Samson started the 4-match series in sublime fashion as he scored a brilliant century to lead India to a formidable total. However, he wasn’t able to carry the momentum in the next 2 matches and got dismissed for consecutive ducks.

In the final match, however, Samson scored his second century of the series to take India to a humongous total of 283/1. He was assisted incredibly well by Tilak Varma (120* from 47 deliveries), who scored his 2nd century in consecutive matches and formed an amazing partnership of 210 runs with Samson.

This total wasn’t only India’s highest in a T20I in overseas conditions, but was also the highest by any country on South African soil.

Among the many records broken, the most special one is 2 Indian batters scoring centuries in same T20I innings. Samson and Varma also posted the highest partnership for India in T20Is with their record-breaking stand of over 200 runs.

Samson now has 3 T20I tons in the last 5 knocks which also included 2 ducks while Varma has scored back-to-back T20I tons.

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At the post-match presentation, Suryakumar shared his pride in leading a young squad that rose to the occasion. The 34-year-old emphasized how his teammates consistently eased pressure on him regarding the captaincy through their brilliant performances on the field.

“It is very challenging when we tour South Africa, to come and win here. This is a special win and will stay with me forever. [on the coaching and support staff] They were sitting and enjoying the show since the first day. They spoke to the boys and said whatever you want, you do, we will sit and enjoy. Even today, they said if you want to bat first and put runs on the board, do it,” Suryakumar said in the post-match presentation.

“Though we were up 2-1 in the series, today we wanted to follow good habits and not worry about the result. It happened naturally,” Suryakumar added.

India ended the T20I series in style as Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma’s twin centuries led them to a mammoth total of 283/1 in 20 overs. In reply, South Africa could only manage to score 148 runs before getting bundled out in 18.2 overs.

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He formed an incredible 210-run partnership with Tilak Varma, who also completed his century and became the second Indian to score T20I centuries in successive matches after Samson himself.

However, an unfortunate moment in the Indian innings came when Samson hit a six to Tristan Stubbs on the leg side. It was an exquisite shot from the 30-year-old, but it would end up hitting a female fan in the face.

The cameras showed her crying in pain. Samson would also wave his hand towards the fan as a gesture of apology.

With this fantastic knock, Samson broke many records. He became the first wicketkeeper-batter in history to slam 3 centuries in the shortest format. He overtakes England’s Phil Salt, who has slammed 2 tons in the shortest format of the game.

Samson became only the third Indian player after Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav to slam 3 centuries for India in T20Is. He also became the first player in history to slam three centuries in T20Is in a calendar year.

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After losing Abhishek Sharma for a quick-fire 36 off 18 deliveries, Samson and Varma would go on to annihilate the South African bowling attack with their record-breaking partnership of 210 runs.

Both the batters would go on to score their second century of the series as India posted a mammoth total of 283/1 in their 20 overs. Samson remained unbeaten on 109 off 56 deliveries, while Varma remained unbeaten on 120 off 47 deliveries. The former scored 6 boundaries and 9 sixes while the latter scored 9 boundaries and 10 sixes in their respective knocks.

Social media erupted following the Indian innings and couldn’t help but sing praises for the duo of Samson and Varma, who absolutely crushed the South African bowlers.

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1. Flying ants

The T20I match between South Africa and India at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, was brought to a halt due to flying ants swarming the field mid-way through the South African innings.

2. Bee swarm

Back in 2017, an ODI match between South Africa and Sri Lanka was brought to a halt as a swarm of bees took over the field. The players found themselves lying on the ground in order to escape the insect invasion.

3. Fog

The 2023 ODI World Cup encounter between India and New Zealand in Dharamsala was stopped temporarily as fog took over the field and the pitch was hardly visible to the fans.

4. Sunlight

Back in 2019, an ODI between New Zealand and India was brought to a half after Indian batter Shikhar Dhawan complained about being blinded by sunlight streaming directly into his eyes.

5. Halal food

During the second Test between South Africa and Bangladesh in 2024, a delayed food delivery caused an unexpected pause. Lunch was postponed by 10 minutes when the visiting team’s Halal meal failed to arrive on time.

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Varma became the youngest player to score a T20I century against South Africa and the second-youngest Indian player to score a T20I ton only behind Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Abhishek Sharma first started the carnage with his knock of 50 from 25 deliveries before Varma carried India over the 200-run mark and eventually to the mammoth total of 219/6 in 20 overs. The left-hander came out unbeaten on 107, scoring 8 boundaries and 7 sixes.

South Africa started slow never really looked to be in the chase despite Heinrich Klaasen (41) and Marco Jansen (54) trying incredibly hard to take their side through. The Proteas ultimately got restricted to 207/7 in their 20 overs and lost the match.

With this victory, India now take a 2-1 lead and also ensure that they won’t come out on the losing side in the 4-match series. The Men in Blue will now play the series finale against the Proteas which is set to take place in Johannesburg on November 15.

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Varma entered the crease following opener Sanju Samson’s dismissal for a 2-ball duck. The left-hander joined forces with Abhishek Sharma and the pair of young power-hitters put together a terrific 107-run partnership. Tilak largely played second fiddle to Abhishek, who caused carnage with his 25-ball half-century.

Following the wickets of Abhishek, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, Varma took his time to build the innings, preparing for the final assault. He started the assault by smashing pacer Gerald Coetzee for 21 runs in the over.

Tilak reached his century in the 19th over with a beautiful punch down the ground for a boundary. The remarkable century came off only 51 deliveries and included 8 boundaries and 7 sixes. He would end the innings unbeaten on 107 off 56 deliveries.

The Hyderabad batter became the 12th Indian player to score a T20I century. He also became the 2nd youngest centurion from India at the age of 22 years, only behind Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored his maiden T20I century at the age of 21 years and 279 days.

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This was Samson’s second consecutive T20I duck as he got dismissed for no score in the second South Africa T20I as well. Following his dismissal at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, Samson set an unwanted record in T20I cricket.

After the highs of consecutive T20I centuries, Samson faced disappointment in South Africa. Despite starting the series with a remarkable century, he suffered a duck in the second T20I and third T20I

With his second consecutive duck in the South Africa T20I series, Samson became only the second batter from a full-member nation to record 5 ducks in a calendar year in T20I cricket, following Zimbabwe’s Regis Chakabva. He also became the first-ever player to score consecutive ducks after scoring consecutive centuries in T20Is.

Among Indian players, Samson holds the record for the most ducks (5) in T20I cricket in a calendar year, followed by the likes of Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, all of whom have recorded 3 ducks in a calendar year.

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After scoring a magnificent century in the first T20I and becoming the first-ever Indian player to score 2 consecutive centuries in the format, Samson must have been high on confidence. However, he couldn’t last long on the crease in the second T20I as pacer Marco Jansen clean-bowled him on the third ball of the Indian innings.

This was Samson’s fourth duck in T20Is in 2024 which is the most by any Indian batter in a calendar year. Yusuf Pathan, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma all had 3 in a single year.

After India only managed to post a total of 124/6 in 20 overs, South Africa managed to reach the target in exactly 19 overs. Tristan Stubbs was the star performer with the bat for the Proteas with his crucial knock of 47 from 41 deliveries which kept the hosts in the game. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy’s fabulous 5-wicket haul ended up going in vain as South Africa would edge out India in the 3-wicket win.

The 4-match series is now level at 1-1 but this loss also went on to halt India’s 11-match winning streak in the shortest format of the game.

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