Suryakumar, Kuldeep take India to 106-run win over South Africa; series ends at 1-1

In the third and final T20I match of the tour, India beat South Africa by a massive 106-run margin, drawing the series 1-1.

The opening clash was marred by rain, while the Proteas secured a win in the second game by 5 wickets.

Chasing a daunting 202, the Proteas struggled from the outset, losing wickets consistently. Their innings crumbled to a mere 95 all-out by the 14th over. David Miller (35 runs), skipper Aiden Markram (25 runs), and David Ferreira (12 runs) showed some resistance, but none of their batters reached double figures. India’s spin maestros, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, spun a web, claiming seven wickets collectively.

Kuldeep’s historic 5-wicket haul, ending with figures of 2.5-0-17-5, rattled the South African lineup, dismissing key players like David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, and Lizaad Williams. This incredible feat became even more special for Kuldeep as it came on his 29th birthday. Meanwhile, Mukesh Kumar and Arshdeep Singh bagged wicket each.

Earlier in the match, Team India surged with a rapid 29 runs in the initial two overs. However, Keshav Maharaj’s double blow in the third over removed Devdutt Padikkal for 8 runs and Tilak Varma for a duck on consecutive deliveries.

A standout partnership of 112 runs between Yashasvi Jaiswal (60 runs) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav set the tone. This partnership was disrupted by Yashasvi’s departure, followed by Surya’s partnership of 47 runs with Rinku Singh, bolstering the team’s position. Nevertheless, India faltered in the final overs, mustering only 13 runs in the last two overs while losing four wickets.

Amidst this, Suryakumar Yadav blazed to a century, hammering 100 runs with 7 fours and 8 sixes off 56 balls.

For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj and Lizaad Williams bagged two wickets each, while Nandre and Tabraiz Shamsi secured one wicket apiece.