3rd T20I, Johannesburg, December 14, 2023, 08:30 PM

201/7(20.0ov)
95/10(13.5ov)

India beat South Africa by 106 runs

Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
100
56
7
8
178.57
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Suryakumar Yadav
Commentry
Right then, the spoils are shared between these two big cricketing nations in the three-game T20I series as it ends 1-1 with the first game being washed out. The action now turns to the three-match ODI series where we will see a few different players but we are guaranteed entertainment. The first ODI will be played at the very same venue on Sunday, 17 December and will be the famous 'Pink Day' at the New Wanderers. That game will begin at 1.30 pm IST (8 am GMT) but you can join us a lot earlier for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!
Indian skipper, Suryakumar Yadav is adjudged the Player of the Match as well as the Player of the Series for his sensational batting. He starts off by saying, he is feeling better and the injury is not too bad. He adds that getting a century in a winning cause makes it even more satisfying. He talks about the hard work, fearless approach and temperament shown by the boys that brought out this overall team performance. He concludes by saying that Kuldeep Yadav is always hungry to do well and deliver for the team and this performance is a perfect gift on his birthday.
Aiden Markram, the captain of South Africa starts by saying that he was still happy to chase 202 as the wicket was playing really well but unfortunately, they could not do it in this game. He adds that when they started batting the ball was doing a few things and the start wasn't the one they wanted. He gives his credit to the Indian batters as well as the bowlers and talks a little about his preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Ends by saying that he is looking forward to the upcoming ODI series against India.
The Prsentation ceremony...
Earlier in the game, Aiden Markram won the toss and put India into bat once again on a pitch that looked sublime for batting. It was a low score yet again for Shubman Gill and Tilak Varma couldn't perform either. The dynamic pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Suryakumar Yadav went on a rampage and bossed the middle overs with the Proteas pacers proving ineffective. Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi did bowl well but it wasn't enough to stop Suryakumar Yadav from notching up a stellar ton. Lizaad Williams closed out the innings decently but India managed to breach the 200-run mark. As for the chase, the pitch remained dry and in fact, it got even drier, allowing the Indian spinners to weave their magic and Kuldeep Yadav was the standout with a fi-fer.
South Africa will be mightily disappointed with that batting display but the pitch did play differently than in the first innings. Reeza Hendricks was the main culprit as he got bogged down in the very first over, unable to get bat on ball and this pressure showed as Matthew Breetzke got out in the very next over. Hendricks himself got out soon after and this triggered a sort of a collapse with skipper Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen playing poor shots to get out. David Miller fought a lone batter and one after another, batters came and went back to the hut. Miller remained unbeaten on 35 but the hosts were bundled out for a meager 95 runs.
What a resounding comeback this has been from India and they have stormed back to level the three-match T20I series 1-1 in the final game. Kuldeep Yadav has a birthday to remember as he picks up his career-best T20I figures and what a moment this is for him and the entire team. Having put on a massive total of 201 runs on the board, there was still a lot of work needed to be done with the ball and Mohammed Siraj set the tone by bowling a maiden in the first over and then Mukesh Kumar followed it up by grabbing a wicket in the next over. Arshdeep Singh too got into the act and Siraj inflicted a run-out. An injury to skipper Suryakumar Yadav forced him off the field and stand-in captain Ravindra Jadeja took control both in the field and with the ball as well. Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav got a bit of purchase off the pitch and ripped through the Proteas' middle and lower order and sealed a big win for their side, their biggest in terms of runs against South Africa.
In over# 14
0W
1
0W
0
0W
Kuldeep Yadav 17/5(2.5)
13.5
W
OUT! TIMBER! That's all over for South Africa and Kuldeep Yadav picks up a five-wicket hall. Brilliant bowling by Kuldeep Yadav picking up his best figures in a T20. Tossed up outside the line of leg stump to David Miller who walks in and looks to play the sweep, in the end, gets a slight inside edge of the bat that drags the ball onto the stumps. That is all over for South Africa and India has won a brilliant game of cricket by 106 runs to level the series 1-1.
13.4
1
Tossed up on the leg stump. Tabraiz Shamsi flicks the ball to the right of mid-wicket and runs a single.
Tabraiz Shamsi is the last man in for South Africa.
13.3
W
OUT! LBW! That is the fourth for Kuldeep Yadav. Tossed up on the off stump line, spinning into the left hander. Lizaad Williams looks to play the reverse sweep but misses the ball completely. the ball rushes in to hit his ribs infront of the stumps and there is a huge appeal for LBW. Ravindra Jadeja takes the review and the Ultraedge shows no bat involved. The ball tracking shows three reds and South Africa are nine down.
13.2
.
Pitched up on the off stump. Lizaad Williams taps it back to the bowler.
Lizaad Williams is in to face the hat-trick ball.
13.1
W
OUT! LBW! There goes another one and its Kuldeep Yadav again. Brilliant googly from outside the off stump line to the left hander and Nandre Burger gets stuck on the crease getting a hit on the back leg infront of the middle stump line because of the huge turn. The umpire says OUT and the batter walks back to the dressing room. Hattrick ball for Kuldeep Yadav.
In over# 13
0
0
2
1wd
1
0
1
Mohammed Siraj 13/0(3)
12.6
.
Slower ball pitched up outside the off stump line. David Miller plays a superb cover drive but straight to the man at covers.
12.5
.
Pace off! A dab fuller outside the off, David Miller advances down the pitch and stretches wide to reach the ball, mistimes the shot for a single towards extra cover.
12.4
2
Hits the length hard on the leg stump. David Miller flicks the ball to the right of deep square leg and runs a couple.