India-South Africa T20I series: DOUBLE TROUBLE
Sanju Samson’s breathtakingly beautiful stroke-play was matched by Tilak Varma’s understated brilliance as India, riding on their record breaking twin tons, bullied a listless South Africa with a series-winning 135-run victory in the fourth and final T20I here on Friday.
India thus ended this year’s T20I campaign by winning all bilateral series along with the T20 World Cup triumph and victory percentage of 92.
Samson’s 109 not out off 56 balls was complemented by Varma’s 120 not out in only 47 balls as they took India to an unsurmountable 283/1 in 20 overs, their highest total on overseas soil.
In South Africa’s run chase, Arshdeep Singh (3/20) swung the ball prodigiously under lights during an opening spell that reduced the hosts to 10/4 and were eventually shot out for 148 in 18.2 overs.
Among the plethora of records that tumbled, the most special one will be two Indian batters scoring centuries in same T20I innings. Samson and Varma also posted the highest partnership for India in T20 Internationals — 210 off just 93 balls for the second wicket.
Samson completed his ton in 51 balls while Varma (41 balls) took 10 balls less.
Samson now has three T20I tons in the last five innings which also included two ducks. It seems brilliance and disappointment exist together for the Kerala man who will certainly increase a lot of selection headache for Ajit Agarkar when Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant come back in the Indian T20I squad.
For Varma, back-to-back T20I tons on South African soil will not only increase his stocks but it also speaks volumes about the kind of team man skipper Suryakumar Yadav is. Suryakumar decided to relinquish his favourite batting spot, allowing a young talent to blossom showing what leadership is all about.
Abhishek Sharma (36 off 18 balls) should also get his share of credit for upping the ante in the Powerplay with four huge sixes.
On a good batting track with true bounce on offer, Indian batters hit a record 23 sixes as it was possible to hit through the line by just clearing one’s front leg. Samson’s nine maximums were one less than Varma’s 10.
“There is no secret to adapting to the conditions and situations,” Suryakumar said.
“Our plans were very clear. Last time when we came here, we played the same brand of cricket and wanted to continue that. The game today, we spoke about it and we wanted to follow those good habits. Didn’t think about the results and it happened automatically,” he added.
Brief scores: India: 283/1 in 20 overs (Varma 120*, Samson 109*; Sipamla 1/58); South Africa: 148 all out in 18.2 overs (Stubbs 46, Miller 36; Arshdeep 3/20).
