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India tour of South Africa 2024 4th T20I: India outclass South Africa with stunning performance

India’s performance in Johannesburg was a statement of intent, showcasing their depth, form, and dominance in the shortest format.

In a dominant display at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, India steamrolled South Africa in the fourth T20I, winning by a massive 135-run margin to clinch the series 3-1.

The match, part of India’s tour of South Africa 2024, showcased India’s commanding form as they delivered a near-flawless performance with both bat and ball.

India won the toss and elected to bat on a flat Wanderers pitch. Both teams retained their playing XI from the previous match.

The Men in Blue stormed out of the blocks, with openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma setting a fiery pace. The pair added 73 runs for the opening wicket within the Powerplay, registering India’s second-highest Powerplay total against South Africa in T20Is. Abhishek continued his stellar 2024 form, boasting a staggering strike rate of 193.4 for the calendar year (minimum 750 runs). By the halfway mark, India had surged to 129/1, their second-highest 10-over total in T20Is.

Samson (109*) and Tilak Varma (120*) then took the game away from South Africa. The pair enthralled the crowd with a scintillating partnership, competing against each other to reach the three-figure mark. Their partnership of 210* runs became the highest for any wicket by India in T20Is, as well as the highest ever against South Africa in this format.

India raced to 283/1, the highest total ever against South Africa in T20Is and the second-highest in any T20I between two Full Member teams. The innings included 23 sixes, setting another record for a match between Full Member nations.

Defending a mammoth target, India’s bowlers wasted no time. Arshdeep Singh wreaked havoc in the opening overs, dismantling South Africa’s top order and reducing them to 10/4 within the first three overs. With the contest effectively over, the hosts could only look to salvage some pride.

David Miller (36) and Tristan Stubbs (43) offered some resistance, stitching together an 86-run partnership, but the Indian bowlers kept striking at regular intervals. Varun Chakravarthy continued his impressive run in the series, finishing with 12 wickets – the most by any bowler in a bilateral T20I series of four or fewer matches.

South Africa were eventually bundled out for 148 in the 19th over, with Marco Jansen (29*) providing some fireworks towards the end. All six Indian bowlers picked up wickets, underscoring their collective effort. This defeat marked South Africa’s biggest loss in T20Is by runs and India’s 18th win against them in 31 matches – the most by any team against the Proteas.

India’s emphatic win not only secured the series but also etched numerous records. Samson became the first player to score three T20I hundreds in a calendar year.

Tilak Varma was named Player of the Match for his scintillating 100 and outstanding series performance, amassing 280 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 198.58.

India’s performance in Johannesburg was a statement of intent, showcasing their depth, form, and dominance in the shortest format. For South Africa, the series was a stark reminder of the work needed to compete with the best in the world.

Scorecard:

India: 283-1, Overs 20, Tilak Varma 120*, Lutho Sipamla 1/58

South Africa: 148, Overs 18.2, Tristan Stubbs 43, Arshdeep Singh 3/20

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