India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Suryakumar’s IND up against pumped-up Proteas in bid to snatch back series lead

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: He powered South Africa to victory in the second match but can’t do much today. Big appeal for LBW off the fifth ball by Axar and the rest of the Indian players and the umpire raises his finger. Stubbs has a brief chat with Markram before taking the review. He starts walking as soon as he sees that the ball is pitching in line and he was as plumb as they come. South Africa in disarray.

Stubbs lbw b Patel 12 (12)

South Africa 68/3 in 8.5 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Just nine runs off the seventh and eighth overs and SA really finding it difficult to get the spinners away. Interestingly enough, Ravi Bishnoi is yet to bowl an over. Both Markram and Stubbs have scored 11 runs off 10 balls each. South Africa need 156 to win from 72 balls.

South Africa 64/2 in 8 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: 14 runs came off the fifth over bowled by Axar Patel and Varun comes in to bowl the last over of the powerplay. He sends in a googly at length outside off third ball to Hendricks. The batter steps out but misses it entirely, Samson whips off the bails. Once again, Chakravarthy strikes within his first three balls in a match.

South Africa 47/2 in 5.3 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Pressure from both ends on South Africa. Both Hendricks and Aiden Markram get a single each off the first two balls. Pandya then goes short outside off third ball, Hendricks tries he pull but inside edges it on to his thigh pad, surprised by the lack of bounce there. Then Pandya bowls a peach, a length ball that seams away just a bit and squares Hendricks up. Three runs off the rest of the over, Markram on three off two, Hendricks on eight off seven.

South Africa 32/1 in 4 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Rickleton chops on and of course it is Arshdeep Singh who gets India the breakthrough. This is his 90th T20I wicket, thus replacing Jasprit Bumrah as India’s third-highest wicket-taker of all time in the format. He had banged in the fifth ball and Rickleton sent it over deep square leg for a six. Arshdeep then reverts to that hard length for the last ball, getting it to shape away off the seam slightly. Rickleton pokes at it away from his body, gets a thick edge and the ball bounces right down behind him and trickles on to the stumps before the batter could react.

Rickelton b Arshdeep Singh 20 (15)

South Africa 27/1 in 3 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Ok the flying ants are gone, let’s hope we get to see some flying sixes or flying wickets now. Pandya will bowl the second over, Rickleton on strike.

South Africa 7/0 in 1 over

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Laxman walked back holding up 10 fingers to the dressing room, indicating that play will resume in 10 minutes. Corpses of those insects are strewn all over over the ground but the air seems to have been cleared of them. South Africa scored seven runs in that first over, remember, and Hardik Pandya was going to bowl the second. The Proteas are chasing a target of 220.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Well it might read like a flimsy reason to suspend an international match with so much riding on it but there is a risk of those ants flying into players’ eyes, just to count one of the thousands of ways in which they can be hurt by these insects. VVS Laxman is out there and we can see one of his assistants just brushing a critter off his shoulder, that is how omnipresent they are.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Insects have stopped play in Centurion. They have been filling up the frame and causing havoc ever since the start of this innings. Pandya was shaping up to bowl the second over when the umpires had a word with him and Suryakumar Yadav, then a word with the South African openers. No one seemed to have any arguments about going off.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Almost an edge and caught behind off the very first ball for Arshdeep as it fizzes past Rickleton’s toe-end. He gets off strike next ball and then Hendricks slashes away the first ball he faces today over short third for a four. Two more runs after that in that over, Rickleton on two off four, Hendricks on five off two.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: All right then, what can South Africa get up to here. Ryan Rickleton facing up to Arshdeep Singh, Reeza Hendricks at the other end.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Now India have set up a target of 220 for South Africa to chase, never easy in T20 cricket. One has to remember though, that this is a place where the record for highest T20I chase was broken last year and a target of over 130 was chased in less than 11 overs before that. And so while 220 is a big score, it might be only slightly above par here. The Indian bowlers have their jobs cut out for them.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Utterly excellent bowling from Marco Jansen in that last over, just five runs in it and even then, India have set South Africa a target of 220 to chase. This innings has been all about Tilak Varma with a dash of Abishek Sharma and Ramandeep Singh as well. He finished unbeaten on 107 off 56, Tilak had incidentally put up a partnership of 107 runs off 52 balls as well.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Well it looked like Sipamla had ended the over well, bowling it into the blockhole outside off and fielding it as well to make it a dot ball. But the third umpire says that the bowler had overstepped and he had to reload. Sipamla misses the yorker this time and Tilak goes down on a knee, scoops it nicely over fine leg for a six. Tilak ends the over on 106 off 53 balls.

