SA vs IND, 4th T20I: Samson, Varma smash records left, right and centre as India pocket series 3-1

Team India shattered multiple records on Friday (Nov 16) evening as they beat hosts South Africa 3-1 in the four-match T20I series. Playing at the iconic Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg India beat South Africa by a massive 135 runs as Tilak Varma (unbeaten 120) and Sanju Samson (unbeaten 109) scored their second tons of the series. The series win also drops curtains on India’s successful white-ball campaign for 2024 where they lifted the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean islands.

Samson, Varma on a roll with bat

It was the second-highest T20 total between Test nations, just 14 runs short of the 297 for six that India made against Bangladesh in Hyderabad last month. The Indian batsmen hit 23 sixes –- a record between Test countries. Varma hit 10, Samson nine and Abhishek Sharma lashed four sixes before he was the only batsman dismissed, for 36.

The Indian score of 283/1 is also the second highest for any Test-playing nation with the Men in Blue also holding the record for top one. India set the record on 12th October for the highest team total for a Test-playing nation when they smashed Bangladesh for 297 runs.

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South Africa crumble with the bat

Needing 284 runs to level the series, the Proteas were 10/4 and lost their way in the powerplay while chasing. Ryan Rickelton (1), Reeza Hendricks (0) and Aiden Markram (8) were on the receiving end of a good Indian bowling attack. At the same time, Heinrich Klaasen departed for a golden duck, as Arshdeep Singh showed his class with the ball.

After the 86-run stand between Tristan Stubbs (43) and David Miller (36), South Africa again lost control of their innings and were bowled out for 148 in 18.2 overs. Arshedep ended with figures of 18/3 while Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel also bagged two wickets each for the Men in Blue.