Ahmedabad, Dec 19 (NationPress) With Varun Chakaravarthy's impressive four-wicket haul and Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional bowling display, India emerged victorious in the five-match T20I series against South Africa, clinching the series with a 30-run win at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday.

On a challenging black-soil pitch, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya formed a crucial partnership of 105 runs for the fourth wicket, with Varma scoring 73 off 45 balls and Pandya smashing 63 off 38, achieving his fifty in just 16 balls, marking the second-fastest fifty by an Indian in T20Is.

Despite some interruptions, including incidents involving umpire Rohan Pandit and a camera operator, Sanju Samson, who replaced the injured Shubman Gill, made a notable 37, while Abhishek Sharma contributed a quick 34 in a solid 63-run opening stand. Suryakumar Yadav, however, continued to struggle, falling for just five runs. Nevertheless, Varma and Pandya showcased their explosive batting skills, compensating for the early loss.

Shivam Dube capped off the innings in style, hitting a four and a six in the last over, as India set a formidable total beyond 230 runs. Corbin Bosch was the standout bowler for South Africa with figures of 2-44, yet the Proteas could not contain India's batting onslaught.

Chasing a target of 232, South Africa started strongly, reaching 118/1 at the halfway point, with Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis in command. However, Bumrah’s entry in the 11th over altered the game's dynamics, as he dismissed de Kock for 63 with a sharp return catch.

From a promising 120/1, South Africa faltered to 135/5, as Chakaravarthy's variations proved too challenging, culminating in his impressive figures of 4-53. Bumrah also shone with 2-17 on a night where over 400 runs were scored, leading to South Africa finishing at 201/8 and handing India a comfortable victory.

This result marked India’s eighth consecutive T20I series win, a streak that commenced in December 2023. South Africa's chase began explosively as de Kock punished Arshdeep Singh with a flurry of boundaries in the first over. Despite Reeza Hendricks struggling at the other end, the duo propelled the score to 67/0 at the end of the powerplay, with de Kock racing to 47 off 26 balls.

The first breakthrough arrived in the seventh over when Hendricks fell to Chakaravarthy, caught brilliantly by Dube. De Kock continued to press forward, reaching his 18th T20I fifty and forming a solid partnership with Brevis. However, Bumrah’s return changed the match's trajectory, dismissing de Kock and leading to a rapid decline in South African wickets.

With David Miller and George Linde also falling cheaply, South Africa found themselves in dire straits at 163/7. Although Marco Jansen briefly threatened with sixes, Bumrah's off-cutter sealed his fate, securing India’s win and maintaining their strong momentum as they aim to defend their T20 World Cup title at home next year.

India initiated their innings with vigor, reaching 25/0 in just two overs, as Abhishek consistently found gaps in the field. Despite early concerns when de Kock injured his finger while keeping, he bravely continued, while Samson matched Abhishek's scoring pace.

Following a strong start, South Africa eventually managed to break through with a catch off Bosch’s bowling. Turning to spin post-powerplay, South Africa struggled as India maintained their scoring rate, with Varma and Samson accumulating runs until Linde dismissed Samson.

Despite Yadav’s continued struggles, Pandya and Varma counterattacked, adding quick runs to the total. Pandya’s remarkable knock included a 16-ball fifty, showcasing his aggressive batting style. Varma reached his half-century before being run out, but Dube's late surge ensured India exceeded the 230-run mark, ultimately leading to their victory despite de Kock's efforts.

Brief Scores: India 231/5 (Tilak Varma 73, Hardik Pandya 63; Corbin Bosch 2-44, Ottniel Baartman 1-39) defeated South Africa 201/8 (Quinton de Kock 65, Dewald Brevis 31; Varun Chakaravarthy 4-53, Jasprit Bumrah 2-17) by 30 runs.