India vs South Africa Scorecard and updates, 3rd T20I: India survive late scare by Marco Jansen to win by 11 runs

Last over and Arshdeep to bowl. Pretty difficult to hit him, that too right at the death. Appeal for an LBW now and Surya goes upstairs. Wickets are hitting and impact is umpire's call. Jansen on strike. He needs just boundaries now. And he smashes a six!!! Oh dear me!! Can he do it? He gets to 50!! 18 from 4 now. 3 sixes needed. And Arshdeep with a huge appeal. India review again for LBW. AND GONE!!

Marco Jansen lbw b Arshdeep Singh 54(17)

Pandya to bowl the penultimate over. Jansen smashes him for a 4 off the first ball. It's at such a juncture that fours won't matter. They need sixes. And he obliges with a huge six!!! Flicking off his pads!! A thick edge next and he gets another four!! But not where he intended. Sure he won't care. Takes 2 next and he smashes the ball with a huge 6!!! 29 needed off 7 now. And he ends with a 4!!! SA 195/6 after 19 overs

Arshdeep in to bowl the next one and starts with a single as the run rate has gone south of 20 now. And Jansen swings, gets athick inside edge and brings up a fortunate boundary. Another single and Klaasen is backl on strike.. SA need big hits now. And he holes out to Tilak Varma. That's surely all she wrote for the Proteas.

Klaasen c Tilak Varma b Arshdeep Singh 41(22)

Bishnoi to bowl his last over and Jansen with a single to put Klaasen on strike. And he takes 3 runs to put Jansen back on strike. Two more runs as Jansen can't time his shot. And he smashes the next one for a 6!! SA go past 150!! And would you know it!! He follows that up with another six!! Clean as a whistle. SA 161/5 after 17 overs

Hardik back in the attack and that has hit Miller as he takes some time to gather his breath. Takes a single next and Klaasen is back on strike. He takes a single and Miller glances the next ball off the pads to the boundary!! Much-needed six for him. Tries a big hit again and Ohhhh what a catch by Axar!! Timed his jump to absolute perfection as he gets hold of the travelling ball!!

Miller c Axar b Hardik Pandya 18(18)

Ravi Bishnoi continues and Klaasen takes a single to give the strike to Miller. He tries a big hit but he can't get a proper bat to it and takes a single. Leg byes next as Miller fails to hit it with the bat. SA 134/4 after 15 overs

Varun Chakaravarthy in the attack again and Klaasen with two huge back to back sixes with the second one landing on the roof!!! And would you know it!! That's another six!!! Uffff!!! Finally a dot this over as Klaasen sjhoots staright at Surya but he spills!!! Rubbing salt into the wounds now as the big hitter smashes another 4!!! 23 from this on!! SA 126/4 after 14 overs

Ravi Bishnoi continues and Miller takes 2 off the second delivery to bring up 100 for the hosts. Just 1 more single from the next couple of deliveries. Just 4 from this one ultimately. SA 103/4 after 13 overs

Axar to bowl out with this over and Klaasen with a straight six to start this one away. The next 3 deliveries yield just a single as Axar makes a great comeback. Just 8 from this one. SA 99/4 after 12 overs.

Ravi Bishnoi introduced in the attack now and that's just 2 from the first 3 deliveries as Klaasen can't seem to get a big shot away. Miller, meanwhile, gets the 5th ball away for a well-placed boundary!! SA 91/4 after 11 overs

Varun Chakaravarthy continues and after taking 2, Markram finally breaks the shackles with a huge, towering 6!! Klaasen and Markram with 2 singles next as SA look to bring up the run rate which has gone over 13. And that's another 6 as Varun errs in length again. He goes for another big hit, gets it wrong this rtime and holes out to Ramandeep Singh.

