Centuries by Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma have taken India to 283/1 in the final T20I against South Africa at The Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday.
Besides Tilak, Abhishek Sharma stayed in form with a brilliant half-century in the 3rd T20I.
The two scores over 200 in the series are taking Indian batting sorted going into the final game. SA top order collapsed before making 20 runs.
Key Highlights
India: 283/1 in 20 overs; Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma put up highest partnership for India in T20Is as the duo broke the 200-run mark to emerge as the finest strikers of the ball.
Both Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma score centuries; on a personal note, Tilak becomes the first player in international cricket to score successive hundreds and was batting like a dream with usual consistency.
Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya wreaked havoc, reducing South Africa to 15/4 within 4 overs, with Arshdeep taking two crucial wickets in the third over, including Klaasen.
Arshdeep’s inswingers and variations kept the South African batters guessing, almost securing a hat-trick and finishing with excellent figures.
Hardik Pandya not only contributed with tight bowling but also took key wickets, putting South Africa under immense pressure early in their innings.
South Africa wasted a review after Klaasen was trapped LBW, showing three reds on DRS. India’s dominance was evident as SA’s review strategies failed.
Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakaravarthy weave a web on the middle order, making sure South Africa could never get back on track from the pathetic beginning.
India outplayed South Africa both bat and ball by showing an absolute dominance and underlining how strong they are as a T20 powerhouse.
The Double Century Partnership
Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma ran like madmen, a six-hitting spree that left the viewers breathless during the India vs South Africa 4th T20I on Friday.
The Wanderers in Johannesburg, the witness to many batting records and high totals, added another chapter to his glorious history for the batters.
For the bowlers, it was yet another epitaph in wide-ball cricket.
Both Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma scored centuries.
It is the first instance in the history of T20I cricket where more than one batter of a full-member team reached the three-figure mark in the same innings.
The Disappointing Performance of SA
South Africans are batting, on the other hand, except for Marco Jansen and a cameo from Henrich Klassen, and the top order has failed yet again.
Skipper Aiden Markram looked out of sorts, both with his captaincy hat on and bat in his hand.
For South Africa to level the series, Markram, at the top order, failed to make a substantial contribution and tactically smart decisions on the field.
References
Hindustan times
TimesofIndia
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