India and South Africa played the series finale of the bilateral series in Johannesburg. After a washout in the first game, India's bowlers suffered a rude awakening in the second one as the Proteas made a mockery of the rain-truncated 152-run target to romp home with five wickets and seven balls to spare. After being asked to bat first in the 3rd T20I, India, guided by captain Suryakumar Yadav's century made 201 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal stitched a 112-run partnership for the 3rd wicket with SKY. South Africa never looked settled while chasing. Mohammed Siraj's first over was maiden and set the tone for the bowlers as Indian bowlers kept taking wickets in regular intervals and restricted them to 95 runs in 13.5 overs. India won the third T20I with 106 runs and level the three-match series 1-1 after the first match ended with no results. Kuldeep Yadav took a fifer and finished the Proteas' innings early. Check the highlights of the IND vs RSA 3rd T20I match here (Scorecard | Match Report)
That's all from our side!
Highest victory margins for India in T20Is (by runs)
168 vs NZ, Ahmedabad, 2023
143 vs IRE, Dublin (Malahide), 2023
106 vs SA, Johannesburg, 2023
101 vs AFG, Dubai, 2022
93 vs SL, Cuttack, 2017
Five-fors for India in Men’s T20Is
6/7 - Deepak Chahar vs Bangladesh, Nagpur, 2019
6/25 - Yuzvendra Chahal vs England, Bengaluru, 2017
5/4 - Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs Afghanistan, Dubai, 2022
5/17 - Kuldeep Yadav vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2023
5/24 - Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2018
5/24 - Kuldeep Yadav vs England, Manchester, 2018
Aiden Markram: I wasn't too upset about going for 200. We had the feeling we could have tracked it down. Was pursuing. It was a little on the low side. When we were fielding, hitters seemed to be able to hit it wherever. It would have been lovely to have done better. There are certain advantages that we can build on. A few positives and a couple of areas for improvement.
Suryakumar Yadav: I'm ok. I'm walking well. It's always a pleasant sensation. It makes me happy when it is for a winning cause. We wanted to play a daring kind of cricket. The plan was to bat first, get some runs, and then defend. The lads put in long hours every day. I'm glad they exhibited some personality. He (Kuldeep) is never content. He is constantly hungry. It's a thoughtful self-gift for his birthday. I mean, knowing your game is critical. I simply go out there and have fun. The importance of balance cannot be overstated.
Player of the series - Suryakumar Yadav (156 runs in two innings)
Player of the match - Suryakumar Yadav (100 runs in 56 balls)
Brief Score: RSA - 95/10 (13.5)
David Miller - 35 (25), Aiden Markram - 25 (14) | Kuldeep Yadav: (2.5-0-17-5)
11:50 PM: India win by 106 runs!
Kuldeep Yadav's fifer finished the game early as India leveled the three-match T20I series 1-1 after the first match was abandoned. He took five wickets in the match in just 17 deliveries as India restricted South Africa to 95 runs and clinched a big win.
11:45 PM: Kuldeep Gets Over Hat-Trick!
Kuldeep Yadav removed three batters in the five deliveries and packed the match as India won by 106 runs. He first removed Nandre Burger, then Lizaad Williams, and then removed the set batter David Miller and finished the match with that wicket.
RSA - 95/10 (13.5)
11:40 PM: RSA - 94/7 (13)
Mohammed Siraj delivered a good over and kept David Miller silent. Only five runs from the over.
11:35 PM: Kuldeep Strikes Again!
Kuldeep Yadav struck again and removed Keshav Maharaj after Miller hit him for a four. Same script from the last over as seven runs were conceded from the last over and a wicket on the last ball of the over. David Miller is the only batter left. The Proteas are seven down.
RSA - 89/7 (12)
11:30 PM: Jadeja Removes Phehlukwayo!
Ravindra Jadeja got the wicket of all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo after he was hit for a boundary by Miller. He conceded seven runs from the over.
RSA - 82/6 (11)
11:27 PM: Kuldeep Gets Ferreira
Donovan Ferreira hit Kuldeep Yadav for a six but he bowled him on the very next delivery to make it even.
RSA - 75/5 (10)
11:20 PM: RSA - 66/4 (9)
David Miller targeted Ravindra Jadeja and hit him for two sixes in the over. 15 runs were conceded from the over.
