Player of the Match
Player of the Match

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.

19.6
1
Arshdeep Singh to Coetzee, 1 run, there it is - the winning moment! Arshdeep and India hold their nerve, and in a blistering battle of stroke-making, inch past South Africa! Full on the stumps. Coetzee gets his front foot out of the way and hacks it towards long on. A single to end the game, and the Indian players engage in their customary handshakes and embraces - a sense of relief etched on their faces!

Back to over the wicket for the last ball

19.5
1
Arshdeep Singh to Simelane, 1 run, slanted in very full on middle and leg. Simelane cannot get under it and drags it towards deep mid wicket

Two legal balls and India will be home. Arshdeep goes around the wicket

19.4
4
Arshdeep Singh to Simelane, FOUR, finds the fence but it is only four! Full toss outside off. Simelane gives it all he has and carves it over extra cover. Bobbles away and beats three fielders, all converging from different directions!

Simelane walks in. 18 off 3

19.3
W
Arshdeep Singh to Jansen, OUT, rapped on the pads, and the umpire says no! India review again! Plenty of drama here in Centurion! Zipped in very full on the pads. Jansen plays all over it and the main question here is where this pitched. Seemed to hit him in line and there seemed to be no bat involved. Nothing on UltraEdge, and Ball Tracking has the ball pitching in line, hitting in line and smashing into the stumps. Arshdeep comes up clutch, and India have the wicket they would have been longing for! A standing ovation as Jansen walks off. He threatened a daring heist, a heist out of nowhere but it looks like SA might fall just a little short!

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

19.2
6
Arshdeep Singh to Jansen, SIX, bursts through the hands, and Jansen continues to dream. And as long as he dreams, South Africa continue to dream! Attempted wide yorker that ends up as a half-volley. Jansen gets under it, opens his bat face slightly and scythes it through Tilak on the deep cover fence!

24 off 5

19.1
1lb
Arshdeep Singh to Coetzee, 1 leg bye, Arshdeep appeals but that seemed to have hit the batter outside leg! Full toss just outside leg. Coetzee has a swipe at it and misses. The ball trickles away off the pads and Coetzee gets a leg bye. Arshdeep, Samson and Suryakumar, though, indulge in a discussion and they decide to take a chance on this. No bat involved but the first impact was on the front pad. Umpire's Call on Impact, meaning that even with the ball going on to hit the stumps, the original decision stands!

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
18.6
4
Pandya to Jansen, FOUR, four to end the over! 26 off the 19th! Bangs it into the track but with Jansen swinging for the hills, he gets a bit of luck too. Skews up off the top edge but well over the keeper. Now then. Now then...
18.5
6
Pandya to Jansen, SIX, wow, just wow! Jansen is turning it on! Back of a length outside off. Sits up nicely for Jansen, who stands tall menacingly and creams it off the back foot over long off!
18.4
2
Pandya to Jansen, 2 runs, length just outside off. Jansen plants his front foot and pounds it back past the bowler. Mopped up by long off, who keeps it to two
18.3
4
Pandya to Jansen, FOUR, four more! Length ball wide outside off. Jansen throws the plumbing at it and slices it up and over backward point. Lands just inside the ropes!

41 off 10. Three fielders in the ring behind square

18.2
6
Pandya to Jansen, SIX, follows up the four with a six! Shortish again, and slanting into the hips. Jansen swivels inside the line beautifully and shovels it well over the long leg fence!
18.1
4
Pandya to Jansen, FOUR, Jansen keeps on fighting! Back of a length on leg stump. Jansen gives himself room, stands up tall and bashes it over mid on. One bounce and into the fence!

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
17.6
1
Arshdeep Singh to Jansen, 1 run, full on middle and leg. Jansen cannot get under this either and powers it straight to long on

Ashu: "Deciding over." -- So far, it looks like Arshdeep is deciding this game in India's favour

17.5
1
Arshdeep Singh to Coetzee, 1 run, low full toss just outside off. Not much Coetzee can do with that and he jams it to long on

Coetzee walks in. 53 needed off 14

17.4
W
Arshdeep Singh to Klaasen, OUT, goes straight up, and Arshdeep bags the big fish! India can sense it now! Slower ball hung up full and wide outside off, asking Klaasen to go inside out. He tries to do so but the lack of pace leads to his undoing. Slices at it too much and Tilak snaffles up the chance on the deep cover point fence. Is that the game?!

H Klaasen c Tilak Varma b Arshdeep Singh 41 (38m 22b 1x4 4x6) SR: 186.36

17.3
1
Arshdeep Singh to Jansen, 1 run, half-volley on middle and leg, and Arshdeep gets away with this. Jansen timed his flick well but could not beat deep mid wicket
17.2
4
Arshdeep Singh to Jansen, FOUR, fortuitous but they all go onto the scoreboard! Slower ball into the track outside off. Jansen swings wildly at it and the ball rolls off the inside edge. Beats Samson and the two fielders near him, and hits the fence!
17.1
1
Arshdeep Singh to Klaasen, 1 run, low full toss on off. Klaasen cannot get under it and tugs it towards deep mid wicket. Top delivery under pressure

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
16.6
6
Ravi Bishnoi to Jansen, SIX, six to end the over! Bishnoi concedes 18 off his last, and is there life still in this game?! Floated up again, into the slot outside off. Jansen, because of his long levers, can access it comfortably and can get under it. Boshes it way back over long on!
16.5
6
Ravi Bishnoi to Jansen, SIX, clean strike! Fizzed through but right into the slot on middle stump. Jansen gives himself ample room and frees his arms, carving it over the wide long off fence!
16.4
2
Ravi Bishnoi to Jansen, 2 runs, juicy full toss outside off. Jansen plants his front foot and smashes it over the bowler's head. Ramandeep nearly does not account for the spin but gets his right mitt down in time to keep it to two

South Africa 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st27RR HendricksRD Rickelton
2nd20RR HendricksAK Markram
3rd21T StubbsAK Markram
4th16H KlaasenAK Markram
5th58DA MillerH Klaasen
6th25H KlaasenM Jansen
7th35G CoetzeeM Jansen
8th6G CoetzeeA Simelane