Page 48 - The Indian EYE 122223

SPORTS DECEMBER 22, 2023 | The Indian Eye 48

INDIA IN SOUTH AFRICA

With SKY leading from the

front, India level T20I series

with a convincing win

OUR BUREAU

Johannesburg
five-wicket haul by birthday
boy Kuldeep Yadav and re-
A cord-equalling fourth T20I
ton by Suryakumar Yadav helped In-
dia secure a 106-run win over South
Africa in the third and final T20I at
Johannesburg on Wednesday. India
has ended the series level at 1-1. The
first match was called off due to rain.
Team India kept delivering
heavy blows, with Arshdeep remov-
ing Heinrich Klaasen (5) after being
caught by Rinku Singh at the leg side
and skipper Markram for 25 off 14
balls, with three fours and two sixes.
Yashasvi Jaiswal took the top edge by
Markram, reducing Proteas to 42/4 in
6.1 overs.
Spinners continued to dominate
Proteas as Kuldeep clean bowled
Donovan Ferreira (12) and Jadeja
removed Andile Phehlukwayo for
a duck. SA sunk to 82/6 in 11 overs.
Kuldeep destroyed the Proteas low-
er-order and also got the wicket of
David Miller (35 in 25 balls with two Captain Suryakumar Yadav leading from the front (ANI)
fours and two sixes). Proteas were
bundled out for 95 in 13.5 overs. for three fours by Shubman Gill. skipper Suryakumar Yadav and they The duo also brought up their
Kuldeep (5/17) was the leading In the next over, Markram was continued hitting fours and sixes with 100-run partnership in just 63 balls.
bowler for India. Jadeja took two launched for two fours and a six by the same positive intent. Shamsi’s spin once again yielded
wickets while Arshdeep and Mukesh Yashasvi Jaiswal. With India at 29/0 India was 87/2 in 10 overs, with a breakthrough, removing Jaiswal for
got one each. in two overs, it seemed that they were Jaiswal (46*) and Suryakumar (26*) 60 off 41 balls, with six fours and three
Earlier, a record-equalling fourth setting up for something big. unbeaten. After the halfway mark, sixes. With this stand of 112 runs over,
T20I century by Suryakumar Yadav But in the next over, Keshav Ma- Suryakumar went on a six-hitting India was at 141/3 in 14 overs.
and a century stand with Yashasvi haraj’s spin pushed India to the back- spree, Jaiswal in meanwhile reached Suryakumar reached his fourth
Jaiswal helped India pile up 201/7 in foot, removing Gill for 12, continuing his third T20I fifty in just 34 balls. T20I century in just 55 balls, with sev-
20 overs in the third and final T20I of his disappointing run in the shortest Andile Phehlukwayo was at the re- en fours and eight sixes. But he was
the three-match series against South format. On the next ball, Tilak Varma ceiving end of some brutal hitting dismissed by Lizaad Williams on the
Africa at Johannesburg on Thursday. was also dismissed for a golden duck. from Suryakumar as he was smashed next ball, with Matthew Breetzke tak-
Putting India to bat first, South Af- India was 29/2 in 2.2 overs. for three sixes and a four in the 13th ing the catch near the boundary. In-
rica made debutant Nadre Burger de- However, runs kept flowing for over. Suryakumar reached his 18th dia was 194/5 in 19.2 overs.
liver the first over and he was smashed India as Yashasvi joined forces with T20I fifty in 32 balls. Continued on next page... >>

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