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As Suryakumar Yadav and Aiden Markram pose for photographs with the T20I trophy, we conclude our coverage of the T20I leg of India's tour of South Africa. A 3-match ODI series between these two sides will commence on Sunday at this very venue - join us right here on Sportskeeda for our coverage of the same, and keep an eye on our tabs for a whole lot more! This is Rajarshi, signing off on behalf of Shashwat. Good night!
Suryakumar Yadav, India captain is the Player of the Match AND Series! Here' what he has to say: I'm good, the injury's not looking that bad. Walking, it's all good. It's always a good feeling to get a triple-figure score in T20 cricket, but when it's in a winning cause for the team, more than happy in doing that. As I said, we wanted to play a fearless brand of cricket. We wanted to tick that box, bat first, put runs on the board, and try and defend. That's what I wanted from my boys, and they delivered. The boys worked day in and out, played a lot of cricket going into the series, showed a lot of character. Though the first game was washed out, wasn't easy to come here and level the series. He's (Kuldeep) always hungry to deliver for the team. Nice birthday present for him, it's his birthday. It's important to know your game and what you can do for your team. I have thought the same, I just go out there and enjoy myself irrespective of the situation.
Aiden Markram, South Africa captain: (On what he would have been comfortable chasing) Was not too unhappy chasing 200. We felt the wicket was playing really well and backed ourselves to chase. Could not get it done unfortunately. It started keeping low in the second innings, stopped a little bit. Credit must be given to the India batters for the way they batted. (What he takes from this series) It is a strange one, it was really quick and now it is done. There are some positives we can take, couple of new faces around. Hopefully they can take that back and come back as better cricketers. Couple of good things, couple of things we can work on. (On the first ODI on Sunday being the Pink Day in Johannesburg) Really exciting. Big banners up already. It is a special day.
Match summary:
India win by 106 runs
Suryakumar Yadav 100(56) | Kuldeep Yadav 5/17 (2.5) David Miller 35(25) | Keshav Maharaj 2/26 (4)
Light work. That's the best way to describe the effort from the Indian spinners in these middle overs. The India bowlers never really let the Proteas in the chase at all - picking up wickets at regular intervals. South Africa lost too many wickets by the time they went onto the middle overs itself, and the game was out of their grasp as soon as the ball began turning, gripping and stopping on the deck for spinners.
Mohammed Siraj had Reeza Hendricks in all sorts in the first over itself. The ball kept moving away from the opener as he tried his best to connect with a drive, and kept meeting thin air. Breetzke opened the account for South Africa with a boundary off Mukesh, but in trying to repeat the stroke, he chopped on next ball. Klaasen departed soon after trying to attempt a sweep off Arshdeep having moved across, and South Africa's entire middle order was back in the hut when Hendricks was caught short by a direct hit from Siraj soon after.
Ravindra Jadeja made merry as soon as he came on to the attack. Aiden Markram was the only South African batter who stood out from the top-order, taking the attack to the opposition as the others collapsed in a heap. But Jadeja's first delivery turned right across the Proteas skipper, and in trying to hit across, Markram spooned a catch to Jaiswal at point. Phehlukwayo followed soon after, lobbing one back to Jadeja off a length.
Kuldeep Yadav took care of the rest. The wrist spinner got the ball to skid through on numerous occasions, turning it into the right-hander as well, and ended up mopping the entire Proteas' lower-order alongside David Miller. The South African left-handed veteran tried his best to wage a lone fight, but it was never meant to be. India level the series with a spirited performance. Onto the ODIs now!
That's that! Kuldeep has five, and India have a series-levelling victory!
13.5 Kuldeep Yadav to David Miller, THAT WILL BE THAT! BOWLED'IM AROUND HIS LEGS! Fired in quick on leg stump, possibly anticipating that Miller will walk across and look for the slog sweep. That is exactly what happens and in the end, Miller, because he has shuffled across so much, cuts himself off. Cannot access the ball and it goes past his pads into leg stump! India thrash South Africa by 106 runs, and level the series!
David Miller b Kuldeep Yadav 35 (25b, 2x4, 2x6)
13.4 Kuldeep Yadav to Tabraiz Shamsi, googly on a length on leg stump. Shamsi helps it round the corner and gets off the mark
Slip in place.
Tabraiz Shamsi, RHB, comes to the crease
"Lelo, lelo", says Jitesh from behind the stumps. Jadeja obliges and opts for the review. Turns out to be a brilliant decision - Kuldeep has four, India have nine!
13.3 Kuldeep Yadav to Lizaad Williams, APPEAL! AND INDIA REVIEW! Back of a length on middle and off. Williams, rather ambitiously, looks for the reverse and unsurprisingly, makes no contact. The ball hits him on the body, near the midriff perhaps. Kuldeep appeals but the umpire is unmoved. This could be closer than it first seemed. No bat involved, and Ball Tracking reckons this would have thundered into the top of off stump. Kuldeep has another, and South Africa are now nine down!
Lizaad Williams LBW b Kuldeep Yadav 0 (2b, 0x4, 0x6)
13.2 Kuldeep Yadav to Lizaad Williams, floated up full outside off. Williams lunges forward and pokes it back to the bowler
Hat-trick ball...
Lizaad Williams, LHB, comes to the crease
Number three for Kuldeep Yadav! Burger wastes no time with a review - rightly so - would have missed leg and off and hit middle!
13.1 Kuldeep Yadav to Nandre Burger, THAT LOOKS PLUMB! Wrong'un on a length on off, and Burger has no clue about this. Plays for the leg-spinner and plays a mile outside the line. The bat, in fact, is in a different postcode as the ball thuds into the pads, right in front. The umpire raises his finger, and Burger does not even contemplate a review!
Nandre Burger LBW b Kuldeep Yadav 1 (3b, 0x4, 0x6)
Siraj was keen on hitting the pitch with this semi-new ball. He played with his pace a bit, Miller tried his best to get one off the screws, but the timing or placement was just not there from him.
13
overs
94/7score
1
0
1
1wd
2
0
0
runs
David Miller*
35(24)
Nandre Burger
1(2)
Mohammed Siraj
0/13
12.6 Mohammed Siraj to David Miller, slower delivery that lands in the slot outside off. Miller laces his cover drive but cannot beat Jadeja at extra cover
12.5 Mohammed Siraj to David Miller, off-pace and hung outside off. Miller is deceived by the change of pace and clinks it off the toe-end towards short mid wicket