Johannesburg, Dec 14: India beat South Africa by 106 runs in the third T20I to draw the three-match series 1-1 here on Thursday.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav scored a record-equalling hundred, before Kuldeep Yadav’s fifer bundled out South Africa as India cruised to a 106-run win against South Africa — its biggest against the Proteas in terms of runs in Johannesburg.
The record win meant India drew the three-match series 1-1, after having fell to a five-wicket defeat in the second T20I, following a washout in the first.
After being inserted, India rode on the brilliance of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored his third T20I fifty, and Suryakumar to post a huge total of 201/7 in 20 overs.
Suryakumar’s ton was his fourth in the format, drawing him level with compatriot Rohit Sharma and Australia’s Glenn Maxwell for most centuries in T20Is.
The Indian captain didn’t enjoy the greatest off starts with the right-handed batter once struggling to get going at a stage when he was 27 off 25 balls.But he soon got back to his groove, with some trademark inventive stroke-making as he raced to his hundred in 55 balls.
South Africa’s chase never really took off, with Mohammed Siraj kicking things off with a fiery opening over maiden. Indian bowlers, led by Kuldeep and Ravindra Jadeja, struck in regular intervals, with the former securing his best-ever figures in T20Is.
India though will be worried by the fitness of Suryakumar, who rolled his ankle while fielding and was taken off the field. Vice-captain Jadeja took over the leadership role for the side from thereon.India’s comfortable win also ensured that a technical glitch in the Decision Review System (DRS), which prevented the side from taking a review for a caught behind appeal against David Miller, failed to become a major talking point.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav brought up his hundred in 56 balls, laced with 8 sixes and 7 fours as he powered India to a big total of 201/7 against the Proteas. He was ably by the young Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a quickfire 60 off 41 deliveries.
The right-hander has smashed 56 from just 36 deliveries in the second T20I at Gqeberha, which resulted in increasing his lead as the No.1 ranked batter in the shortest format of the game.
Last month, Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell also matched Rohit Sharma’s tally of most T20I hundreds, scoring an exceptional 47-ball century in Australia’s thrilling last-ball victory against India at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. India is set to face South Africa in a series of three One Day International (ODI) matches. The first match is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg on December 17th. (Agencies)
