Tilak Varma, Samson Shine in Historic Win Against South Africa
India secured a commanding 135-run victory over South Africa in the fourth T20I at Johannesburg, thanks to stellar performances by Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson. The duo crafted an extraordinary 210-run partnership, which propelled India to a record-breaking total of 283 for 1, the highest at the venue. Opting to bat first, India’s innings was a masterclass in aggressive cricket, leaving little room for South Africa to counter.
The tone was set early by Abhishek Sharma, who contributed a swift 36 off 18 balls. His partnership with Samson ensured a strong PowerPlay score of 73 runs. Though Abhishek fell in the sixth over, Tilak Varma picked up from where he left off. Building on his previous form, Tilak, who recently notched his maiden T20I century, continued his blistering pace, punishing the bowlers with ease. Samson, meanwhile, complemented Tilak’s aggression, maintaining a quick scoring rate despite appearing to play second fiddle.
Together, Tilak and Samson dominated South Africa’s bowling, frequently targeting the shorter square boundaries and even smashing big shots straight down the ground. A moment of concern for the home side came when Gerald Coetzee suffered a minor injury, forcing captain Aiden Markram to step in and bowl a few overs. This decision backfired, as the Indian duo took full advantage, scoring 30 runs off Markram’s two overs. Not even the experienced Keshav Maharaj could stem the flow of runs.
By the end of the 15th over, India had raced to 219 runs, surpassing their previous total from the last game. Although South Africa’s bowlers managed to slow the scoring slightly in the final five overs, conceding 64 runs, the damage had already been done. Tilak reached his second consecutive T20I century, joining Samson as the only two Indian players to achieve back-to-back centuries in this format. Samson’s century marked his third in five innings, adding to his remarkable T20I record.
South Africa’s response to the daunting chase quickly unraveled. Arshdeep Singh’s opening spell was lethal under the floodlights, swinging the ball to devastating effect. In quick succession, he dismissed Reeza Hendricks for a duck and had Markram caught out on a mistimed shot. Hardik Pandya further dented South Africa’s chances, forcing Ryan Rickelton to edge behind to the wicketkeeper. At a precarious 10 for 4, South Africa faced an uphill battle to avoid a humiliating defeat.
While the top order crumbled, Tristan Stubbs (43), David Miller (36), and Marco Jansen (29* off 12) showed some resistance. Their spirited knocks added a semblance of respectability to the total but were ultimately insufficient to change the outcome. South Africa was bundled out for 148 in 18.2 overs. Arshdeep, with figures of 3 for 20, and Axar Patel, who claimed 2 for 6, were instrumental in keeping the hosts at bay.
India’s dominant performance underscored the form of Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson, who have been pivotal throughout the series. Tilak’s consistent centuries and Samson’s remarkable run continue to set high standards in international T20 cricket. South Africa, despite moments of individual brilliance from players like Jansen, struggled to find a cohesive response to India’s relentless batting onslaught and incisive bowling attack.
Brief scores: India scored 283/1 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 120*, Sanju Samson 109; Lutho Sipamla 1-58) and defeated South Africa, who managed 148 in 18.2 overs (Tristan Stubbs 43, David Miller 36; Arshdeep Singh 3-20, Axar Patel 2-6), by a margin of 135 runs.