Thiruvananthapuram: Have you heard that Kariyavattam is a run-flowing pitch? It was neither Kohli nor Rohit Sharma who became the star on social media after the South Africa-India Twenty20 match that took place yesterday. It was Pitch and it was a curator. The social media is full of countless trolls who have started life settlement for those who show the curator who has prepared a batting wicket with more than 180 runs.
Yesterday Green Field Stadium witnessed a dispassionate sight for the spectators who came to the Kariyavattam Stadium expecting the Sixers’ performance by believing the words of the curator. It was seen yesterday that the pace bowlers were given more swing than they needed. The South African line-up of big players consisting of Killer Miller, Aiden Markrum, Quinton de Kock and Riley Russo collapsed like a house of cards. As the wicket kept falling, the crowd was seen praying for the opposing team to score runs.
Every boundary hit by Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram had the crowd cheering. Even though Maharaj fell just short of his half-century, the crowd applauded Maharaj for his fighting spirit. The South African innings ended at exactly 8.38. South Africa’s 106 runs included five sixes and nine fours. Aiden Markram hit three fours and a six while Keshav Maharaj hit five fours and two sixes.
Inswinger out swinger
Good bounce and swing from the pitch made the Indian pacers more dangerous. The South African captain’s wicket was an example of how Deepak Chahar, who came into the team after an injury break, quickly found his rhythm. Bavuma had no answer to Deepak Chahar’s fierce inswinger. And the 23-year-old was Arshadeep. Attempting a lazy shot, D. Kock suddenly went up to the tent. Batilurasia hit the ball on the wicket. Then both balls went wide before the final ball of the second over. Arshadeep took Riley Rousseau to the wicketkeeper’s hand with a beautiful out-swinger. Then the quick inswinger flicked the middle stump before Killer Miller reached the crease. Captain Rohit Sharma completed the spell of Deepak Chahar who took the first wicket by the end of eight overs and the help from the pitch was taken into account. Ashwin and Axar Patel, who came next, took advantage of the pitch. Meanwhile, South Africa crossed the hundred in the 19th over when Arshadeep conceded 17 runs.