In a thrilling moment of deja vu, South African star batter David Miller’s dismissal by Hardik Pandya during the 3rd T20I between India and South Africa on Wednesday evoked memories of the 2024 T20 World Cup final.
Miller, attempting to pull a short delivery from Pandya in the 16th over, was caught spectacularly by Axar Patel at the boundary. This catch mirrored the iconic moment in the World Cup final where Miller was dismissed by Suryakumar Yadav in a similar fashion, sealing India’s victory by seven runs.
Pandya’s bowling and fielding unit once again proved their mettle, with Axar’s athleticism making up for an earlier dropped catch. His effort not only dismissed Miller but also curbed South Africa’s scoring momentum.
Pandya’s impact as a game-changer shone through yet again as India won by a narrow margin of 11 runs, successfully defending their 219-run total. This win strengthened India’s momentum on tour, giving them a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.
The Men in Blue will take on the Proteas for the fourth and final T20I on Friday at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, aiming to seal the series victory.
