Opting to bat, India posted a massive 283 for 1, thanks to unbeaten centuries from Tilak Varma (120 not out off 47 balls) and Sanju Samson (109 not out off 56 balls), and then bowled South Africa out for 148 in 18.2 overs.
Johannesburg: Sanju Samson’s breathtakingly beautiful stroke-play was matched by Tilak Varma’s understated brilliance as India, riding on their record breaking twin tons, bullied a listless South Africa with a series-winning 135-run victory in the fourth and final T20 International here on Friday.
India thus ended this year’s T20I campaign by winning all bilateral series along with the T20 World Cup triumph and victory percentage of 92.
Samson’s 109 not out off 56 balls was complemented by Varma’s 120 not out in only 47 balls as they took India to an unsurmountable 283 for 1 in 20 overs, their highest total on overseas soil.
In South Africa’s run chase, Arshdeep Singh (3/20) swung the ball prodigiously under lights during an opening spell that reduced the hosts to 10 for 4 and were eventually shot out for 148 in 18.2 overs.
Among the plethora of records that tumbled, the most special one will be the two Indian batters scoring centuries in same T20I innings. Samson and Varma also posted the highest partnership for India in T20 Internationals — 210 off just 93 balls for the second wicket.
Samson completed his ton in 51 balls while Varma (41 balls) took 10 balls less.
Samson now has three T20I tons in the last five innings which also included two ducks.
It seems brilliance and disappointment exist together for the Kerala man who will certainly increase a lot of selection headache for Ajit Agarkar when Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant come back in the Indian T20I squad.
For Varma, back-to-back T20I tons on South African soil will not only increase his stocks but it also speaks volumes about the kind of team man skipper Suryakumar Yadav is. Suryakumar decided to relinquish his favourite batting spot, allowing a young talent to blossom showing what leadership is all about.