Markram c Ramandeep Singh b Varun Chakaravarthy 29(18)

Axar to bowl the next one and there's  ahuge appeal for caught behind. Sanju seems sure but Axar isn't. They'll still go for the review though. But it has hit the pads so Markram survives. Stubbs goes for a sweep and that's given LBW!! SA review and that's 3 dots. Stubbs has to walk.

Tristan Stubbs lbw b Axar 12(12)

Varun Chakaravarthy continues and gives away just 5 from the first 5 deliveries as the SA batters struggle for boundaries!! Just 6 from the over. SA 64/2 afer 8 overs

Axar continues and yields two singles off the first 2 deliveries. Just 3 runs from this over ultimately as the spinner keeps it tight. SA 58/2 after 7 overs

Varun Chakaravarthy in to bowl the last over of the powerplay and he yields just a single from the first couple of balls. And another gone!!! Hendricks tries to come down the ground and go for a smash, misses completely and Samson takes the bails off.

Reeza Hendricks st Samson b Varun Chakaravarthy 21(13)

Axar in the attack now as Hendricks gets a thick outside edge and notches up a lucky boundary. Next ball, times it pretty nicely off the backfoot and smashes another 4!! Chance of a run out but it's not a direct hit!! The batter is inside with a dive. And another boundary to end the over!! SA 46/1 aftter 5 overs

Hardik continues and yields two singles off the first two deliveries as Markram and Hendricks rotate strike. Hendricks tries a big hit but it gets an edge and drops just in front of him. Hardik beats him off the very next ball with an absolute beauty. SA 32/1 after 3 overs

Arshdeep Singh continues and Rickelton starts this one with a boundary before completely missing the ensuing delivery!! Swings at the next one and misses that as well. Mgnificent from Arshdeep as fourth delivery just misses the end of Rickelton's willow. And he pulls the next ball over the ropes with a 6!!! AND HE' GONE!! Chops on the next delivery and he has to depart. A thick outside-edge bounces off the surface and clips the leg stump. 

Rickelton b Arshdeep Singh 20(15)

We resume action now Hardik Pandya in to bowl the second over and Rickelton smashes the first ball straight down the ground for a 4 before taking a single. Hendricks nudges the next ball towards his leg side for another single. Rickelton next plays one staright up in the air, axar Patel beneath it and he has dropped it!!! SA 17/0 after 2 overs

Update from the official broadcast says that play will resume at 11.10 PM IST, 10 mins from now.

Play suspended due to flying ants interfering with the play, the big screen says in the ground even as the groundsmen try to get rid of the pests.

The umpires are having a chat now. Is it because of an issue of lightning? Unclear at the moment as the South Africa batters are walking off as the ground is filled with flying insects as the commentators point out that these signal the arrival of rain. We sure do hope not but it's getting difficult due to the presence of so many insects. Play halted.

Welcome back to the chase. Rickelton and Hendricks are in the middle and Arshdeep with the new ball in hand. Starts with a single off the first 2 deliveries. And Hendricks flashes at the 3rd ball and gets a boundary off the outside edge!! SA 7/0 after 1 over.

Marco Jansen in to bowl the last over and the hosts have been penalized for slow over rate. One extra man inside the circle now. Jansen starts with 3 from the first 3 balls. Tilak on strike and he pulls and misses the 4th delivery!! And that's run out as Ramandeep's debut ends with 15 rom 6 deliveries. Great over to end. India finish at 219/6 after 20 overs.

Sipamla to bowl th 19th and Tilak with a single to start. Ramandeep backl on strike and he swings hard but mishits as the ball falls just short of Coetzee. And he smashes the next ball straight down the ground for 4 more!!! 200 up for India. This is why KKR retained him. A single to give Tilak the strike. And he smashes a 4 to bring up his maiden century!!! And look what it means to him. And he ends the over with a 6!!! IND 215/5 after 19 overs

Simelane back and Tilak bansg the first ball away for a boundary to start this one!!! Into the 90s he goes. Takes a single and Rinku is on strike. He has been quiet this match with just 6 from 10. Will he break the shackles? And he tries to hit a full toss nut it does not get to te boundary. AND HE'S GONE!! Beautiful yorker goes straight through Rinku's defence to rattle his stumps!!!

