The T20 World Cup champions, India, continued their successful run by securing a 3-1 series victory against the runners-up, South Africa, marking the tour as a resounding success. In a dominant final match, India triumphed by a massive 135-run margin, setting several new records. Here’s a rundown of the key records that were shattered during this remarkable encounter.
Winning the first T20I with a convincing 61-run victory, but the Proteas responded with a 3-wicket win in the second match. The third match gave India the edge, as they secured their second win by 11 runs, India delivered a commanding performance in the 4th T20I against South Africa, securing a massive 135-run victory in Johannesburg to clinch the series.
Batting first, India posted an astonishing 283/1, powered by Tilak Varma’s explosive unbeaten 120 off just 47 balls and Sanju Samson’s sublime 109* off 56 deliveries. Abhishek Sharma provided an early boost with a quick-fire 36. South Africa’s bowlers struggled to contain the Indian onslaught, with Lutho Sipamla being the lone wicket-taker. Chasing a daunting 284, South Africa faltered early, losing wickets in quick succession. Arshdeep Singh (3/20) and Axar Patel (2/6) dismantled the hosts’ batting lineup, with only Tristan Stubbs (43) and Marco Jansen (29*) showing some resistance. Tilak Varma, for his exceptional batting and two catches, was named Player of the Match and with an overall 280 runs received his first Player of the Series accolade.
The thrilling conclusion to the bilateral T20I series between South Africa and India took place on Friday at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, where numerous records were broken. From posting the highest total ever against South Africa to the stunning partnership between Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma.
Here’s a detailed list of the records set during 4th T20I
1) 283 – India registered the total against South Africa, the highest by any side and second-highest for India in T20Is-
India scored a crushing 283/1, becoming the highest-ever total posted against South Africa in T20Is and also marking the second-highest score for India in T20I history, behind only the team’s own highest of 218/4.
2) 135-run victory win – the biggest one over South Africa in T20Is by runs-
India’s comprehensive win by 135 runs against South Africa now makes it the biggest run victory over South Africa in T20Is, a victory that wrecks all previous records.
3) 210* – India’s highest-ever T20I partnership.
The unbroken stand of 210 runs between Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma broke the record for the highest-ever partnership for India in T20Is, setting a new benchmark from all wickets across the board.
4) The historic feat by Sanju Samson in 2024: Three T20I hundreds in a calendar year
Samson Sanju became the first player in the history of the game to score three T20I centuries in the same calendar year, first against Bangladesh and two of them came in this very tour against South Africa.
5) Tilak Varma becomes the second Indian to score consecutive T20I centuries-
He entered the elite list as the second Indian cricketer to score back-to-back centuries in T20Is, scoring an unbeaten 107 in the third and 120 not out in the fourth T20I.
6) First-ever dual centuries in a T20I innings by full member nations-
In an unprecedented feat, Tilak Varma (120*) and Sanju Samson (109*) became the first pair from full member nations to score centuries in the same T20I innings, setting a new standard for partnerships.
7) 23 sixes- Most ever hit in an innings of a T20I between full member nations –
Indian batters smacked Proteas bowlers by hitting 23 sixes from their innings, breaking their previous record of 22 sixes which came against Bangladesh.
8) 12 wickets by Varun Chakravarthy- most wickets in a bilateral T20I series for India –
Varun Chakravarthy, with 12 wickets in the series, finished the bilateral T20I series as the Indian bowler with the most wickets taken from a single bilateral T20I series, claiming 3,5,2,2 wickets across four T20I matches respectively.
9) India’s fastest 200 runs – came in just 14.1 overs
India reached 200 runs in a record-breaking 14.1 overs, setting a new benchmark for the fastest 200-run score in a T20I, exemplifying their aggressive batting approach
With these record-breaking achievements and a successful tour behind them, India will now turn their focus to the upcoming five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set to begin on November 22.