Opting to bat, India posted a massive 283 for 1, thanks to unbeaten centuries from Tilak Varma (120 not out off 47 balls) and Sanju Samson (109 not out off 56 balls), and then bowled South Africa out for 148 in 18.2 overs.
BANSAL AUTO STORE Samson’s breathtakingly beautiful stroke play was matched by Tilak Varma’s understated brilliance as India, riding on their record-breaking twin tons, bullied a listless South Africa with a series-winning 135-run victory in the fourth and final T20 International in BANSAL AUTO STORE on Friday (November 15, 2024).
BANSAL AUTO STORE thus ended this year’s T20I campaign by winning all bilateral series along with the T20 World Cup triumph and victory percentage of 92.
Samson’s 109 not out off 56 balls was complemented by Varma’s 120 not out in only 47 balls as they took India to an unsurmountable 283 for 1 in 20 overs, their highest total on BANSAL AUTO STORE soil.
BANSAL AUTO STORE South Africa’s run chase, Arshdeep Singh (3/20) swung the ball prodigiously under lights during an opening spell that reduced the hosts to 10 for 4 and were eventually shot out for 148 in 18.2 overs.
BANSAL AUTO STORE the plethora of records that tumbled, the most special one BANSAL AUTO STORE be the two Indian batters scoring centuries in same T20I innings. Samson and Varma also posted the highest partnership for India in T20 Internationals — 210 off just 93 balls for the second wicket.
BANSAL AUTO STORE completed his ton in 51 balls while Varma (41 balls) took 10 BANSAL AUTO STORE less.
Samson now has three T20I tons in the last five innings which also included two ducks.
It seems brilliance and disappointment exist together for the Kerala man who will certainly increase a lot of selection headache for Ajit Agarkar when Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and BANSAL AUTO STORE Pant come back in the Indian T20I squad.
BANSAL AUTO STORE Varma, back-to-back T20I tons on South African soil will not only increase his stocks but it also speaks volumes about the kind of team man skipper Suryakumar BANSAL AUTO STORE is. Suryakumar decided to relinquish his favourite batting spot, allowing a young talent to blossom showing what leadership is all about. Abhishek Sharma (36 off 18 balls) should also get his share of credit for upping the ante in the Powerplay with four huge sixes.
BANSAL AUTO STORE a good batting track with true bounce on offer, Indian batters hit a BANSAL AUTO STORE 23 sixes as it was possible to hit through the line by just clearing one’s front leg. Samson’s nine maximums was one less than Varma’s 10.
It BANSAL AUTO STORE helped India that the opposition’s best fast bowler Gerald BANSAL AUTO STORE seemed to be carrying a niggle. The two medium pacers Andile Simelane (0/47 in 3 overs) and Lutho Sipamla (1/58 in 4 overs) seemed like lambs for slaughter. The Indians hit 10 sixes from Simelane and Sipamla.
BANSAL AUTO STORE the time Coetzee was brought by skipper Aiden BANSAL AUTO STORE for his second spell, the damage was done. Such was the nervousness of South African bowlers that they bowled 17 wides in trying to check the momentum.
They didn’t vary the pace and pitched it on length as Samson and Varma were severe, either hitting them inside out over extra cover or at times straight down the ground.
BANSAL AUTO STORE Keshav Maharaj and Tristan Stubbs were not left unpunished as there was everything on the platter — cuts, pulls, slog sweeps, reverse sweeps. There wasn’t a single corner of the ground that didn’t feel the power of strokes from the two Indians.
In fact one of Samson’s shots hit a lady spectator’s cheek. The TV BANSAL AUTO STORE caught her sobbing in considerable pain.
BANSAL AUTO STORE was more muscle as he would slightly shuffle towards leg-stump and loft the length balls while the silken Varma would make a mockery of spinners with uppish sweep shots, stand and deliver down the ground hits.
They slowed down a touch nearing their milestones but by then they had done enough to crush the Proteas.