New man Ramandeep Singh, meanwhile, ends the over with a 6 in the first ball he has faced in his international career!!

Rinku Singh b Simelane 8(13)

Marco Jansen back in the attack and he has hit Rinku on the thigh. Looked to hurt, that one. A wide and a single next as the dangerous Tilak Varma is on strike. He takes 2 and a single to go off strike. IND 183/4 after 17 overs

Coetzee back in the attack and Tilak slaps the first ball straight down the ground for a 6!! And that is followed up with another better hit six!! Pulls it over the deep mid-wicket region!! Two more wides as Coetzee is not having a good day. And a ramp shot for 4 to third man to end this over. 21 from this one. IND 175/4 after 16 overs

Maharaj in to bowl his last over and yields one from the first couple of deliveries. Pushes the next ball wide and Tilak pounces on it with another four!! Slog sweeps leg side and that's just over the fielder for a 6!!! And another boundary in the same deep midwicket region!!! IND 154/4 after 15 overs

Spin from both ends now as Markram comes in to bowl. Varma takes 2 to start this one away before cutting one for a single. Just 6 from this over ultimately. IND 138/4 after 14 overs

Maharaj back and that's a single for Tilak Varma to get to his half century. Hardik on strike and after 2 dots, Pandya tries to sweep and gets caught on the pads. Umpire gives out and Hardik will review. No bat involved and he's already walking off. That's 3 reds to confirm and that's another down.

Hardik Pandya lbw b Maharaj 18(16)

Lutho Sipamla in the attack and he starts with a wide before Hardik smashes the next ball straight down the ground and Coetzee almost gets it but it's a four!! Almost a catch as the ball falls just short of the fielder situated inside the circle and Hardik takes 2. IND 130/3 adter 2 overs

Maharaj continues and Hadrik sweeps the seconfd ball and that's just gone through the fielder stationed near the boundary!! Sheer pace that. Follows that up with another 4, towards deep backward point this time. IND 120/3 after 11 overs

Simelane back in the attack and Tilak takes a single to go off strike. Surya will face the bowler now and he takes a single of his own. And Surya is gone after trying to play a big shot. That's the second time he has fallen to Simelane!! Holes out to Jansen near the boundary.

Suryakumar Yadav c Marco Jansen b Simelane 1(4)

Keshav Maharaj in the attack and Abhishek Sharma hits the first ball straight over the bowler's head for a 6!!! Takes asingle next and brings up his half century as well. And he's gone!! Maharaj comes up trumps as the Abhsihek tries to come back out and he gets stumped!!

Abhishek Sharma st Klaasen b Maharaj 50(25)

Coetzee in the attack again and Tilak with a single to start this one off. A wide next as Abhishek moves sideways looking to play over the keeper. And that's another wide, this time from the bouncer. Change of pace nxt as Abhsihek swings but misses. Takes a single and Varma is on strike now. And he pulls for a 6 to end the over!! Oh wait, it's a no ball!! He has to bowl again. Just 2 from the free hit though. IND 99/1 after 8 overs

Markram brings himself to the attack for a bout of spin now and Abhishek steps down the wicket again for a 4 before going off strike. Tilak brings out the switch hit now and deposits the ball over the deep backward point boundary for a maximum!! IND 83/1 after 7 overs

Sipamla continues and starts with a slower ball which kisses the toe end of Abhishek's bat and flown to deep backward point but just a single. And he's back on strike in the third ball and he steps out again and smashes another six!!! A single next and Varma is back on strike. IND 70/1 after 6 overs

Andile Simelane comes into the attack as Tilak pulls for a single before Abhishek swivels and smashes the next ball for a huge 6!!! Charges down the ground next and gets another six!! This time over extra cover!! 50 up for the visitors. Varma gets in on the act as he plays the next ball straight down the ground for 4!! IND 60/1 after 5 overs

