In an electrifying display of batting prowess, interim head coach VVS Laxman couldn’t contain his excitement as Tilak Varma obliterated the bowling attack at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg during the fourth and final T20I on Friday, November 15. Varma, the prodigious left-handed batsman, unleashed an astonishing century that not only clinched victory but also marked his back-to-back tons in T20I cricket, a remarkable feat echoed by only one other Indian, Sanju Samson.
Batting at the No. 3 position yet again, Varma was quick to repay the trust shown in him by captain Hardik Pandya, demonstrating an aggressive approach from the outset. He toyed with the South African bowlers, who were left helpless as he carted them to all corners of the ground. With a splendid fifty etched off merely 22 deliveries, Varma escalated his onslaught to reach his century in just 41 balls.
He crossed the three-figure mark on the very first ball of the 19th over, bowled by Sipamla, sprinting for a quick double that sparked jubilant celebrations. Removing his helmet, Varma pointedly acknowledged Suryakumar Yadav in the crowd and playfully blew a kiss to his skipper, encapsulating the euphoric atmosphere that had engulfed the team. Laxman was seen jubilantly celebrating alongside Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, all equally elated by Varma’s stellar knock.
India posted a mammoth total of 283/1 in this explosive T20I, following up their impressive 219/6 in the previous match at Centurion. Despite a string of early wickets, including a golden duck for Sanju Samson, the innings was revitalized by a brisk fifty off 25 balls from Abhishek Sharma, peppered with three fours and five sixes.
While Suryakumar Yadav had a quiet outing with just one run, Hardik Pandya contributed steadily with 18 runs before falling to Keshav Maharaj. Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh added valuable runs towards the end, wrapping up a strong finish for the men in blue. On the bowling front, the South African bowlers struggled, with Gerald Coetzee conceding a hefty 51 runs in just three overs, while both Simelane and Maharaj managed to claim two wickets apiece amidst the chaos.
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