IND vs SA 2024, 4th T20I: Who won yesterday’s India vs South Africa match?
India beat South Africa by 135 runs in yesterday's T20I at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. With the crushing victory, the Men in Blue clinched the four-match series 3-1. Batting first after winning the toss, Team India posted a commanding total of 283-1 on the board and then bowled out the Proteas for 148.
Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma got India off to a rapid start with the bat, adding 73 in 5.5 overs. The rollicking partnership was broken when Abhishek (36 off 18) was caught behind off Lutho Sipamla. This was to be only wicket South Africa would take in the match.
Samson was joined by Tilak Varma and the duo completely tore apart the Proteas attack, featuring in an unbroken 210-run stand of the second wicket. Samson, who began the series with a hundred, but was dismissed for a duck in the previous two games, was back among the runs with a bang. He returned unbeaten on 109 off 56 balls, a knock that included six fours and nine sixes.
For Varma, it was his second consecutive T20I ton. The left-handed batter followed up his 107* off 56 in Centurion with an unbeaten 120 off 47 balls in Johannesburg. The talented youngster's innings featured nine fours and 10 sixes. Both batters struck the ball so cleanly that they never looked like getting out and, in the end, returned unconquered.
The duo broke a few records along the way as well. Samson became the first player with three T20I tons in a calendar year. The Kerala cricketer and Varma became the first pair to score hundreds in the same T20I innings against a full member team.
Arshdeep's three-fer sinks South Africa in the chase
To have had any chance of chasing down India's mammoth total of 283, South Africa needed to get off to a sensational start. Instead, they crumbled to 10-4 inside three overs, all but putting paid to their hopes.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh knocked over Reeza Hendricks (0) in the first over and went on to dismiss Aiden Markram (8) and Heinrich Klaasen (0) off consecutive deliveries. In between, Hardik Pandya had Ryan Rickelton caught behind for 1.
Tristan Stubbs (43 off 29), David Miller (36 off 27) and Marco Jansen (29* off 12) offered some resistance, but only managed to delay the inevitable.
Who was the Player of the Match in yesterday’s India vs South Africa 4th T20I?
Samson and Varma scored sensational hundreds for India. With the ball, pacer Arshdeep starred with three wickets, while spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel claimed two each.
For South Africa, Stubbs top-scored with 43, while Miller contributed 36. For his batting exploits, Varma walked away with the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.