India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Rain threat hanging over decisive match

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Three runs off the first four balls, Miller tries to go over long on off the second ball but it only goes along the ground to long off. He punched his bat in frustration as he took that single and when he comes back on strike, Miller sends Chakravarthy’s fifth ball of the over flying over cow corner. That is as big a six as you would ever see, Miller put all his anger and frustration into that. Dot ball after that, Miller on 19 off 19, Stubbs on 38 off 24.

South Africa 73/4 in 10 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Miller and Stubbs have now put on 56 runs off 36 balls for the fourth wicket. Ramandeep Singh continues in the ninth over. Two singles off the first two balls, Ramandeep then sends the third ball wide outside off. He goes full on the pads fourth ball and Stubbs clips it behind square for a four. Ramandeep then bowls a half-tracker outside off that sits up nicely for Stubbs, he makes the most of the gift by smashing it flat over deep midwicket. Wide again and then Stubbs hits another six over deep square leg. Single off the next ball and Stubbs is on 36 off 21 balls, Miller at the other end on 12 off 16.

South Africa 64/4, need 220 to win off 66 balls

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: But no wicket, for a change. Varun Chakravarthy has struck in his first over more often than not in this series. The second ball of the over went off Miller’s top edge and landed just short of backward point and that brought the second of the three singles in that over.

South Africa 43/4 in 8 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Just four runs off the sixth as Pandya also bowls a third over. He has fifures of 1/8 in three overs! Stubbs and Miller just have no answer to the prodigious swing that the Indian pacers are extracting here. Stubbs is on 12 off 9, Miller on five off 10.

South Africa need 254 to win from 84 balls. A required rate of 18.14.

South Africa 30/4 in 6 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Finally, a semblance of what we saw in the Indian innings. Arshdeep goes full on leg stump fifth ball of the fifth over, Stubbs tries to work it leg side but gets a big leading edge which goes over point and goes to the fence. Then he reverse laps the last ball of the over above slips for another four. He is on nine off six, Miller on four off seven.

South Africa 26/4 in 5 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Well this is a different world, let alone pitch. The ball is swinging everywhere and Pandya and Arshdeep are making merry. Just five runs in the fourth over, South Africa’s required rate has soared to 16.81. Stubbs is on one off four balls, Miller on two off three balls.

South Africa 15/4 in 4 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Oh this is taking farcical proportions now. South Africa have lost four wickets for 10 runs in the first three overs chasing 284. The Proteas don’t know what to do about Arshdeep at the moment. Back of a length delivery that swings in while spitting fire. Klaasen misses the line completely, takes it full on the pads. The Indians appeal and the umpire raises the finger. That is as plumb as they come but Klaasen reviews anyhow. No bat on it and it is three reds all the way through.

Klaasen lbw b Arshdeep Singh 0 (1)

South Africa 10/4 in 3 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: The ball is swinging like a boomerang and it is almost like South Africa are batting on a different pitch to the one where Samson and Tilak made merry. Markram manages to get a four off the fourth ball of the third, then he goes after a length delivery, The ball goes about a kilometre up in the air, Bishnoi positions himself and holds on. That was not an easy catch simply because of how far up it went.

Markram c Ravi Bishnoi b Arshdeep Singh 8 (8)

South Africa 10/3 in 2.5 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: The ball is swinging around corners now, Hardik Pandya keeps Rickleton pinned for four balls, the opener had to go for a big one and he edges it behind to Samson. It was dug short outside off, Rickleton tried to go across and fell doing so.

Rickelton c Samson b Pandya 1 (6)

South Africa 1/2 in 1.5 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Oh that is unplayable for anyone, let alone for a player completely out of form and with his team chasing 284 in 20 overs. Arshdeep had got the second ball to swing away late from Hendricks and opened him up. Then he goes back of a length outside off third ball and gets it to move in. Hendricks tries to fence at it, the ball goes through him like he doesn’t exist and takes the stumps.

Hendricks b Arshdeep Singh 0 (2)

South Africa 1/1 in 0.3 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Right South Africa have a cool 284 runs to chase to avoid defeat in this series. They know they can’t win the series even if they somehow pull this off. Have they got it in them to do the unthinkable. We all know what happened many, many years ago in THAT ODI against Australia at the Bullring. South Africa need a repeat of that here. Ryan Rickleton facing up to Arshdeep Singh in the first over, Reeza Hendricks at the other end.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: This is the second highest total in a match between two full-member nations. That partnership of 210* between Tilak and Samson is the highest for any wicket in T20Is for India. In fact scratch that, it is the highest for the second wicket or below for any team in all T20Is.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: The partnership between Samson and Tilak finishes unbeaten on 210 off just a mind-numbing 86 balls for the second wicket. Tilak finishes unbeaten on 120 off 47 balls while Samson was 109 not out off 56 balls. While Samson hit nine sixes and six fours, Tilak blazed 10 sixes and nine fours. This is the kind of innings that people will talk about many years later, they will speak about where they were and what they were doing as this was unfolding. Just an extraordinary display of big-hitting from India today.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: All right then, if India score 30 runs in the last over, they will get to 300. That normally is a tall order but not today, not the way these two have been batting.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: A tight two run off the first ball of the 19th, Tilak puts in a dive at the striker’s end to finish it and then he runs and jumps. He is the second Indian to register centuries in two consecutive T20Is and he has got there in 41 balls!