11:15 PM: RSA - 51/4 (8)
Tilak Varma bowled a good over in between and gave just four runs from that over.
11:12 PM: Jadeja Gets Markram!
Ravindra Jadeja removed the set batter Aiden Markram. He gave just five runs from the over.
RSA - 47/4 (7)
11:08 PM: Arshdeep Gets Klaasen!
Arshdeep Singh removed the dangerous batter, Heinrich Klaasen. First, Klasen hit him for a boundary but Singh struck after two deliveries and got him caught out with Rinku Singh. David Miller joined Markram.
RSA - 42/3 (6)
11:00 PM: RSA - 38/2 (5)
Mukesh Kumar delivered a good over but got hit for a six on the final ball of the over. seven runs from the over.
10:57 PM: Siraj Run-Outs Hendricks!
Arshdeep Singh ran to bowl the fourth over and got the wicket of Reeza Hendricks on the second delivery when he tried to steal a run but Siraj's direct hit completed the task. Henrick Klaasen joined Captain Markram at the crease. Markram hit him for two boundaries and collected a total of 9 runs from the over.
RSA - 31/2 (4)
10:52 PM: RSA - 22/1 (3)
Mohammed Siraj continued his attack from the other side bowled a good over again and gave just 8 runs. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav seemed to struggle a bit as he twisted his ankle. He is going back to the pavilion. Physios attended him.
10:45 PM: Mukesh Gets Breetzke!
Mukesh got introduced into the attack early and removed the opener batter Matthew Breetzke on the third delivery of the over. Aiden Markram came after that and hit two back-to-back boundaries to extract 14 runs from the over.
RSA - 14/1 (2)
10:35 PM: RSA Start Batting
Matthew Breetzke and Reeza Hendricks opened the innings and Mohammed Siraj opened the bowling attack from India. Siraj conceded just zero run in his first over. Good start from India.
RSA - 0/0 (1)
Innings Break!
Target Set For South Africa - 202 Runs in 120 Balls
Brief Score: IND - 201/7 (20)
Suryakumar Yadav - 100 (56), Yashasvi Jaiswal - 60 (41) | Keshav Maharaj: (4-0-26-2)
10:17 PM: SKY Completes Century!
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav completed his 4th century in the shortest format on the first delivery after taking a quick double. He got out on the very next ball. Jadeja came and hit a four but got run out on the next delivery. Jitesh Sharma got an unfortunate hit-wicket on the next delivery and Siraj took a double to post a total par 200 runs. South Africa need 202 runs to win this match.
IND - 201/7 (20)
10:07 PM: Nandre Gets Rinku!
Nandre Burger bowled a terrific 19th over for South Africa and also struck the wicket of dangerous Rinku Singh. Only six runs from the over.
IND - 192/4 (19)
10:00 PM: IND - 186/3 (18)
Tabraiz Shamsi bowled the 18th over and SKY hit him for a four. Rinku Singh ended the over with a six. 13 runs from the over.
9:57 PM: IND - 173/3 (17)
Surya hit two fours in Lizaad Williams' over to put him under pressure but he came back with good length deliveries and gave just four runs after conceding eight on the first three deliveries.
9:50 PM: IND - 161/3 (16)
Suryakumar Yadav hit three back-to-back boundaries on the first three deliveries of Nandre Burger's third over. 17 runs from the over as SKY approaches towards his century.
9:45 PM: Maharaj Bowls Good Over!
Keshav Maharaj delivered a very good over and conceded just three runs from that. New batter Rinku Singh also took his time and played him very carefully.
IND - 144/3 (15)
9:40 PM: Shamsi Gets Jaiswal!
India lost a wicket after 112 runs as Yashasvi Jaiswal got trapped in Tabraiz Shamsi's spin web. SKY hit him for a massive six on the fourth delivery but Shamsi struck back with Jaiswal's wicket.
IND - 141/3 (14)
9:35 PM: SKY Completes Fifty In Style!
Suryakumar Yadav targeted Andile Phehlukwayo and hit him for three sixes and one four in the over as he conceded 23 runs from his third over. After bowling two good overs, SKY manhandled his bowling and toyed him for sixes.
