Ind vs SA 3rd T20I: Tilak Varma Joins List Of Indian Batters To Score Centuries In Shorter Format
The Indian
Cricket Team registered a thrilling win in the 3rd T20I match
against hosts South Africa in a high-scoring thriller played at SuperSport
Park, Centurion on 13th November 2024. After being asked to bat
first by South African captain Aiden Markram, the visitors got off to the worst
possible start losing the wicket of Sanju Samson without opening his account.
Tilak Varma was promoted to number 3 and showed intent right from the word go against Marco Jansen. Tilak Varma put enough pressure on the opponents’ bowlers along with Abhishek Sharma. Both kept the momentum going for the Indian team hitting boundaries and sixes with ease. At the end of the first six overs, India raced away to 70 for 1. After the field restrictions, Abhishek Sharma and Varma looked to take on the South African bowlers. Abhishek reached his fifty off just 24 balls with a huge six. He was dismissed by Keshav Maharaj coming down the track and stumped. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma put on 107 runs for the 2nd wicket.
Tilak looked composed, reaching his fifty off 32
deliveries. Despite losing wickets, Varma upped the ante to take on Keshav
Maharaj, Coetzee hitting big sixes to put on an excellent display of batting.
Varma showed his class reaching his century off 51 deliveries. Rinku Singh struggled
to score runs with just 8 runs from 13 balls. Varma and Rinku Singh added 58
runs for the 5th wicket. Ramandeep Singh hit some valuable runs on
his debut innings scoring a quickfire 15 off 6 balls. Tilak Varma remained not
out on 107 off 56 balls with 8 fours and 7 sixes. His knock helped India post a
massive total of 219 for 6.
The stylish left-handed batter scored his maiden T20I century against a quality South African bowling attack.
Varma took his time and then smashed them all over the park hitting boundaries
and sixes with ease. It was a masterstroke by the Indian team management to
send Varma at number 3. He becomes the youngest Indian batter to score a century
in the shorter format at the age of 22 years.
Rohit
Sharma occupies the top spot with 5 centuries, Suryakumar Yadav with 4, Sanju
Samson and KL Rahul 2 each, Virat Kohli, Yashavi Jaiswal, Deepak Hooda, Shubman
Gill, Suresh Raina, Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad scoring 1 century each.
Suresh Raina was the first Indian batter to score a century in T20Is.
Indian
Bowlers Delivered the Goods
After the
first over was completed, the match was stopped by insects. Ryan Rickleton
showed intent right from the word go putting pressure on the Indian bowlers. Arshdeep
Singh dismissed Rickleton, taking an edge onto the stumps. Varun Chakvarthy was
bought into the attack and dismissed Reeza Hendricks in his first over. At the
end of the first six overs, South Africa reached 55 for 2.
Axar Patel
bowled brilliantly keeping tight lines and lengths eventually getting rid of Tristian
Stubbs to put South Africa under immense pressure. Aiden Markram took charge
against Varun Chakvarthy before hitting a short ball straight to Ramandeep
Singh at deep midwicket. David Miller was struggling with his timing with disciplined
bowling by spinners including Bishnoi & Axar Patel. Klassen provided some
clean hitting against Varun Chakvarthy smashing him for 23 runs in the 14th
over, changing the momentum. Axar Patel took a stunning catch to dismiss Miller.
Miller and Klassen added 58 runs for the 5th wicket. Arshdeep Singh
got the massive wicket of Klassen with a simple catch to Tilak Varma. Marco Jansen
showed his class by smashing Indian bowlers all over the park including 26 runs
in the 19th over.
Marco Jansen
reached fifty off just 16 deliveries to give South Africa hopes of winning.
Arshdeep Singh held onto his nerves with a superb delivery. The umpire called
not out; it was overturned hitting in front of the stumps. Jansen and Coetzee
put on 35 runs for the 7th wicket. Arshdeep Singh held onto his
nerves registering 11 win for India. With this win, India takes a 2-1 lead in
the 4-match T20I series.
Tilak Varma scores maiden T20I century in the 3rd match against South Africa at Centurion.
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