Hardik Pandya hit the 2nd fastest T20I half-century for India
India pip Proteas by 30 runs to win the series by 3-1
Varun Chakravarthy picked 4 wickets for India
India thrashed South Africa by 30 runs in the fifth and final T20I of the five-match T20I series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, December 19. The Men In Blue lift the series by 3-1 and also reinforced their credentials as the No.1 T20I team in the world while heading into a world cup year.
After being invited to bat first on a flat Ahmedabad deck, India batters launched an assault on the Proteas bowlers, led by their openers - Abhishek Sharma (34) and Sanju Samson (37). Tilak Varma also carried on his purple patch against the South African bowling line-up and scored a blistering 73 off 42 balls.
However, Hardik Pandya stood out from other batters and took the already aggressive start to another level with his breathtaking hitting. He smashed the 2nd fastest fifty for India in T20I cricket in just 16 balls and eventually blasted 63 runs off just 25 balls before getting out.
Proteas Fall Short Despite QDK's Fireworks
South Africa's response to India's massive target started on a high note courtesy of Quinton de Kock's belligerent knock of 65 off just 35 balls. However, once he got out the chase fell flat and Varun Chakravarthy's 13th over, where South Africa lost 2 wickets, deflated the chase and they couldn't recover from there.
Varun Chakravarthy went for over 50 in his four but also picked 4 crucial wickets, breaking the back of the Proteas' middle-order. South Africa eventually finished out for 201/8 in 20 overs, losing the match by 30 runs.
India Vs South Africa, 5th T20I: Toss Update
South Africa won the coin toss and elected to field first.
India Vs South Africa, 5th T20I: Playing XIs
South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
