De Kock’s half-ton not enough, as India thrash Proteas in Ahmedabad and win the series 3-1

De Kock’s half-ton not enough, as India thrash Proteas in Ahmedabad and win the series 3-1.

Proteas batter Quinton de Kock’s impressive half-century at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad during the fifth and final T20I against India was not enough as Proteas suffered 30 runs defeat and 1-3-series loss.

In engagements with the media, De Kock has consistently emphasized that his break from international cricket reignited the fire in him to reverse his retirement in the white ball formats.

The 32-year-old has reiterated that he missed playing for South Africa and being out in the field and fighting for the country.

On Friday, he continued to display his hunger and determination in the green and gold, as he smashed 65 off 35 deliveries, a knock which saw the left-hander hit nine boundaries and three maximums, as he looked to help the Proteas chase a mammoth 236 to win the match and level the series 2-2.

However, his efforts were just not enough, as Jasprit Bumrah returned for his second spell and accounted for the experienced batter in his 100th T20I for South Africa.

Bumrah produced an excellent slower ball, one that dipped on De Kock, forcing the in-form batter to play at it, only to chip it back to the bowler who hung on to the catch.

That wicket broke South Africa’s momentum, as up until that point they were going at almost 12 runs per over, exactly what they needed to get close to the target.

From there on in, the Proteas did not recover. Dewald Brevis' 31 off 17 was the only other substantial individual score as India’s bowling attack was all over South Africa.

Spinner Varun Chakravathy (4/53) finished the pick of the bowlers, while Bumrah (2/17), Arshdeep Singh (1/47) and Hardik Pandya (1/41).

Earlier, India’s batters put on a show at the packed Ahmedabad on Friday.

Opening batters Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma got into a flying start, putting the Proteas quicks Marco Jansen to the sword right from the start of the match.

The two batters climbed into the lanky left-arm quick, getting India to 67/1 in the first powerplay, with Sharma departing in the last over of the first powerplay for an explosive 34 off 21, a knock that saw the left-handed smash six boundaries and one six.

At the other end, Samson was equally impressive as he smashed 37 off 22 before Proteas spinner George Linde bowled him out in the 10th over.

However, it was the left-handed Tilak Varma that caused damage to the Proteas bowling attack.

Varma takes a keen liking to the Proteas bowling attack, having struck two centuries against South Africa in their last bilateral T20I series.

The 23-year-old smashed 73 off 42, and struck 10 boundaries and one six, as he combined for a 105-run partnership with Hardik Pandya in only 7.2 overs.

Pandya, having had a seriously impressive already, continued his rich vein of form in the fifth T20I, smashing the Proteas bowlers all over the park.

The right-hander put up 63 off only 25 balls, as he smashed five maximum and as many fours, to help India register a competitive 231/5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Proteas quick Lungi Ngidi (0/29) was particularly impressive with the new ball, as he only conceded eight runs in his first two overs, and bowled a decent spell towards the backend of India’s innings.

The rest of the bowlers were subjected to carnage by the home batters, with Corbin Bosch (2/44), Ottneil Baartman (1/39) and Linde (1/49) going for plenty of runs.

Scorecard: India 235/5 (Tilak Varma 73; Corbin Bosch 2/44); South Africa 201 all out (Quinton de Kock 65; Varun Chakravathy 4/53).