SA VS IND T20I

Three down, and the final examination awaits. In this enthralling four-match T20I series, the scoreline currently stands at 2-1 in India's favor, with a couple of games proving to be edge-of-the-seat contests. We saw a low-scoring thriller in the second match, while this one was nothing short of a crackerjack of a high-scoring affair that had everyone chew all their nails. So, that is it from this immersive third T20I. With this victory, India has ensured that they cannot lose the series, with a shared trophy being the worst-case scenario for them. Now, the attention turns to the grand finale, as South Africa gear up to prevent a series defeat. The caravan moves to the spectacular Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg for the fourth and final T20I, scheduled for Friday, November 15th, with the first ball set to be bowled at 3 pm GMT. Until then, it's time to savor the thrills and look ahead to the decisive clash. Cheers!

The Indian captain, Suryakumar Yadav says that they played the brand of cricket they wanted to. Shares that the talk has been about playing the way we do for our franchises or for our state sides. Feels that being clear in the mind is important. Shares that watching the batters bat like the way they did in this game, makes his job a lot easier. Feels that they as a team are going in the correct direction. Adds that the energy, aggression, and intent shown in this game were pleasing to see. Tells that Tilak Varma came to his room before this game and requested to send him at number 3. Further says that he is happy for Tilak and his family.

The captain of South Africa, Aiden Markram says that he feels proud with the way they fought. Mentions that coming to the Centurion, they knew the margin of win was going to be very close. Appreciates the way the lower middle order stood up. Lauds Marco Jansen and Klaasen for taking the game very close in the end and states that the other batters can take inspiration from their knocks. Also mentions that the bowlers would look to fine tune their skills before heading to Joburg.

Tilak Varma is adjudged as the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his blistering ton. He scored an unbeaten 107 off 56 deliveries. When asked about the blow he took to the head while attempting the catch, he says that he feels fine at the moment. Shares that he is lost for words having scored a century for the team and he always wanted to contribute in the country's win. Thanks the skipper, Suryakumar Yadav for backing him and promoting him up the order. Mentions that he just wanted to express himself out there and just backed his basics. Adds that it was not easy for the new batter as the wicket was a bit two-paced. Gives the credit to the captain and the team management for backing them to go out there and play with freedom.

... THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ...

Earlier in the game, South Africa invited India to bat first, and while they made an early breakthrough with Jansen dismissing Samson, what followed was a relentless onslaught from Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma. The left-handed pair bossed up the powerplay, with Sharma racing to a blistering half-century. Though South Africa managed to stem the flow, with a slight blip in scoring and Maharaj striking two big wickets, it failed to disrupt Tilak Varma's rhythm. Unfazed, the talented youngster continued his aggressive assault, eventually reaching a magnificent century. His ton included 8 fours and 7 towering sixes. Varma's brilliance in the death overs proved pivotal, as India plundered 65 runs in the final 5 overs to post a formidable total in excess of 200.

With 77 runs needed off the final 24 deliveries, the onus was firmly on Klaasen to orchestrate a miraculous fightback. As the pressure mounted, Klaasen's all-out assault eventually led to his downfall, leaving South Africa just short of their target despite their late surge. Although he found an able ally in Jansen, who unleashed a barrage of big hits towards the backend and squeezed out 26 runs off penultimate over against Pandya and got off to a blistering fifty in style, keeping the hopes of his team very well alive. However, it was Arshdeep Singh who kept his calm in the final over and did the job for India and also snagged a crucial 3-wicket haul.

With the onus on Markram and Stubbs to spearhead South Africa's fightback, the Indian spinners applied relentless pressure, forcing the Proteas batters to deal in singles and doubles. As the boundary flow dried up for a few overs, and the pitch slowing down, the home side continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. India's tactical use of three spinners proved effective, until Klaasen launched a merciless assault on Varun Chakaravarthy, plundering 23 runs in the 14th over. However, despite this late onslaught, the required run rate had already spiraled beyond 18 runs per over, leaving the Proteas with an uphill task.

South Africa initiated the run chase in a very cautious manner, rather more in a streaky way as the Indian bowlers made it a bit tricky for them to play freely. It was Arshdeep who, habitual to his nature, struck inside the Powerplay and set the tone for the Men in Blue. In came Varun Chakaravarthy and picked up from where he left off in the last game, and struck gold in his very first over. In the span of just 15 balls, South Africa had lost both their openers, which demanded another rebuilding phase. With the initial pressure built up by the bowlers, South Africa's Powerplay score read 55/2 versus India's 70/1 at this very stage.

The Proteas fought and fought really hard, but it were the Men In Blue who did enough to cross the line! The iconic SuperSport Park has treated the fans with a sure-shot blockbuster of a contest. Surely, the Indian fans had their hearts in their mouths when Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen were going bang-bang in the backend. But it was the case of South Africa remaining too close, yet too far in the end and would surely ponder upon the number of extras they conceded in the first innings - 19 to be very precise.

Full again, on off, Gerald Coetzee stays low to go down the ground. Toe-ends the shot to long on for just a single. A relief on the faces of those in the Indian camp. A mini-scare for India towards the end but Arshdeep Singh did the job for them. India win by 11 runs and take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series!

Full and angled in, at the off stump, Andile Simelane wrists it through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Andile gets it through but that won't be enough for South Africa! Arshdeep bowls a fullish delivery, on off, Andile Simelane stays deep in the crease and lofts it over cover. Three fielders converge and the deep cover fielder puts a dive to his right but fails to cut it off.

Andile Simelane is the new batter in at number 9.

OUT! LBW! What a time to get the review right! Jansen departs and takes his team's hopes with him. Arshdeep serves it very full, attacking the stumps from over the wicket, Marco Jansen gets inside the line and goes deep in the crease to help it away off his pads. Gets beaten on the inside edge and it rolls off his pads behind to short fine leg for a leg bye. A confident shout for LBW from Arshdeep but the umpire shakes his head. Has it pitched in line? Arshdeep thinks so and India take the review. The UltraEdge shows no bat and it is three reds on Ball Tracking. South Africa need 18 off 3.

OUT! LBW! What a time to get the review right! Jansen departs and takes his team's hopes with him. Arshdeep serves it very full, attacking the stumps from over the wicket, Marco Jansen gets inside the line and goes deep in the crease to help it away off his pads. Gets beaten on the inside edge and it rolls off his pads behind to short fine leg for a leg bye. A confident shout for LBW from Arshdeep but the umpire shakes his head. Has it pitched in line? Arshdeep thinks so and India take the review. The UltraEdge shows no bat and it is three reds on Ball Tracking. South Africa need 18 off 3.

Is that LBW? Another review for LBW. Nothing on UltraEdge and this time, the Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. OUT IT IS!

Oh dear, Tilak Varma has done some damage here while leaping and tumbling over to take the catch in the deep. He bumped his head on the ground while tumbling and a mandatory concussion test is in place for him. The physio is out to check him up. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya both converge towards Tilak to the boundary ropes to check whether he is doing fine. Tilak is on his legs and is good to continue to field.