3rd T20I
Tilak Varma’s maiden T20I century has powered India team to a 2-1 lead
India scored 219/6 in 20 overs, where as South Africa scored 208/7 in 20 overs.
So, finally India beat South Africa by 11 runs.
Tilak Varma smashed a scintillating maiden T20I century to lay the foundation for India’s 11-run victory, which gives them an unassailable 2-1 lead heading into the fourth and final T20I in Johannesburg on November 15.
On Wednesday, he partnered with Abhishek Sharma (50 off 25) to dominate the Power Play, before continuing his assault even as South Africa attempted to fight back.
India posted an imposing 219/6 and then held their nerve to survive a late onslaught from Marco Jansen (54 off 17) and Heinrich Klaasen (41 off 22) to secure a narrow win.
South Africa’s early joy in dismissing Sanju Samson for a duck in the first over quickly faded as Tilak, sent in at No. 3 ahead of captain Surya Kumar Yadav, joined forces with Abhishek to tear into the bowlers.
Tilak began his fireworks just two balls after Samson’s departure, using his feet to perfection.
Abhishek was equally aggressive, taking 15 off the second over bowled by Gerald Coetzee.
Both batters took full advantage of the small square boundaries, guiding India to 70/1 at the end of the Power Play – their second-best effort against South Africa in T20Is.
Tilak and Abhishek continued to dominate after the Power Play.
Coetzee struggled as both batters forced him to bowl full and wide, while Andile Simelane was taken for 18 runs in the fifth over.
Aiden Markram turned to left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, but Abhishek greeted him with a six and soon brought up his fifty off just 23 balls.
Unfortunately for South Africa, Abhishek was stumped in the same over, but India’s momentum remained undeterred.
Surya Kumar Yadav fell cheaply for 1, leaving India at 110/3 at the halfway mark.
Tilak, however, continued to press on, reaching his fifty in just 32 balls.
Even as wickets fell at the other end, including Hardik Pandya (18) and Rinku Singh (8), Tilak kept the runs flowing.
He blazed away with a 16-run over from Maharaj and followed it up with two sixes and a four in a 21-run over from Coetzee, who finished with disappointing figures of 0/51 in three overs.
Debutant Ramandeep Singh contributed with a six over the long-on fence, and Tilak reached his century in the penultimate over off Lutho Sipamla, helping India cross the 200-run mark.
Jansen bowled a fine 20th over, conceding just four runs, and India finished with 219/6.
In an unusual turn of events, play was halted for around 20 minutes due to flying ants, which forced the players off the field.
After the delay, the chase got underway with Ryan Rickleton and Reeza Hendricks attacking Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya.
However, Arshdeep had the last laugh, dismissing Rickleton with a yorker.
Hendricks, who had threatened to take the game away, was stumped off Varun CV in the final over of the Power Play.
South Africa’s middle-order struggled, with Markram continuing his rough patch in 2024 and Tristan Stubbs perishing after an attempted reverse sweep against Axar Patel.
Markram did manage to hit two huge sixes off Varun, but then holed out to deep mid-wicket, leaving South Africa at 84/4 in 10 overs.
Just when it looked like India was taking control, Klaasen unleashed three sixes and a four off Varun CV, though he was put down by Surya Kumar at cover.
David Miller, however, was dismissed trying to pull a shot, with Axar Patel taking a stunning catch at deep square leg.
Jansen entered with a flurry, hitting Ravi Bishnoi for two sixes, but the equation remained tough for South Africa, requiring 59 runs from 18 balls.
Arshdeep’s exceptional 18th over, in which he dismissed Klaasen and conceded just 8 runs, further tipped the balance in India’s favor.
Jansen fought back with 26 off Hardik in the 19th over, but India kept their composure.
Jansen’s fireworks continued, smashing another six in the final over, but his 17-ball 54 came to an end, and India wrapped up the game, with Arshdeep taking his 90th T20I wicket, surpassing Jasprit Bumrah’s tally.
India held on to seal the victory and extend their series lead.
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