NEW DELHI: India pacer Arshdeep Singh showcased his composure under pressure by dismissing the dangerous Marco Jansen in the final over, helping India defend a 220-run target and register a thrilling 11-run victory over South Africa in Centurion. The win gave India an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series.
Jansen, who gave India a huge scare, smashed the fastest T20I fifty ever recorded against India, reaching the milestone in just 16 balls. His late blitz, including 26 runs off Hardik Pandya in the penultimate over, brought South Africa within touching distance of a miraculous win. However, Arshdeep’s calm and accurate bowling in the final over, where he took Jansen’s wicket, ensured India held on for the victory.
Arshdeep finished the match with impressive figures of 3/37 in his four overs, and his standout performance also earned him a new milestone—he became the leading wicket-taker among Indian pacers in T20Is, surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s 90 wickets.
Arshdeep achieved the feat in just 59 matches, significantly fewer than the 87 games it took Bhuvneshwar to take his 90 wickets.
With 92 wickets, Arshdeep is now second overall in India’s all-time T20I wicket-takers list, trailing only Yuzvendra Chahal, who has 96 wickets in 80 matches. Arshdeep has a chance to overtake Chahal in the final T20I match of the series, to be held in Johannesburg on Friday.
Top 5 leading wicket-takers for India in T20Is:
- 1. Yuzvendra Chahal – 96 wickets in 80 matches
- 2. Arshdeep Singh – 92 wickets in 59 matches
- 3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 90 wickets in 87 matches
- 4. Jasprit Bumrah – 89 wickets in 70 matches
- 5. Hardik Pandya – 88 wickets in 108 matches
In the match, India posted a massive 219/6 after being put into bat, thanks to Tilak Varma‘s sensational century (107 off 56 balls) and Abhishek Sharma‘s quickfire 50 off 25 deliveries.
South Africa’s chase faltered early, but Jansen’s late heroics kept them in the hunt until Arshdeep’s final over settled the contest, cementing his status as one of India’s finest T20 bowlers.
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