Picture Credit: BCCI
After consecutive failures in the first and second T20I, Ruturaj Gaikwad came with some serious intent in the third match as he took South Africa bowlers to the cleaners in his innings. What started as a lucky escape for Gaikwad against Kagiso Rabada turned into mayhem pretty quickly. After that lucky boundary against Rabada in the second over, Gaikwad found his rhythm with a six against the same bowler after two deliveries.
From thereon, the right-handed batter kept on hitting South African bowlers all around the park. The first to face the wrath of Ruturaj Gaikwad was Anrich Nortje. The right-arm quick was hit for five consecutive boundaries by the young batter in his first over itself. Introduced into the attack by Temba Bavuma in the 5th over of the India innings, Nortje bowled a length ball outside the off-stump but Ruturaj Gaikwad was ready with his willow in the hand as he cut the pacer for a four.
For the next ball, Nortje tried to correct himself by pulling the length further back but Ruturaj Gaikwad was in no mood to hold back as he put on his dancing shoes and pulled Nortje for another boundary. The third ball saw the pacer giving a befitting reply with a venomous bounder but that too raced to the boundary after hitting Gaikwad’s helmet making it three fours in a row. The next ball was flicked by the batter for another boundary. And the fifth once again proved lucky for Ruturaj Gaikwad as Tabraiz Shamsi could not get under the ball at short third man.
Watch the mayhem caused by Gaikwad here:
Maiden half-century for Gaikwad!
The batter rode on the initial momentum he got and scored his maiden T20I half-century. Gaikwad crossed the 50-run mark with a single off Tabraiz Shamsi in 30 balls. Gaikwad then perished to Keshav Maharaj as he played one directly into the hands of the bowler.