Samson and Tilak Thrill in 'Bullring': Dominant Tons Lead India to Series Victory Over South Africa

India clinched series 3-1 after emphatically defeating South Africa by 135 runs in fourth T20I. Batting first at Wanderers Stium, India, Batting first at Wanderers Stium, India achieved a stunning 283/1 due to outstanding hundreds from Sanju Samson (109* off 56) and Tilak Varma (120* off 47). With Arshdeep Singh leing assault with outstanding figures of 3/20, South Africa stumbled in reaction and collapsed to 148 all out in only 18.2 overs. For his outstanding efforts all through, Tilak Varma was selected Player of Match and Player of Series.

Bullied in 'Bullring': Samson, Tilak deflate South Africa with series-winning tons

Sanju Samson's breathtakingly beautiful stroke-play was matched by Tilak Varma's understated brilliance as India, riding on ir record breaking twin tons, bullied a listless South Africa with a series-winning 135-run victory in fourth and final T20 International here on Friday.

India thus ended this year's T20I campaign by winning all bilateral series along with T20 World Cup triumph and victory percentage of 92.
Samson's 109 not out off 56 balls was complemented by Varma's 120 not out in only 47 balls as y took India to an unsurmountable 283 for 1 in 20 overs, ir highest total on overseas soil.

In South Africa's run chase, Arshdeep Singh (3/20) swung ball prodigiously under lights during an opening spell that reduced hosts to 10 for 4 and were eventually shot out for 148 in 18.2 overs.

Among plethora of records that tumbled, most special one will be two Indian batters scoring centuries in same T20I innings. Samson and Varma also posted highest partnership for India in T20 Internationals --- 210 off just 93 balls for second wicket.

Samson completed his ton in 51 balls while Varma (41 balls) took 10 balls less.

Samson now has three T20I tons in last five innings which also included two ducks.

It seems brilliance and disappointment exist toger for Kerala man who will certainly increase a lot of selection heache for Ajit Agarkar when Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant come back in Indian T20I squ.

For Varma, back-to-back T20I tons on South African soil will not only increase his stocks but it also speaks volumes about kind of team man skipper Suryakumar Yav is. Suryakumar decided to relinquish his favourite batting spot, allowing a young talent to blossom showing what leership is all about. Abhishek Sharma (36 off 18 balls) should also get his share of credit for upping ante in Powerplay with four huge sixes.

On a good batting track with true bounce on offer, Indian batters hit a record 23 sixes as it was possible to hit through line by just clearing one's front leg. Samson's nine maximums was one less than Varma's 10.
It only helped India that opposition's best fast bowler Gerald Coetzee seemed to be carrying a niggle. two medium pacers Andile Simelane (0/47 in 3 overs) and Lutho Sipamla (1/58 in 4 overs) seemed like lambs for slaughter. Indians hit 10 sixes from Simelane and Sipamla.

By time Coetzee was brought by skipper Aiden Markram for his second spell, damage was done. Such was nervousness of South African bowlers that y bowled 17 wides in trying to check momentum.

y didn't vary pace and pitched it on length as Samson and Varma were severe, eir hitting m inside out over extra cover or at times straight down ground.
Even Keshav Maharaj and Tristan Stubbs were not left unpunished as re was everything on platter -- cuts, pulls, slog sweeps, reverse sweeps. re wasn't a single corner of ground that didn't feel power of strokes from two Indians.

In fact one of Samson's shots hit a ly spectator's cheek. TV cameras caught her sobbing in considerable pain.
Samson was more muscle as he would slightly shuffle towards leg-stump and loft length balls while silken Varma would make a mockery of spinners with uppish sweep shots, stand and deliver down ground hits.

y slowed down a touch nearing ir milestones but by n y h done enough to crush Proteas.

(PTI)