Lutho Sipamla in the attack now and Varma welcomes him with a boundary!!! The rest of the over passes without incident with just 3 runs from the last 4 deliveries. IND 42/1 after 4 overs

Jansen continues and that's a no to start!! Was a superb delivery that went throughthe batter but hard luck. The free hit gets a single as Tilak goes off strike. Abhishek returns the favour with a single of his own as Jansen cramps the batters for room. And that's a bouncer as Varma pulls and it goes over the keeper's head  for a 4 to third man. A concussion check going on now. he lloks fine though. 8 from the over. IND 35/1 after 3 overs

Gerald Coetzee steams in to bowl the next over and Abhishek swings and misses the first ball before pulling the secondd ball to the boundary!! Uff, the 4th ball has bounced pretty high and is called wide. Abhishek makes room once again and smashes the next ball for a six over point. The bowler looks for a yorker but Abhishek drives this one for 4!! India are out to hunt. IND 27/1 after 2 overs

Tilak Varma is the new man in and he charges fdown the ground first ball and slams Jansen for a boundary!! Gets even better next as he wallops the bowler for a 6!! What a retort by India. IND 12/1 after 1 over

Here we go. Sanju and Abhishek in the middle and Jansen with the new ball. Sanju with a nudge to start and he's gone the next ball!! That's 2 ducks in row after 2 100s in a row. Jansen strikes in the first over again!! That stayed low and goes under the batter's willow to rattle the stumps.

Samson b Marco Jansen 0(2)

Here are the two sets of players out for the national anthems. India's first followed by South Africa.

"There is a big rain storm that came last night and hope it stays away. Looks like a bit dry. A typical Centurion wicket will have a bit of sheen which is not there. The spinners will have a part to play. The batters enjoy batting here because of the bounce. The boundary size is pretty small; 59 and 64 meters square and 82 meters down the ground," say Shaun Pollock and Ashwell Prince.

This is the third straight toss Surya has lost in this series. In any event, There's one change for India as Ramandeep Singh makes his debut in place of pacer Avesh Khan. One change for South Africa as well with Lutho Sipamla coming in for Nqabayomzi Peter.

Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy

Ryan Rickelton, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Andile Simelane, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla

Aiden Markram: We are going to bowl first again. The wicket looks good. Not quite at our best. We are making slow progress. The bowlers did a good job in the last game. The batters need to spend time in the middle and not be too desperate. We have full trust in our batting unit and hope we do something special tonight.

Suryakumar Kumar: It is okay. We have done well in the last two games while batting first. The boys have come out with clear plans and are executing it, I have been really happy with that. Just be clear, go out and enjoy yourself (the message from him and the management). These boys have made my job easier. We have one change - Ramandeep makes his debut. Avesh has done well for us but one of the two bowlers had to make a sacrifice.

Here's the toss, Aiden Markram wins the toss and opts to bowl first against India.

Live visuals show Hardik Pandya handing over the cap to Ramandeep Singh who is set to make his debut. The question now is who is going to sit out? We'll find out soon.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test (Nov 27- Dec 01), Durban

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test (Dec 05 - Dec 09), Gqeberha

South Africa vs Pakistan, 1st T20I (Dec 10), Durban

South Africa vs Pakistan, 2nd T20I (Dec 13), Centurion

South Africa vs Pakistan, 3rd T20I (Dec 14), Johannesburg

South Africa vs Pakistan, 1st ODI (Dec 17), Paarl

South Africa vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI (Dec 19), Centurion

