India won the series 3-1 against South Africa by 138 runs in the fourth and final T20 International here on Friday, thanks to the explosive unbeaten centuries of Sanju Samson and Tilak Verma. With a record unbroken partnership of 210 runs for the second wicket between Samson (109 not out) and Verma (120 not out), India won the toss and batted, scoring a huge score of 283 runs for one wicket.
This is India’s highest score in T20 International so far on foreign soil and by any country on South African soil. Thanks to the brilliant opening spell of Arshdeep Singh (3 wickets for 20 runs), South Africa lost four wickets for 10 runs and then the entire team was reduced to 148 runs in 18.2 overs. Many records were broken during the match, the most important record of which was two Indian batsmen scoring centuries in the same T20 International innings.
Samson and Verma’s 210-run partnership for the second wicket in just 93 balls was the highest partnership for any wicket in this format for India. 22-year-old Tilak from Hyderabad hit nine fours and 10 sixes in just 47 balls, becoming the second Indian to score consecutive centuries in T20 international cricket.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav decided to give up his favorite batting position to give a chance to this young talent who shows his leadership abilities. Samson, who scored a brilliant century in the first match, faced 56 balls and hit six fours and nine sixes in his century innings. Along with Verma, Samson once again defeated the South African bowlers.
Verma looked full of confidence and enthusiasm at number three. Samson has scored three T20 International centuries in the last five innings, including being out for a duck twice, while Verma has scored two consecutive T20 International centuries. South Africa had a very poor start, losing four wickets for 10 runs in the third over. It was natural for the batsmen to come under pressure while chasing this huge score.
South Africa lost the wicket of its opening batsman Reeza Hendricks on the third ball of the innings, who became the first victim of Arshdeep Singh. In the second over, all-rounder Hardik Pandya sent Ryan Rickelton to the pavilion. South Africa lost the wickets of Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen at the score of 10 runs, leaving the score at four runs for 10 wickets.
After such a start, the South African innings was expected to end quickly but the team managed to play for 18.2 overs. For him, Tristan Stubbs scored 43 runs, David Miller scored 36 runs and Marco Jansen scored 29 not out. Apart from Arshdeep’s three wickets, Varun Chakraborty and Akshar Patel took two wickets each for India.
Earlier, Samson completed 100 runs in 51 balls with six fours and eight sixes and Verma played 41 balls to complete his century which included six fours and nine sixes. Abhishek Sharma (36 runs in 18 balls) should also get credit for giving momentum to the innings by hitting four big sixes in the powerplay. Indian batsmen hit a record 23 sixes on a good pitch for batting.
South African fast bowler Geralf Coetzee looked injured due to which he was having trouble bowling and this only benefited India. Both the batsmen thrashed medium pace bowlers Andile Simelane and Lutho Sipamala. By the time captain Aiden Markram introduced Coetzee for the second spell, the Indian batsmen had done their job. South Africa’s bowlers bowled 17 wides to control the panic.
Keshav Maharaj and Tristan Stubbs also could not escape the wrath of both the batsmen against whom both of them hit all the shots like cut, pull, slog sweep, reverse sweep. There was no corner of the field where these two Indians did not hit strokes. In fact, one of Samson’s shots hit a female spectator on the cheek, causing her to cry in pain and TV cameras captured it.