India overcame a late Marco Jansen onslaught to win the third Twenty20 International in a thrilling contest at SuperSport Park in Centurion, giving them an invaluable 2-1 lead in the four-match series. The match, which saw multiple momentum shifts, will be remembered for Tilak Varma’s maiden T20I century and Marco Jansen’s breathtaking cameo that nearly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Tilak Varma announces he’s here to stay
After being put into bat, India rode on an exceptional maiden T20I century from the blade of Tilak Varma. The young left-hander’s innings was a masterclass in modern T20 batting, particularly his assault on Keshav Maharaj in the latter stages, where he plundered 16 runs in a single over. Despite losing Sanju Samson for a duck and quick dismissals of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, Varma found an able ally in Abhishek Sharma, who cracked a quickfire 50 off just 25 balls. This was Abhishek’s first 20+ score after his 100 against Zimbabwe in July.
India’s final total of 219/6 looked formidable, thanks to Varma’s heroics, though Marco Jansen’s excellent final over (4 runs) kept the hosts in the hunt. Andile Simelane and Keshav Maharaj’s disciplined bowling (two wickets each) provided some control in the middle overs.
Chase delayed by flying ants?
In a bizarre twist, the chase was initially delayed by an invasion of flying ants. When play resumed, India’s new-ball pair of Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya applied the early pressure, restricting the dangerous South African opening duo. Varun Chakravarthy’s introduction brought immediate rewards, removing Reeza Hendricks and later accounting for the crucial wicket of Aiden Markram. While Ravi Bishnoi went wicketless, Axar Patel dismissed the dangerous Tristan Stubbs. Heinrich Klaasen then looked to stake his claim before Arshdeep Singh came back to send him packing on a 22-ball 41.
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Marco Jansen’s jaw-dropping assault
Just when the game seemed dead and buried, Marco Jansen unleashed a stunning assault, smashing 54 off just 16 balls. His innings, filled with massive sixes, brought the equation down to manageable proportions as SA needed just 26 off the last over. This was superb given that they needed 76 off 24 balls at one point. However, Arshdeep Singh’s nerveless death bowling, particularly in the final over, sealed the deal for India. He trapped Jansen in front of the stumps to end the day with 3/37.
What difference will it make at IPL 2025 Auction?
While there is an Indian bilateral series going on, the main talk and hype has been for the IPL 2025 Auction. Arshdeep Singh, who will likely be one of the most sought-after Indian pacers, showcased why teams might break the bank for him. His death bowling masterclass under extreme pressure, especially against the rampaging strikers, just give away his growing maturity as a T20 specialist
Marco Jansen, meanwhile, may have just triggered a bidding war for IPL 2025. His brutal hitting ability, combined with his left-arm pace and height, makes him the perfect overseas all-rounder that many IPL teams desperately seek. His versatility in batting could now help see his value skyrocket at the auction. The series now moves to its final match in Johannesburg with India holding a 2-1 advantage, but South Africa will take heart from Jansen’s performance and their ability to push India to the limit.
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