India 215/5 in 19 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: And he brings it up with just the most wonderful of boundaries. In the slot from Sipamla for the fifth ball of the 19th, Tilak smashes it down the ground past mid-off. It was quite obvious it would go to the boundary as soon as it beat the fielder and Tilak wheels off in celebration even before the ball reached the ropes! 100 off the very best runs off just 51 balls and that too away from home. Before that, Ramandeep had sent the third ball scorching down the ground for another four.

India 208/5 in 18.5 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: What a way to start your international career! Simelane sends the last ball of that over in the arc and Ramandeep swings the bat for an emphatic six over long on. As flat as they come. He is on six off one ball. Tilak on 95 off 49 and he is on strike for the first ball of the 19th.

India 196/5 in 18 oversIndia vs South Africa LIVE Score:

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: An unplayable delivery from Simelane and Rinku Singh can do nothing but trudge back to the dugout. A searing yorker from the pacer for the fifth ball of the 18th, Rinku doesn’t see it in time and by the time he brings the bat down, the ball has already squirted beneath it and crashed on to his stumps.

Rinku Singh b Simelane 8 (13)

India 190/5 in 17.5 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Wide balls have hurt Coetzee to no end today. He returns for the 16th over and sends in a nice juicy full ball outside off in the slot, Tilak sends it over long on. LBW shout off the second ball that the umpire isn’t interested in. Coetzee goes for a leg stump yorker third ball and Tilak whips it over deep quare leg for a towering six. Two back to back wides after that from Coetzee, Tilak then gets off strike and then another wide to Rinku. Single off the fifth and then Tilak scoops the last ball over the wicketkeeper’s head for a four. Just incredible batting, another hellish over for Coetzee who has conceded 51 runs in 3 overs now. Tilak on 87 off 45 balls, Rinku on three off six.

India 175/4 in 16 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Maharaj bowls out in the 15th over and this time, he is taken to the cleaners by Tilak. Rinku Singh gets off strike second ball and Tilak goes up and over extra cover for a four third ball. Then he hammers the fourth ball above deep square leg and gets six runs for his effort. The fifth ball is hit leg side, it is just out of reach for Tristan Stubbs running towards the ball from deep midwicket and goes for four. A single last ball and he keeps strike, Tilak is on 70 off 40, Rinku on two off five.

India 154/4 in 15 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Big appeal and the umpire gives it! Pandya reviews but it doesn’t look like he is too sure about contact with the bat. Sure enough, there was no bat. The first replay shows that there wasn’t enough bounce and incredibly enough, Pandya walks as soon as he sees that waiting for ball tracking. It means he was quite sure he didn’t hit it and quite sure that he is most probably out. One wonders why he thought it prudent to waste a review.

Pandya lbw b Maharaj 18 (16)

India 132/4 in 12.5 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Maharaj returns for the 13th over, Tilak takes a single off the second ball and that brings up 50 for him in 32 balls. He got a chance at No.3 and he is making the most of it.

India 132/3 in 12.2 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: One brings two! After a long period of dominance by the Indian batters the South African bowlers are having some reason to smile now. This was a length ball floated wide outside off by Simelane, it was there to hit for SKY square off side. He goes for it but can’t get a good connection, caught at deep point.

Suryakumar Yadav c Jansen b Simelane 1 (4)

India 110/3 in 9.4 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Oh Maharaj breaks the stand! Abhishek advances down the line fourth ball and Maharaj seems to anticipate that. He fires it wide and out of reach for Abhishek and Klaasen takes off the bails. A brilliant innings comes to an end and it has set the stage for India to make a big total here.

Abhishek Sharma st Klaasen b Maharaj 50 (25)

India 107/2 in 8.4 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Maharaj comes in for the ninth over and Abhishek welcomes him with a six over long on. He takes a single next ball and raises his bat, fifty runs in just 24 balls. This has been some innings from Abhishek.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Well that must be exactly the opposite of what Aiden Markram would’ve been hoping for when he threw the ball to one of his two strike bowlers in the ninth over. Tilak takes a single first ball and then Coetzee fires two wides, both of them short balls. Another wide fourth ball and then Tilak smashes the last ball over square leg and into the grass bank for a six. But wait a minute, the hooter goes off and it is a no ball! To add salkt to the wound, the free hit delivery takes Tilak’s top edge and is caught by the third man fielder.

