In the final T20I encounter, India secured a convincing 106-run victory over hosts South Africa, showcasing dominance across all facets of the game. This result leveled the series at 1-1, establishing both nations as joint winners. Despite the first rain-marred match and the Proteas claiming the second, the conclusive third game unfolded as a shared triumph.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, India, led by skipper Suryakumar Yadav, exhibited confidence as he crafted a remarkable century, contributing to India’s imposing total of 201 runs. Opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal complemented the innings with a notable 60-run performance. South Africa, tasked with chasing, faltered in their pursuit, although skipper Aiden Markram expressed optimism about the “chaseable” target during the post-match presentation.
“Wasn’t too unhappy with chasing 200. Felt we could have chased it down. Was chaseable. It was slightly on the lower side,” Markram said. “When we were fielding, it seemed batters could hit it everywhere. Would have been nice to do better. There are some positives that we can take forward. Couple of good things and couple of things we can work on,” he added.
Markram, who briefly showcased his prowess with three fours and two sixes, couldn’t sustain the momentum and departed after scoring 25 runs.
Despite some contributions from David Miller, Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the match-winner, securing a five-wicket haul as South Africa was bundled out for 95 runs in 13.5 overs. Celebrating his birthday, Yadav not only gifted himself a memorable performance but also registered his best T20I figures, conceding a mere 17 runs in 2.5 overs. The turning point came in the 14th over, where Yadav claimed three wickets, sealing India’s comprehensive victory.
