Paarl (TIP)- Sanju Samson’s mature maiden ODI hundred and wiliness of a young set of bowlers on a sticky surface formed a heady concoction in India’s 78-run win over South Africa in the third and final match Thursday, December 21. India, thus, bagged the rubber 2-1, their second series triumph on these shores since 2018. Samson’s measured 108 (114 balls) and Tilak Varma’s patient 52 (77 balls), his first fifty in this format, guided India to a competitive 296 for eight. Their 116-run alliance for an enterprising fourth wicket stand was a treat to watch. South Africa challenged the tourists through a fifty by Tony de Zorzi (81, 87 balls) but were eventually bowled out for 218 in 45.5 overs. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh marshalled Indian bowlers with a satisfactory haul of four for 30.
South Africa made a bright beginning to their chase with De Zorzi and Reeza Hendricks (19) adding 59 runs in just 8.2 overs as the former took a heavy toll on pacer Mukesh Kumar in the power play. However, Arshdeep elicited an edge from Hendricks to activate KL Rahul behind the stumps, signalling the end of the opening partnership. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel castled Rassie van der Dussen with a ball that came along his arm to reduce the hosts to 76 for 2.
But it followed a period of stability as De Zorzi and captain Aiden Markram (36) added 65 runs for the third wicket to keep India at bay. De Zorzi’s footwork was precise and he used the depth of the crease wisely to gather runs, especially against spinners Axar and Washington Sundar. But just as the partnership was blooming, Washington, who replaced Kuldeep Yadav for this match, dislodged Markram. Markram’s attempt to reverse sweep Washington brought disaster as Rahul snaffled the ballooning ball behind the wicket. South Africa’s hopes of adding flesh to the chase suffered an even bigger jolt when Arshdeep won a leg-before appeal against De Zorzi via the DRS.
The left-armer jagged the ball into the Protea opener and the low-ball thudded onto his front pad as the Indian camp went up in appeal, which eventually brought the desired result. Heinrich Klaasen (21, 22 balls) failed to negotiate a climbing ball from pacer Avesh Khan and he played it with hard hands. Sai Sudharsan completed a super acrobatic catch inside the ring to dismiss Klaasen, reducing the Proteas to 174 for five in the 33rd over. With the asking rate mounting ever so steadily, even David Miller could not carry South Africa past the target.
Earlier, Samson found a perfect sidekick in Varma to place India in a position of strength. Samson and Varma came together when India were slightly wobbling at 101 for three after being asked to bat first.
But the pair showed excellent situational awareness and sussed up the conditions to a nicety. Their partnership was all about pragmatism without letting go of any oppo rtunity to unfurl a big shot.
Usually a free-flowing hitter, Samson shelved his macho intentions for a large part of his innings, concentrating on singles and twos as the Boland Park deck had this slight bite on it. But the right-hander intermittently brought out his T20 avatar into play when he smashed pacer Nandre Burger for a six over mid-wicket or while executing an exquisite inside-out loft over cover off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for a four. Source: PTI
Tag: Tilak Varma
-
Samson, Arshdeep help India seal series against South Africa
-
Debutant Tilak Varma’s knock in vain as India lose opening T20I
Tarouba (TIP)- N Tilak Varma looked very much at home on his international debut before India made a mess of a modest run-chase to lose the opening T20I of their five-match series against West Indies by four runs here on August 3. Rovman Powell (48 off 32) played a captain’s knock to take West Indies to 149 for six after the hosts opted to bat at the Brian Lara Stadium. With 37 needed off the last 30 balls and six wickets in hand, India self-destructed to end at 145 for nine in 20 overs.
Jason Holder brought the West Indies back into the game by producing a maiden in the 16th over, when he found the stumps of India skipper Hardik Pandya (19) before Sanju Samson (12) got run out.
Tail-ender Arshdeep Singh (12) made the game more interesting with a couple of fours in the penultimate over, making use of an extra fielder in the circle due to the home team’s slow over rate. Eventually, Romario Shepherd was able to defend 10 runs off the final over.
The sole bright spot of the chase was Varma’s fearless 39 off 22 balls on his maiden outing for India. The 20-year-old southpaw dispatched West Indies’ quickest bowler, Alzarri Joseph for back to back sixes over deep square leg to announce his arrival in international cricket.
His third and final six came off an aerial drive of pacer Shepherd. It was not the easiest of pitches to bat on and most of the Indian batters found stroke making tough.
The opening duo of Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill perished cheaply before Suryakumar Yadav (21) and Varma got together. Suryakumar came up with a spectacular cut short off Joseph that went all the way before the star Indian batter was caught brilliantly by Shimron Hetmyer at extra cover. Earlier, Powell and the in-form Nicholas Pooran (41 off 34) took the hosts to a respectable total.
Besides Varma, pacer Mukesh Kumar, who made his Test and ODI debut earlier on the tour, was also handed his maiden T20 cap.
With the new ball not doing much in the powerplay, the Indian pace duo of Mukesh and Arshdeep Singh was not able to put the West Indies top-order under pressure.
Hardik introduced spin in the fourth over and Brandon King (28 off 19) made his intentions clear with an inside out six over cover off Axar Patel.
Yuzvendra Chahal (2/24) was brought into the attack in the following over and a struggling Kyle Myers (1) missed a slog sweep off the leggie’s googly only to be adjudged lbw. The replays showed the ball was missing the stumps but Myers chose not to review.
Source: PTI