South Africa vs Pakistan, 3rd ODI (Dec 22), Johannesburg

South Africa vs Pakistan, 1st Test (Dec 26 - Dec 30), Centurion

South Africa vs Pakistan, 2nd Test (Jan 03 - Jan 07), Cape Town

New Zealand vs South Africa, 2nd ODI Match (Feb 10), Multan

Pakistan vs South Africa, 3rd ODI Match (Feb 12), Multan

England vs South Africa, 1st ODI (Sep 02), Leeds

England vs South Africa, 2nd ODI (Sep 04), London

England vs South Africa, 3rd ODI (Sep 07), Southampton

England vs South Africa, 1st T20I (Sep 10), Cardiff

England vs South Africa, 2nd T20I (Sep 12), Manchester

England vs South Africa, 3rd T20I (Sep 14), Nottingham

Australia vs India, 1st Test (Nov 22 - Nov 26), Perth

Australia vs India, 2nd Test (Dec 06 Dec 10), Adelaide

Australia vs India, 3rd Test (Dec 14 Dec 18), Brisbane

Australia vs India, 4th Test (Thu - Dec 30), Melbourne

Australia vs India, 5th Test (Fri - Jan 07), Sydney

India vs England, 1st T20I (Jan 22), Kolkata

India vs England, 2nd T20I (Jan 25), Chennai

India vs England, 3rd T20I (Jan 28), Rajkot

India vs England, 4th T20I (Jan 31), Pune

India vs England, 5th T20I (Feb 2), Mumbai

India vs England, 1st ODI (Feb 6), Nagpur

India vs England, 2nd ODI (Feb 9), Cuttack

India vs England, 3rd ODI (Feb 12), Ahmedabad

England vs India, 1st Test (Jun 20 - Jun 24), Leeds

England vs India, 2nd Test (Jul 02 - Jul 06), Birmingham

England vs India, 3rd Test (Jul 10 - Jul 14), London

England vs India, 4th Test (Jul 23- Jul 27), Manchester

England vs India, 5th Test (Jul 31 - Aug 04), London

Sanju Samson has recently emerged as one of India's most exciting T20I batsmen. His recent performances, including two consecutive centuries, have solidified his position in the national team.

The Kerala-born cricketer has displayed exceptional skill and aggression in his recent matches. His ability to adapt to different bowling attacks and play a variety of shots has made him a formidable force in the shortest format of the game.

Samson's explosive batting style and powerful hitting have captivated fans and experts alike. As he continues to mature and gain experience, he is well-positioned to become one of the world's leading T20I batsmen.

The win against India in their last match was the Proteas' 2nd T20I win out of 7 matches they have played since the 2024 T20I World Cup. Also, the hosts haven't won a T20I series since August 2022 and will be hoping to get something out of this series.

Even though they lost the last match against South Africa, India have had an inspired run in T20Is in 2024 which included winning the World Cup and series wins against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. They have won 22 out of the 25 matches this year which is mind-boggling.  

There have been 16 T20I played here at the Centurion with the team batting first winning 8 times as opposed to the team bowling first. The average first innings score here is 175 while the average 2nd innings score is 157.

The highest score recorded here is 259/4 made by hosts South Africa against the West Indies in 2023 while the lowest total is also by the Proteas which is 100 all out against Pakistan in 2013.

The highest score chased here is also by South Africa who chased 258 by West Indies in the earlier mentioned match in 2023 while the lowest score defended in this venue is 126/5 by South Africa against Sri Lanka in 2017 in a match reduced to 10 overs due to rain.

Sanju Samson's blistering century powered India to a comprehensive 61-run victory over South Africa in the first T20I. The Indian opener unleashed a flurry of boundaries, including a record-breaking 10 sixes, to set a challenging target of 202 runs.

The picturesque Kingsmead ground in Durban provided the perfect stage for Samson's batting masterclass. The short boundaries and sea breeze allowed him to maximize his power-hitting abilities and score the fastest T20I century by an Indian batsman against South Africa.

The South African bowlers struggled to contain Samson's onslaught, and India's aggressive batting approach proved too much for the Proteas to handle. In the second innings, India's bowlers, led by Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, delivered a disciplined performance, restricting South Africa to a low total and securing a dominant victory.