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: It has been century or nothing for Samson in this series. Century in the first match, ducks in the next two and century in the fourth. He has got there in 51 balls, hit a four off the fourth ball of the 18th being bowled by Coetzee. Samson has smashed six fours and eight sixes in this stunner of an innings. Now Tilak on strike and he is on 97.

India 249/1 in 17.5 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Simelane gives his side some respite. 10 runs in that over, which would make it expensive in normal circumstances but this match is as far away from normal as the north pole is from the south pole. Tilak is on 95 off 37, having hit a four off the second ball of that over. Samson on 94 off 48 balls.

India 240/1 in 17 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: This is a tough watch if you are a South African fan. Jansen with a very good over, gives just four runs away in five balls. Then his last ball is called no ball for height. He sends it in again, it is in the slot and Tilak blasts it over deep midwicket. He is on 87 off 33, if you can believe it, Samson on 92 off 46.

India 230/1 in 16 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Coetzee returns for South Africa but there is no respite for them. To add salt and chilli pepper to their wounds, there were two big catching chances and both of them just about evaded their fielders. Samson gets of strike first ball and then Tilak stays in his crease and sends the second ball flying over long on. Coetzee tries to follow Tilak outside leg but it goes for a wide and the batter run a single as well. Another wide, this one short outside off and then Coetzee sends the third ball in the slot to Samson. Obviously it goes for six, this time straight back over the bowler’s head.

Samson has a swipe at the next one as well, it lands safe between deep point and extra cover. Tilak heaves next ball it goes straight up again but Maharaj can’t get to it from deep square leg. He even seems to have injured himself with the last second dive. Tilak swings again, in the air again and safe again last ball. Coetzee storms off in disgust, South Africa in a daze. Tilak is on 72 off 28 balls, Samson on 91 off 44 balls.

India 219/1 in 15 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: This is bonkers batting from India. Markram returns for the 14th over, Samson off strike second ball and then Varma brings up his fifty in 22 balls with a four past point. Then he smashes the fourth ball over deep square leg for a six. And then Tilak channels his inner AB de Villiers, goes switch hit to the fullish fifth delivery and deposits it over deep backward point for another six. Then he smashes the last ball over point for a four. Tilak is on 69 off 25 balls, Samson on 83 off 41.

India 199/1 in 14 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Sipamla returns for the 12th over, Samson picks the bones out of the second ball to send it over deep square leg for the millionth six of the day. Single after that and then Tilak sends the fourth ball sailing over long on for another six. He takes a single and then Samson with just the most gorgeous lofted straight drive for a six off the last ball. They are just giving each other turns at this point. Samson is on 79 off 37, Tilak on 37 off 17.

India 162/1 in 12 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Tilak gets up after receiving attention, the fifth ball is a dot and then the last ball of that over is sent over long leg. It hits the boundary cushion on the full and it is another six. Tilak is 31 off 15, Samson is on 66 off 35.

India 142/1 in 11 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: A break in the six fest. Simelane returns for his second over in the 11th after being smashed for 24 in his first. He is met again with a six over extra cover by Samson. Single off the third and then Simelane digs the third ball in outside leg, Tilak advances and looks to pull but it hits him flush on the front shoulder. He is down on the ground clutching that part of his body and the Indian physio comes out to take a look.

India 136/1 in 10.4 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Oh the Indians are just taking South Africa to the cleaners at the moment. Tristan Stubbs comes in to bowl the 10th, Markram forced to give him the ball due to the absence of Coetzee. Samson goes just over long on first ball for a six and that brings up his half-century in 28 balls. A much cleaner hit after that for another six. He gets off strike next ball and the Tilak smashes the fourth ball behind point for four! He then lofts the fifth over extra cover for another four and then a rare dot off the last. Tilak is on 25 off 12, Samson on 59 off 30.

India 129/1 in 10 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Samson gets off strike first ball and then both Maharaj and Klaasen are unhappy with Tilak taking too long to get ready. Well, Tilak replies by bludgeoning the second ball flat just out of reach for deep midwicket where Simelane put in a big dive but couldn’t get to it. Tilak gets a good hold of the next big hit and gets six more. Single after that and then Samson sends the fifth ball between deep extra cover and long off with some sublime timing. He takes a single next ball and moves to 46 off 27, Tilak is on 17 off nine.

