Vijay Raman
- Dec 15, 2023
- 3 min read

SA vs IND, 3rd T20I: Surya ton, Kuldeep 5-17 give series-levelling win for India

South Africa vs India, 3rd T20I: Suryakumar Yadav’s 100, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 60 and Keshav Maharaj's 2/26 are top performances. India beat South Africa by 106 runs to level the series 1-1.

South Africa vs India, 3rd T20I: Suryakumar Yadav scored 4th T20I hundred; India beat South Africa | Walking Wicket (Photo_ ©BCCI_Twitter) — Suryakumar Yadav scored his 4th T20I hundred (Photo: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Brief Scores: India 201/7 (Suryakumar 100, Jaiswal 60, Maharaj 2/26) beat South Africa 95 (Miller 35, Kuldeep 5/17, Jadeja 2/25) by 106 runs.

Player of the Match: Suryakumar Yadav (100)

India bounced back in style in the 3rd T20I as they levelled the series 1-1 after thrashing the hosts in the final game of the series. After a complete performance in a rain-hit game at St George’s Park, hosts South Africa took on India in a bid to hand a rare series defeat to the No.1 ranked side.

While India stayed with an unchanged XI, South Africa made 3 changes bringing in Keshav Maharaj, debutant Burger and Donovon Ferrairra from the last game. Markram once again won the toss and invited India out to bat first.

Talking points: Shubman Gill’s form a worry

Gill has been one of the stand-out ODI batters for India in recent times but hasn’t performed well in the other formats. Having bagged a duck in the previous game, Gill once again fell cheaply at the Wanderers. Playing in place of Ruturaj Gaikwad who slammed a century last series, Gill has to step up his game in the format. But as of now, Gill’s return to T20Is is a cause of concern for the team management.

India had a bad start yet again with Shubman Gill and Tilak Varma getting out off successive balls to Maharaj in the 3rd over. Nevertheless, India continued to milk 62 runs in the powerplay with the pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Suryakumar Yadav stabilising the ship. They put on a stunning 112-run stand for the 3rd wicket in about 12 overs and Suryakumar then completed his 4th T20I ton to take India past 200.

After failing to defend a huge score at Gqeberha, India pacers put on a much better show here at Johannesburg as they reduced the hosts to 42/3 in the powerplay. The wickets kept tumbling as SA managed only 75 runs in the first 10 overs for the loss of 5 wickets. The hosts were never really in the hunt as India spinners shook their middle order. Barring David Miller, none of the other batters contributed. They suffered a massive 106-run defeat as India drew the series.

Top 3 performances from the 3rd T20I between South Africa and India

South Africa vs India, 3rd T20I_ Suryakumar Yadav scored 100 off 56 balls against South Africa _ Walking Wicket (Photo_ ©BCCI_Twitter) — Suryakumar scored 100 off 56 balls against South Africa (Photo: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Suryakumar Yadav steals the show with a record-equaling ton

Following his mediocre performance in the World Cup and a quiet home series against Australia, Suryakumar Yadav showed the entire world why he is regarded highly in the shortest format of the game. After a sedate start in the first 25 balls, he turned the screws at the halfway mark to complete a sensational ton, his 4th in T20Is and joins the likes of Rohit Sharma & Glenn Maxwell in the club. His incredible knock of 100 from 56 balls included a whopping 8 sixes and propelled India's score past 200.

Yashasvi Jaiswal blazes his way to a half-century

The left-handed opener failed to make a mark in the previous game but was on song coming into this important encounter. Having lost Shubman Gill and Tilak in close succession, Yashasvi Jaiswal chose to counterattack and continued the run-scoring spree in the powerplay. This kept India’s run rate high at all times and allowed a scratchy Surya to take his time. The left-hander eventually scored a superlative 60 and helped India achieve a strong total.

Keshav Maharaj a lone bright spot in bowling for South Africa

With runs flowing off the bat for India batters, SA needed someone to restrict the visitors and it was Keshav Maharaj, who played the role to perfection. After dismissing Gill and Tilak in a space of 2 balls, the left-arm spinner bowled a tight economical spell giving away just 26 runs.

Statistical highlights from India vs South Africa, 3rd T20I

Suryakumar Yadav scored his fourth T20I hundred, equals Rohit Sharma for the most T20I centuries by an India player.
Yashasvi Jaiswal & Suryakumar Yadav registered the highest third-wicket stand (112) for India against SA in T20Is.
With 733 runs, Surya will finish 2023 as T20I's 2nd highest run-scorer behind Mohammad Waseem of UAE who has 806 runs.

What’s next?

With the T20I series ending in a tie, the focus now shifts to ODI cricket with South Africa taking on a new look at India in a 3-match series starting with the game at the same venue on December 17.