The Indian men’s cricket team, led by centurions Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson, posted 283/1, its second highest score in the T20 Internationals (T20Is), to defeat South Africa by 135 runs and win the series 3-1 in Johannesburg on Friday.
India elected to bat first after winning the toss and the move by the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was validated by all three Indian batters – Sanju Samson (109 off 56), Abhishek Sharma (36 off 18) and Tilak Varma (120 off 47).
In reply, South Africa’s chase never took off after Arshdeep Singh (3/20) dealt the home team early blows. The Proteas were bowled out for 148 runs in 18.2 overs.
The victory margin of 135 runs was India’s biggest over South Africa in the shortest format. India’s biggest win in T20I cricket of 168 runs came against New Zealand in Ahmedabad last year.
This was also India’s final T20 cricket match of the 2024 season. The reigning world champions played 26 matches this year, losing just twice – once in the second match of this series by three wickets and once against Zimbabwe by 13 runs.
Against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday, India’s left and right-hand opening combination of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson broke free from the start.
Abhishek Sharma hit Andile Simelane for three maximums and a four in the fifth over to help India reach 68/0 in five overs. However, he was dismissed for 36 on the penultimate ball of the powerplay while going for a big hit.
After playing two quiet overs, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma took South African bowlers to task.
The Indian batters combined to take 19 runs off Keshav Maharaj’s over before hammering 21 off Tristan Stubbs in the next to place India at 129/1 at the halfway mark. Sanju Samson completed his half-century in 28 balls with a six over long on.
Tilak Varma’s half-century arrived in 22 balls before India hit the 200-run milestone in 14.1 overs.
South Africa seemed desperate for wickets but ran out of the bowling options as none of the bowling changes worked for skipper Aiden Markram.
The most economical over bowled by South Africa in the second half was the 17th over by Andile Simelane which still produced 10 runs.
Sanju Samson, who hit a century in the opening match of the series, took 51 balls to reach the three-figure mark in the 18th over. His innings of unbeaten 109 off 56 balls included six fours and nine maximums.
Tilak Varma reached his 100 in 41 balls in the 19th over to become just the second Indian to register consecutive tons in T20I cricket after Sanju Samson. Varma’s 120 came off 47 balls and featured nine fours and 10 sixes.
Overall, India’s innings included 23 sixes, including the four hit by Abhishek Sharma – a record for India in T20I cricket. The partnership of 210 was also the highest for India in the format.
In response, South Africa struggled in their chase. Arshdeep Singh found enough swing of the ball to pick up three wickets in his first two overs and reduce the Proteas to 10/4. Hardik Pandya also backed up India’s frontline pacer efficiently to keep South Africa at 30/4 at the end of the powerplay.
With Ryan Rickelton, Reeza Hendricks, South African skipper Aiden Markram and a dangerous Heinrich Klaasen back in the pavilion inside the six overs, Tristan Stubbs (43 off 29) and David Miller (36 off 27) solidified the innings with an 86-run partnership.
However, Stubbs and Miller were dismissed in quick succession by Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy, respectively, and the rest of the South African line-up failed to play out the remaining overs.
Earlier in the series, India won the first match by 61 runs. South Africa eked out a narrow three-wicket victory in the second match before losing the third game by 11 runs.
IND vs SA T20 2024 4th match brief scores: India 283/1 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 120, Sanju Samson 109; Lutho Sipamla 1/58) beat South Africa 148/10 in 18.2 overs (Tristan Subbs 43; Arshdeep Singh 3/20) by 135 runs.
