India clinched the five-match Twenty20 International series 3-1 with a 30-run victory over South Africa in the fifth match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Tilak Varma scored 73 and Hardik Pandya made 63 as India posted 231 for five on a black-soil pitch. The pair added 105 runs for the fourth wicket after India lost momentum in the middle overs.
Pandya reached his half-century in 16 balls, the second-fastest by an Indian in men’s T20Is.
India made a brisk start through Abhishek Sharma, who hit 34, and Sanju Samson, who scored 37 after replacing the injured Shubman Gill. Suryakumar Yadav continued his poor run of form, falling for five.
Varma and Pandya then accelerated the scoring, with Pandya striking at over 250 before he was dismissed in the penultimate over. Shivam Dube finished the innings with a four and a six in the final over.
For South Africa, Corbin Bosch was the most effective bowler, finishing with figures of 2-44.
Chasing 232, South Africa reached 118 for one at the halfway stage, with Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis scoring freely. De Kock made 65 before Jasprit Bumrah dismissed him with a return catch in the 11th over.
The breakthrough triggered a collapse as South Africa lost four wickets for 15 runs. Varun Chakaravarthy Varma, Pandya power India to 30-run win over South Africa in Ahmedabad; seal T20I series 3-1 claimed four for 53, while Bumrah finished with two for 17, despite the high-scoring conditions.
South Africa were eventually restricted to 201 for eight, falling short by 30 runs.
The win marked India’s eighth consecutive T20I series victory since December 2023, extending their strong build-up ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup at home.
Brief scores: India 231-5; South Africa 201-8.
(IANS)
