India beat South Africa by 11 runs in the 3rd T20I of the series, taken place at the SuperSport Park, in Centurion on Wednesday. With the win, India have taken an unassailable 2-1 lead in the 4-match affair. India cannot lose the series from here but can win the bilateral contest against the Proteas by securing a victory in the remaining match. Tilak Varma, who smashed his maiden T20I century and went unbeaten at 107, was adjudged the player of the match. The 4th and final match of the series will take place on Friday. 

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Tilak Varma Powers India To A Memorable Win

Tilak Varma’s fabulous maiden T20I hundred formed the fulcrum of India’s narrow 11-run victory over South Africa in the third match here on Wednesday.

India now have a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

Abhishek (50, 25b, 3×4, 5×6) and Tilak (107 not out, 56b, 8×4, 7×6) carried India to a massive 219 for six.

Tilak completed his first hundred in T20Is off just 51 balls.

South Africa were not really in chase despite Heinrich Klaasen (41, 22b, 1×4, 4×6) and Marco Jansen (54, 17b, 4×4, 5×6) trying gamely. SA were restricted to 208 for seven.

Brief scores: India: 219/6 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma, 107 not out, Abhishek Sharma 50; Keshav Maharaj 2/36, Andile Simelane 2/34) beat SA: 208/7 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 41, Marco Jansen 54; Varun Chakravarthy 2/54, Arshdeep Singh 3/37) by 11 runs. 

Scoreboard of the third T20 International between India and South Africa here on Wednesday.

South Africa: Ryan Rickelton b Arshdeep 20 Reeza Hendricks st Samson b Chakaravarthy 21 Aiden Markram c Ramandeep b Chakaravarthy 29 Tristan Stubbs lbw Patel 12 Heinrich Klaasen c Varma b Arshdeep 41 David Miller c Patel b Pandya 18 Marco Jansen lbw Arshdeep 54 Gerald Coetzee not out 2 Andile Simelane not out 5 Extras: 6 (lb-5, w-1) Total: 208/7 in 20 overs Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-47, 3-68, 4-84, 5-142, 6-167, 7-202 Bowling: Arshdeep Singh 4-0-37-3, Hardik Pandya 4-0-50-1, Axar Patel 4-0-29-1, Varun Chakaravarthy 4-0-54-1, Ravi Bishnoi 4-0-33-0. 

(With inputs from PTI)