Ishan Kishan’s Blistering Century Propels Jharkhand to Victory
December 23, 2024
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The Wanderers Stadium of Johannesburg witnessed a cricketing spectacles on November 15, 2024, as Team India comprehensively outplayed South Africa in the fourth T20I, securing a 135-run Victory and clinching the series by 3-1.
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, won the toss and opted to bat first on a pitch that proved to be a batting paradise. The Indian innings was characterized by an explosive display from the Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma scoring history with their respective centuries.
• Sanju Samson: After facing back-to-back ducks in the series after the century in the 1st T20I, Samson made a resounding comeback, scoring a century off just 51 deliveries. His knock was punctuated by six fours and eight sixes, showcasing his prowess against a bowling attack that struggled to contain him. This was Samson’s third T20I hundred of the year, making him the first player to achieve this feat in a calendar year.
• Tilak Varma: Not to be outdone, the young Tilak Varma smashed his second consecutive T20I century, this time in just 41 balls. His innings was even more belligerent, featuring nine fours and ten sixes. His back-to-back centuries in the series highlighted his growing stature in the Indian lineup.
The partnership between Samson and Varma was nothing short of historic; they added an unbeaten 210 runs for the second wicket in just 86 balls, setting a new record for T20Is. India’s total of 283/1 was not just the highest at the Wanderers for a T20I but also the second highest total India has ever posted in the format.
Chasing a monumental target, South Africa’s innings was derailed early by Arshdeep Singh. His new ball spell was devastating, reducing South Africa to 10/4 in just three overs:
• Arshdeep Singh took 3 wickets for 20 runs, with his ability to swing the ball both ways causing havoc among the South African top order. His wickets included Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, and Heinrich Klassen, all falling early, setting a tone of dominance for India.
• Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy supported with economical spells and crucial wickets, maintaining the pressure throughout the innings.
Despite a spirited effort from Tristan Stubbs (43 off 29) and David Miller (36 off 27) South Africa could only muster 148 runs before being bowled out in 18.2 overs, leading to an Indian victory by a margin of 135 runs.
This match not only sealed the series for India but also underscored their formidable form in T20Is post their World Cup win. The performances by Samson and Varma will be recommended as career-defining, while Arshdeep’s bowling prowess reaffirmed his status as one of the premier T20I bowlers globally.
Tilak Varma was rightfully adjudged Player of the Match and series for his match-winning century and his overall series performance, where he amassed 280 runs at an astonishing strike rate, culminating in him being name Player of the Series as well.
India’s 135-run victory was a testament to their batting depth and bowling precision. The match was a showcase of why T20 cricket is loved for its unpredictability and explosive moments. For South Africa, it was leaning curve, highlighting areas for improvement especially in their top order and bowling attack. As the series concluded, Indian fans left the Wanderers in high spirits, while the South Africans pondered over a strategy overhaul for future encounters.
| India Innings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tilak Varma 120* (47) | Lutho Sipamla (4-0-58-1) | |
| Sanju Samson 109* (56) | Marco Jansen (4-0-42-0) | |
| Abhishek Sharma 36 (18) | Keshav Maharaj (3-0-42-0) | |
| South Africa Innings | ||
| Tristan Stubbs 43 (29) | Arshdeep Singh (3-0-20-3) | |
| David Miller 36 (27) | Axar Patel (2-0-6-2) | |
| Marco Jansen 29* (12) | Varun Chakravarthy (4-0-42-2) | |