IND - 131/2 (13)
9:30 PM: Jaiswal Completes Fifty!
Yashasvi Jaiswal completed his 34-ball fifty on the first delivery. He then went on to hit Williams for a six and collected 10 runs from his over.
IND - 109/2 (12)
9:24 PM: IND - 98/2 (11)
11 runs from Maharaj's over as Suryakumar Yadav broke the shackles and hit a six. The duo looking to change the gears now.
9:20 PM: IND - 87/2 (10)
Tabraiz Shamsi delivered a very tight over and conceded just four runs out of it. Super stuff from Shamsi!
9:14 PM: IND - 83/2 (9)
Another good over from Andile Phehluwayo and after being hit for a four on the very first delivery he gave just 8 runs from the over.
9:10 PM: IND - 75/2 (8)
Jaiswal attacked Shamsi in his very first over and put him under pressure by hitting two fours in the over and collected 11 runs from the over.
9:03 PM: Phehlukwayo Gave Just Two Runs!
Andile Phehlukwayo was introduced into the attack after the first powerplay got over and he used his slower balls and cutters and gave just two runs in his over.
IND - 64/2 (7)
9:00 PM: IND - 62/2 (6)
Nandre Burger delivered a very good over after leaking 14 runs in his first over. After being hit for a boundary on the first delivery, he only conceded six runs in the over.
8:56 PM: SKY Charges Against Maharaj
Surya charged against Keshav Maharaj and hit him for two boundaries in the over. India reached 50 runs in the fifth over.
IND - 56/2 (5)
8:50 PM: 15 Runs From Lizaad's Over
Yashasvi Jaiswal and SKY hit one six each in Lizaad Williams' over to extract 15 runs from that.
IND - 45/2 (4)
8:45 PM: Keshav Maharaj Strikes Twice
Keshav Maharaj was introduced in the third over and he first LBW bowled Shubman Gill then sent Tilak Varma back on the very next ball. Only one run from the over. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is the new batter on the crease.
IND - 30/2 (3)
8:37 PM: India Up And Away
India are off to a flying start with 14 runs in the first over. Openers Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are out in the middle for the visitors, and it is Gill who gets going with two fluent drives - one through the covers and another straight down the ground - and a leg glance against RSA seamer Nandre Burger.
IND - 14/0 (1)
8:05 PM: Toss Update
South Africa have won the toss and have opted to field.
Teams:
South Africa (Playing XI): Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi, Nandre Burger
India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar
8:00 PM: What Captains Said
Suryakumar Yadav, India Captain: We wanted to score runs first then defend. Looks like a decent pitch; I doubt it will alter much. That's the type of play we want to see from our players; they want to be brave. There were a lot of positives from the last game. The same XI is playing.
Aiden Markram, South Africa Captain: We're going to bowl first once more. We have a new wicket and are pleased with how we chased the other night. There is always space for improvement. Tonight is your chance to correct it. It is significant (to win a series versus India). Great opportunity for the boys to express themselves. There are three changes. Kesh returns, Nandre Burger makes his debut, and Donovan Ferreira replaces Stubbs.
7:45 PM: Weather Report
The weather is dry and warm. No signs of clouds so far. The temperature is 27 degrees Celsius and no rain is forecasted for today. There may be sixes and fours raining today since the pitch is dry and boundaries are comparatively smaller.
7:30 PM: Pitch Report
"77 metres straight boundary, 59 metres and 69 square," says Pommie Mbangwa. It does fly around here. The plot revolves around altitude. The average here is 12 sixes per game. It's quite dry. It's been really hot, so there's some grass on there. There will be many runs on this since it appears to be rather excellent. Expect a lot of runs and a lot of sixes."
7:00 PM: Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee Unavailable
According to the team announcement, Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee will be unavailable for this match to prepare for the next Test series. Nandre Burger and Ottniel Baartman might make their debuts as a result.
6:30 PM: Head-To-Head Record
India have played South Africa 26 times in T20Is and have won on 13 occasions. South Africa, on the other hand, have won 11 matches. Two matches ended with no results, like the first match of the ongoing series.
6:20 PM: Squads
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Deepak Chahar
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, and Lizaad Williams.
