India vs South Africa 3rd T20I: India Wins by 11 Runs, Leads Series

The 3rd T20I between India and South Africa at SuperSport Park, Centurion, was nothing short of electrifying. Cricket fans witnessed a thrilling contest marked by explosive batting, dramatic bowling, and a nail-biting finish. In a game packed with standout performances, India emerged victorious by 11 runs, clinching a 2-1 lead in the series. Here’s a closer look at how the action unfolded, with detailed coverage of each phase of the match.

Setting the Stage: Toss and Playing XIs

South Africa’s skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bowl, a decision reflecting the team's confidence in their batting lineup and hoping for a manageable chase under lights. India’s lineup saw a notable change with Ramandeep Singh making his T20I debut, replacing Avesh Khan. India entered the game riding a stellar year, having won 21 out of their last 23 T20Is in 2024, aiming to maintain their dominant form.

Playing XIs:

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

South Africa: 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’s First Innings: An Explosive Batting Display

India’s innings got off to a shaky start, with Sanju Samson getting bowled for a duck by Marco Jansen in the very first over. Jansen’s delivery clipped the top of off stump, marking a disheartening two consecutive ducks for Samson. India quickly recovered as Tilak Varma, promoted to No. 3, teamed up with opener Abhishek Sharma to launch a counterattack.

Tilak and Abhishek Shine: The Tilak-Abhishek partnership was a masterclass in T20 batting. Both batsmen displayed exceptional shot selection and timing, attacking South African bowlers with a flurry of boundaries. In just 8.1 overs, India reached the 100-run mark, setting the stage for a monumental total. Abhishek brought up his half-century with a spectacular six, and Tilak followed suit, scoring his fifty soon after.

Tilak Varma’s Maiden Century: Tilak’s innings was the highlight of the match. His composed aggression and precise hitting helped him bring up his maiden T20I century off only 51 balls. Tilak’s powerful strokes and inventive shots kept the scoreboard ticking and left South Africa’s bowlers struggling for answers.

Late-Order Contributions: Ramandeep Singh, making his T20I debut, introduced himself with a bang, hitting a six off his first ball. This late-order hitting proved invaluable as India pushed their score past 200. After a blistering 52-ball 107, Tilak’s innings ended, but India had already set a daunting target of 219/6 at the end of 20 overs.

South Africa’s Chase: India’s Bowlers Keep Their Nerve