India 99/1 in 8 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Sipamla returns for the last over, a couple of singles off the first two balls. Abhishek then steps outside leg, converting a delivery aimed at his leg to one that is on his offside and sends the third delivery over cover for a six. Two runs off the next three balls and Abhishek is on 37 off 16, Tilak on 26 off 19. What a start this has been for India and surely, surely they are going to try and keep going even in these middle overs.

India 70/1 in 6 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Abhishek Sharma giving a good reminder of his abilities here. South Africa brought in Sipamla for Coetzee in the fourth over and then Simelane for Jansen in the fifth. Tilak gets off strile first ball of the fifth and then Simelane sends in a half-tracker down leg side, Abhishek wallops over fine leg on to the grass banks. Then Abhishek comes down the track and marches away to make room to a bakc of a length delivery, it is sent sailing over cover for another six. That brings up India’s 50 in 4.3 overs. Simelane sends the fourth ball into the blockhole and Abhishek squeezes out a single. Simelane then misses the yorker by centimetres and Tilak times it to perfection past mid on for a four. He is on 25 off 17 at the end of that over, Abhishek on 29 off 12.

India 60/1 in 5 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Coetzee bowls the second over, Abhishek smashes the short delivery second ball through midwicket for four. Coetzee bangs the fourth ball in and it goes too far above Abhishek’s head, wide called. The bowler goes back of a length on leg and Abhishek sends that over point for a six. Then a lovely cover drive as Coetzee goes full outside off for a four next ball and then a dot. Abhishek on 14 off six, Tilak on 12 off four.

India 27/1 in 2 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Tilak gets off the mark in style, hitting the second ball he faced past backward point for a four. Then he goes after a shortish delivery and smashes it over wide third man for a six. Two runs off the last over and that is quite a retort from Tilak after the early wicket fell in that eventful first over.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Two consecutive centuries, followed by two consecutive ducks for Sanju Samson. Back of a length delivery second ball of the match, it seems to keep a little low and Samson cannot bring his bat down in time. The off stump takes a beating. How about this for a start!

Samson b Jansen 0 (2)

India 0/1 in 0.2 overs

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: All right, Sanju Samson is facing up, Abhishek Sharma at the other end. Marco Jansen starts the attack for South Africa.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Shaul Pollock and Ashwell Prince did the pitch report today. They say there was a big rain storm last night but it is quite sunny now. Looks like a bit dry. A typical Centurion wicket will have a bit of sheen which is not there. The spinners will have a part to play. The batters enjoy batting here because of the bounce. The boundary size is pretty small; 59 and 64 meters square and 82 meters down the ground

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Aiden Markram said that the batters need to stay in the middle for longer. South Africa are placing their trust on the same side that won the second T20I.

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

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Suryakumar Yadav says that Avesh Khan is making way for Ramandeep Singh today.

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

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: South Africa captain Aiden Markram has won the toss and chosen to bowl first.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Suryakumar Yadav and Aiden Markram in deep conversation after having exchanged their team sheets. We are just seconds away from the toss now.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Well it looks like Ramandeep Singh has been handed his debut cap in the Indian team huddle before they broke off to commence their training. It means India have decided they have had enough of their long tail and want to maximise the death overs. Moreover, Ramandeep is a handy medium pacer and the Highveld does favour pace bowling.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Four-match series are always rather awkward affairs. With the series now tied 1-1, a victory for either side today would mean that they can’t lose the series any more, making the last match something of a dead rubber. However, that won’t be a complete dead rubber, considering one team would be looking to avoid a series defeat and the other would be trying to avoid a draw. Neither hot nor too cold

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: Since the start of this decade, Centurion has established itself as one of the highest-scoring T20 grounds in South Africa. Out of the six South African grounds that have hosted more than three T20Is since 2020, Centurion has the highest runs per over. Batting sides have gone at 10.90 runs an over and an average of 33.25 runs per wicket.

India vs South Africa LIVE Score: One of the reasons why it would be a surprise if India make any changes today is because both sides seem to be prioritising giving players a chance to develop in this series as much as winning it. This is evidenced by the fact that India have left their backup coaching staff led by VVS Laxman to look after the team in this tour.