India secured an 11-run victory over South Africa in the third T20 match, taking a 2-1 lead in the four-match series. The game, held at SuperSport Park in Centurion, saw fast bowler Arshdeep Singh claim the wicket of Marco Jansen in the final over, ensuring India’s comeback. South Africa had won the toss and opted to bowl first. Thanks to Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 107 and Abhishek Sharma’s 50-run innings, India posted 219/6 in their 20 overs. In response, South Africa managed to score 208/7 in 20 overs. With this win, India will now set their sights on the fourth and final match, scheduled to be held in Johannesburg on Friday, November 15.
India Sets Record with Another 200+ Score in T20s
India’s innings marked the eighth time this year that the team has scored over 200 runs in a T20 match, setting a significant record. This achievement makes India the first team to score 200+ runs most times in a single calendar year in T20s, surpassing Birmingham Bears and Japan, who both achieved this feat seven times (Birmingham Bears in 2022 and Japan this year). Last year, India managed seven such scores in T20 matches.
Arshdeep Becomes India’s Second Most Successful T20 Bowler
Arshdeep Singh delivered an outstanding bowling performance, claiming the crucial wicket of Heinrich Klaasen, who was in good form and hitting big shots. Klaasen scored 41 runs off 22 balls, including one four and four sixes, before being dismissed by Arshdeep. With this, Arshdeep has become India’s second most successful bowler in T20 Internationals with 92 wickets, surpassing Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Insect Interruption During the Match
The match between India and South Africa faced an unusual interruption due to insects swarming the field, which forced the game to pause. The players from both teams had difficulty dealing with the flying insects. Hardik Pandya was about to bowl the second over when the umpire intervened, leading to discussions and eventually both teams leaving the field temporarily.
Klaasen and Jansen’s Efforts Fall Short
In their chase, South Africa lost Rickelton for 20 runs, bowled by Arshdeep. Hendricks (21) hit three consecutive boundaries off Axar Patel in the fifth over but was stumped by Varun in the following over. Stubbs contributed with two boundaries as South Africa reached 55/2 at the end of the powerplay. Axar later dismissed Stubbs (12), and Markram (29) hit two sixes before getting caught off a loose delivery. By the 10th over, South Africa was 84/4.
Klaasen launched an aggressive attack in the 14th over, hitting Varun for three sixes and scoring 23 runs in that over, with Suryakumar dropping a catch. South Africa needed 86 runs from the last five overs. Klaasen’s dismissal for 41 in the 18th over was a turning point.
Marco Jansen then stepped up, scoring a rapid half-century off just 16 balls—his first in T20s. Despite his efforts, Arshdeep’s final-over heroics dismissed Jansen, extinguishing South Africa’s last hope. Klaasen’s 41 off 22 balls was a notable effort for South Africa but was cut short by Arshdeep. For India, Arshdeep took three wickets, while Varun Chakravarthy claimed two, and Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel took one each.
Tilak Varma’s Century Powers India’s Total
Tilak Varma’s maiden T20 International century was pivotal in propelling India past the 200-run mark. India did not start well, losing Sanju Samson for a duck in the opening over, his second consecutive scoreless outing. However, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak stabilized the innings, forming a 107-run partnership for the second wicket.
Abhishek reached his fifty before getting out for 50 runs off 25 balls. Tilak continued, reaching his half-century and then his century, finishing unbeaten on 107 from 56 balls, including eight fours and seven sixes. Contributions from other Indian batsmen included Suryakumar Yadav (1 run), Hardik Pandya (18 runs), Rinku Singh (8 runs), and Ramandeep Singh (15 runs). Axar Patel remained not out with 1 run. For South Africa, Andile Simelane and Keshav Maharaj took two wickets each, while Marco Jansen claimed one.
