END OF OVER:20 | 13 Runs 1 Wkt | SA: 208/7 (12 runs required, RR: 10.40)
- Gerald Coetzee2 (3b)
- Andile Simelane5 (2b)
- Arshdeep Singh4-0-37-3
- Hardik Pandya4-0-50-1
9:37pm And...breathe. A swashbuckling game that, as Markram said, came down to fine margins. India did just enough and they have now ensured they cannot lose this series. South Africa, though, can still level it and that will be at the top of their wish-list come Friday. We hope to have your company for that game too, and until then, this is goodbye from Vairavan and myself, Shashwat!
Tilak Varma, Player of the Match: (On the head injury he suffered after dropping a catch in the last over) I am okay, the catch came through the lights, so a little difficult but happy for the win. (On his hundred) I couldn't imagine and I cannot put down in words. It was my dream and it was the right time to score a hundred for my team. A kind of a decider in the series. Under the pressure, it was a good knock. All credit goes to captain Suryakumar Yadav. He has given me an opportunity (at three). Before the game, he told me (that I would bat there). I am really, really happy (he gave me that opportunity). I just wanted to express myself and back my basics. Even under pressure, I followed the basics and backed myself. The wicket was slightly two-paced at the start. When Abhishek was dismissed, it was not easy for the new batter. I was waiting for one partnership and that is what we were talking about. I always believe in my basics. The team management backs every player (to have a positive approach).
Suryakumar Yadav, India captain: Very happy. What we spoke about in the team meetings, we played the brand of cricket that we wanted to play. (How the young players take on the message of being fearless) That is what we have been telling them to do - similar to what they have been doing in the nets, for their franchises and for their states. Even if they miss out in a few innings, they back their intent and their game. (On if this is the way to play T20 cricket) You can say that because aggression and intent, it is not about just talking. If you step out and take a single, that is what intent is. It has made my job very easier when I watch them bat like that and I feel we are going in the right direction. The energy and intent from everyone, the energy from everyone (in the field) - first time today that we were six or seven minutes ahead (on the over-rate). And what can I say about Tilak Varma. He came to me (in Gqeberha), asked me if he could bat at three. I said to him it was his day and to enjoy himself. I knew what he was capable of doing and very happy for him. He is batting at three going forward definitely (smiles). He asked for it, he delivered. Very happy for his family.
Aiden Markram, South Africa captain: Proud to get that close with some special contributions from the lower and middle order. Coming to Centurion, we knew it would be a game of really small margins. If you can win a couple of key moments here and there, you definitely give yourself a better chance. (On what those key moments were) Just execution. If you can nail it with the ball, you don't go for a boundary. With the bat as well, put the bad ball away, including me. Everyone is going to say it is tough to chase 220 but this is a venue (where you can do it). It is almost like an over-by-over game. If you win more overs, you stand a better chance. Ball-by-ball almost, and if you get most things right, you stand a better chance. We will address the areas where we can be better. take the confidence we can - the batters that scored runs and the bowlers who executed their plans.
9:15pm Wow, that was incredible. Breath-taking right till the end. It was not meant to go this deep, especially after Klaasen fell in the 18th. But then, Jansen took matters into his own hands. He smeared 26 off the penultimate over (bowled by Pandya) and then blazed a six off Arshdeep's final over, making SA dream of an unlikely and utterly improbable win. Thankfully for India, they had an Arshdeep over in the bank and like he often does, he came up clutch, removing Jansen and then defending the runs he needed to defend.
Prior to those ten minutes of madness, Klaasen had led South Africa's charge. The rest, though, could not sustain that tempo, which explains why SA fell so behind so early. Miller's struggles, in particular, pushed the hosts back and despite Klaasen and Jansen teeing off at different points in the innings, they could not close that gap.
Back to India now. They largely bowled well. Their spinners, barring that last over by Chakravarthy, tied South Africa down. But it was Arshdeep, who went past Bhuvneshwar Kumar as India's second-leading wicket-taker in T20Is, who stole the show. He accounted for Rickelton in the powerplay and then returned to dismiss the two batters that could have taken the game away. There will be a bit to dissect, perhaps around some of the decisions Suryakumar made, but India will be happy to do that introspection 2-1 up in the series.
Back to over the wicket for the last ball
Two legal balls and India will be home. Arshdeep goes around the wicket
Simelane walks in. 18 off 3
M Jansen lbw b Arshdeep Singh 54 (22m 17b 4x4 5x6) SR: 317.64
We are all good to go now. Will that smallish break help India? Or will that have given Jansen time to recharge and go again?
18 off 4. India under the pump. SA still alive, somehow. And amidst all of this, the physio is checking for a possible concussion on Tilak, who fell awkwardly and heavily after that ball went through him. Suryakumar goes over as well to check up on him, soon to be joined by Pandya
24 off 5
Arshdeep to bowl the last. 25 needed off 6
END OF OVER:19 | 26 Runs | SA: 195/6 (25 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 10.26, RRR: 25.00)
- Marco Jansen48 (15b)
- Gerald Coetzee1 (1b)
- Hardik Pandya4-0-50-1
- Arshdeep Singh3-0-25-2
41 off 10. Three fielders in the ring behind square
Pandya to bowl the 19th. Surely this game is beyond SA now?
END OF OVER:18 | 8 Runs 1 Wkt | SA: 169/6 (51 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.38, RRR: 25.50)
- Marco Jansen22 (9b)
- Gerald Coetzee1 (1b)
- Arshdeep Singh3-0-25-2
- Ravi Bishnoi4-0-33-0
Ashu: "Deciding over." -- So far, it looks like Arshdeep is deciding this game in India's favour
Coetzee walks in. 53 needed off 14
H Klaasen c Tilak Varma b Arshdeep Singh 41 (38m 22b 1x4 4x6) SR: 186.36
Three overs left. 59 to get. Arshdeep has two. Pandya will likely bowl the penultimate over. Klaasen on strike
END OF OVER:17 | 18 Runs | SA: 161/5 (59 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.47, RRR: 19.66)
- Marco Jansen16 (6b)
- Heinrich Klaasen40 (20b)
- Ravi Bishnoi4-0-33-0
- Hardik Pandya3-0-24-1