Cricket news round-up – September 23: South Africa hand toothless India a hammering in final T20I

South Africa took India to task in Bengaluru on Sunday, September 22, winning the final T20I by 9 wickets to level the series 1-1. Elsewhere, Guyana Amazon Warriors won their sixth match in a row by the DLS method; Sunil Gavaskar urged management to play Rishabh Pant at No. 5; and former Test cricketer Madhav Apte passed away.

India suffer comprehensive defeat to South Africa

India’s issues in T20Is were laid threadbare as a young South Africa side strolled to 9-wicket victory in the final T20I in Bengaluru on Sunday, September 22.

Apart from Shikhar Dhawan’s 25-ball 36, there was no real innings of note. The top three crumbled, while Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja all attempted to limit damage. India were restricted to 134/9, with Kagiso Rabada taking 3/39.

The target was of little challenge to South Africa. Quinton de Kock, the captain, scored a 52-ball 79*, with support form Reeza Hendricks and Temba Bavuma, to complete the chase with 19 balls to spare, and level the series 1-1.

Play Rishabh Pant at No.5, says Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar, the former India captain, weighed in on the much-debated batting position of Rishabh Pant, saying the 21-year-old would be best suited No. 5 in the limited-overs cricket.

Pant is currently batting at No. 4, but hasn’t had much success, scoring 4 and 19 in his two innings in the T20Is against South Africa. Gavaskar believed he is better suited at No.5 for now, giving him more breathing room to work on his shot selection.

“With experience he will be better at shot selection and will be more consistent but right now he needs a hand around his shoulders rather than a public dressing down,” said Gavaskar. “The most important thing for the young man to understand is that he has to play according to the situation and not according to the expectations of the public.”

Guyana see off Barbados in rain-marred clash

Guyana Amazon Warriors continued their unbeaten start to the CPL 2019 with their sixth straight win of the competition, against Barbados Tridents. With rain interrupting play in the second innings, Guyana were declared winners by 12 runs on the DLS Method.

Alex Hales’ 15-ball 24 and JP Duminy’s 32-ball 38 had lifted a falling Barbados innings briefly, but apart from the two of them, there was no innings of substance as Barbados were bundled out for 138.

That target was no match for Guyana, with Brandon King scoring a 34-ball 51*. Chandrapaul Hemraj and Shimron Hetmyer were dismissed in the meanwhile, and Shoaib Malik was partnering him on 4* when the skies opened up and forced a result.

Madhav Apte passes away

Madhav Apte, who played 7 Tests for India in the 1950s, passed away in Mumbai on Monday, September 23. He was 86.

Apte scored two fine centuries in the Caribbean, and also played 67 First-Class matches, mostly for Mumbai. However, he wasn’t picked to play for India thereafter.

He later served as President of the Cricket Club of India, and during his term there, he is said to have tweaked an age-limit rule to allow a 15-year-old Sachin Tendulkar to represent the club in 1987-88.