India 108/1 in 9 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Here is the post-powerplay slump. Maharaj bowls the first over after powerplay and is greeted with a four by Samson. Four singles after that for him and the centurion from Centurion Tilak Varma in that over. Then Samson gets a four off the third ball of the eighth over bowled by Markram and four more singles apart from that in that over as well. Samson is on 40 off 24, Tilak is on four off six.

India 89/1 in 8 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Gerald Coetzee was supposed to bowl the last over of the powerplay but he pulled up just before completing his run up first ball. Coetzee then walks off and Lutho Sipamla bowls the sixth over. Abhishek managed to carve the fourth ball between extra cover and point for four. Then Sipamla goes back of a length on middle and leg, Abhishek goes down the track and tries to hit it out of South Africa. Gets an edge on it and Klaasen does the rest.

Abhishek Sharma c Klaasen b Sipamla 36 (18)

India 73/1 in 5.5 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Andile Simelane introduced in the fifth over, his first ball is in the slot for Abhishek on leg stump and the batter gives himself room to send it over deep cover for a six. The second ball is wide down leg, Simelane reloads and this one goes for another six over deep midwicket. Abhishek gets a thick outside edge third ball, it flies between Klaasen and short third for a four. Two excellent balls after that but then Simelane goes wide down the leg side last ball. Abhishek dances down the track and smashes it over extra cover for another six. He has raced to 32 in 15, Samson at the other end on 27 off 15.

India 68/0 in 5 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: India have not had a good opening stand in this series but they have got one at last here. 14 runs off the fourth over as well and this stand has brought 44 runs in 24 balls. Lutho Sipamla bowls the fourth over, Samson tries going over mid off second ball but it goes in the air between mid on and midwicket. Simelane gives chase but cannot keep it away from the boundary line. A mishit next ball as well and the batters run two. The fourth one sits up nicely for Samson, he pulls it with aplomb for a six. Two runs off the last two balls, Samson is on 27 off 15, Abhishek on 10 off nine.

India 44/0 in 4 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: And there was just one boundary in the over, wide bballs and extras have hurt South Africa a lot in this series. Samson got off strike first ball of the third and then Jansen goes way to far down leg. It is out of reach for the wicketkeeper and it goes for five wides. Abhishek runs two next ball and then Jansen keeps Abhishek pinned with a couple of short deliveries. Then Jansen sends the last ball over the deep square leg for a six. He is on nine off eight, Samson on 14 off 10.

India 30/0 in 3 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Gerald Coetzee bowling the second over, Samson picks the screws out of the second ball which is slightly short outside off, smashes it over deep midwicket for a six. Coetzee goes wide down the leg side fourth ball, reloads it and is carved past backward point for four by Samson. He takes a single fifth ball and Abhishek punches the last to mid on for a dot. Samson on 13 off nine, Abhishek on one off three.

India 16/0 in 2 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: But then Marco Jansen has bowled a very good first over and he could’ve had a wicket in it as well had it not been for Reeza Hendricks dropping Abhishek Sharma. The first ball is wide but that is followed by some very uncomfortable deliveries for Samson. He edges the third ball, it falls safely wide of slip and Samson gets off the duck. Abhishek, though, would’ve been gone for a golden duck as he is done by the shape away and edges it straight to Hendricks at slips. It bounces out of his reverse cup, Abhishek gets off strike, a single for Samson next ball and then Jansen gets the last to climb on Abhishek, it thuds the batter’s helmet.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Allright then, Marco Jansen to bowl the first over, Sanju Samson facing up with Abhishek Sharma at the other end.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: The teams have lined up for the national anthems! First comes India’s and then South Africa’s. A good crowd has built up already at the Wanderers and it is only going to swell as the night wears on.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Two centuries and then two ducks. Consistency has been an issue for Sanju Samson throughout his international career and there is probably no better example of it than the last four T20Is he played. It will be interesting to see how he does today.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Aiden Markram says that this was a good toss to lose as he wasn’t quite sure what South Africa would’ve preferred to do first. He says that there are no changes to the lineup.

South Africa XI: Ryan Rickelton, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Andile Simelane, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Suryakumar Yadav has said that India are going with the same eleven that won the third T20I.

India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Suryakumar Yadav has won a toss at last! We could see Hardik Pandya whooping playfully in the background after the result of the toss was announced. He has chosen to bat first.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: Natalie Germanos and Shaun Pollock on the pitch report today. They say that it has been a slightly cooler day in Johannesburg. “We are in the centre of the square. We have a decent hit straight, 86 meters, the square boundaries – 62 and 66 meters. It looks really good. Usually the pitches here have no grass and cracks but we are devoid of that today. There’s a decent covering of grass. No cracks. It is going to carry through nicely and the ball will come on. It is a kind of pitch where you go after the bowlers then you can put some jitters,” they said.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score, 4th T20I: It has been quite a year for India in the shortest format. They have played 25 matches and won 23 of them. This has translated to them winning every series and tournament they have played this year, including of course the 2024 T20 World Cup.