavuma running back from extra cover.

Also see - Live cricket score

#4 Rare failure for Kohli

Virat Kohli

It is not often that you see Indian captain Virat Kohli dismissed for a single figure score. Sunday, at the famed Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru, was one such occasion. Kohli whipped Kagiso Rabada on the on side in his typical wristy fashion only to be neatly caught at the boundary by Andile Phehlukwayo. Kohli managed to score only 9 from 15 and left India in more than a spot of bother, with the scoreboard reading a poor 68 for 3.

Kohli was even given a life early in his innings when he charged down the pitch to Fortuin, and hit one straight back at him. Fortuin managed to get some portion of his hands to it, as he displayed swift reflexes in the follow through. But, the ball was hit with such force that it did not stick in his hands. Luckily, South Africa did not have to pay heavily for it.

#3 Fortuin’s double strike

Rishabh Pant

Even though Bjorn Fortuin dropped the tough chance of Kohli, he still had a big role to play in South Africa’s impressive triumph. With India already in trouble, Fortuin made matters worse with his twin strike in the 13th over. Rishabh Pant threw his wicket away to the left-armer, trying to hit him out.

Having hit a four and a six, Pant seemed to be getting into some sort of groove. However, a heave down the ground proved to be his undoing as Pant fell for 19 from 20 balls, dismissed by the left-arm spinner for the second game in a row. The pressure on Pant will grow even more now.

Next ball, Shreyas Iyer was smartly stumped by de Kock down the leg side. Fortuin saw Iyer charging down the track and fired the delivery down past his legs, for de Kock to do the rest. India had lost half their side for 92.

#2 Quinton de Kock survives as India waste review

Washington Sundar

India could have dismissed Quinton de Kock for 28 in the seventh over, bowled by Washington Sundar. However, they had to rue the fact that they did not have any reviews left. The South African captain completely missed a sweep as he was beaten by one that drifted in and straightened just a bit from Sundar. The umpire did not give it out and, with no reviews left, India had a lot to ponder upon what could have been as a lucky de Kock not only survived but made India pay heavily.

In the earlier over, they had taken an lbw review against Reeza Hendricks but replays showed that the delivery by Deepak Chahar was missing the leg stump by some distance. India clearly missed MS Dhoni as an excited Chahar and keeper Pant convinced Kohli to go upstairs. The end result left Kohli highly disappointed as it proved to be an embarrassingly poor decision.

#1 Captain’s knock

Quinton de Kock

Take away the one close shave and South African captain Quinton de Kock played a near flawless innings. His knock was a highly composed one and yet came at a rapid rate. De Kock’s 79 not out from 52 featured six fours and as many as five sixes. Almost every Indian bowler suffered at the hands of de Kock.

He set the wheels into motion by hoicking Navdeep Saini for consecutive sixes in the fifth over of the innings. There was no looking back for de Kock after that. He hammered Washington Sundar over wide long-on for a maximum.

De Kock even took on Hardik Pandya who had just dismissed Reeza Hendricks and was particularly severe on him, slamming him for three fours and a six. It was a brilliant knock to go along with his fifty in the second T20. de Kock was named man of the series for his impressive showing.