15:57

Maha civic polls: 65 candidates elected unopposed

15:31

8-yo boy brings mother's body for autopsy after HIV-related death

15:21

Maharashtra civic polls recorded 54.77% voter turnout

15:12

Migrants tortured for speaking Bengali in BJP-ruled states: Mamata

14:28

Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur all fall in Mahayuti's kitty

14:10

Supporters celebrate Mahayuti's expected win in BMC polls

13:16

Leads: BJP+ cross 100-mark in BMC polls

13:03

BJP to announce new party president on Jan 20

12:09

EC gaslighting citizens: Rahul on indelible ink row

12:05

3 BJP candidates win in Pune civic polls

12:03

Names of thousands of voters missing: Sanjay Raut

11:54

Vote Chori is an anti-national act: Rahul amid BMC vote counting

5th T20I updates: India thrash SA by 30 runs, win series 3-1

Fri, 19 December 2025

Refresh

23:15

Chakravarthy picks 4 wickets

SA 201-8 (20 ovs) vs Ind 231-5 | Scorecard

Hard-hitting India batters Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya hammered fine half-centuries while spinner Varun Chakravarthy snared four wickets as India defeated South Africa by 30 runs to clinch the five-match T20I series 3-1 in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

With Varma (73 off 42 balls) and Pandya (63 off 25 balls) in full flow, India scored a competitive 231 for 5 and then restricted the visitors to 201 for 8.

The Proteas were in the match till opener Quinton de Kock (65 off 35 balls) and Dewald Brevis (31 off 17) were at the crease, but the visitors lost wickets quickly once the two departed in successive overs.

Chakravarthy (4/53) removed the dangerous Aiden Markram and Donovan Ferreira off consecutive deliveries in the 13th over to take the fight out of the South Africans by reducing them to 135 for 5 from 118 for 1 in 10 overs.

Earlier, skipper Suryakumar Yadav's poor run with the bat continued as he scored just five runs but India still put up a big total with Varma and Pandya sharing a 115-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Abhishek in the attack now and Bosch starts the over with a single.

Ngidi then clears his leg and pulls it to deep backward square leg where Sundar catches but puts it down. That is a four.

A dot and a single later, Bosch smacks the ball down the ground for a six! A single to end the over as 13 come off it and India win the match by 30 runs and the series 3-1.

Bumrah continues and he bowls three slower balls, all amount to nought.

Slower bouncer next and Bosch pulls it to square leg for a couple.

A dot later, Bosch takes a single to end the over as 3 come off it. And Bumrah finishes with two wickets for 17.

22:51

Chakravarthy takes 4 wickets

SA 185-8 (18 ovs) vs Ind 231-5 | Scorecard

Arshdeep continues and after a dot, he bowls a wide.

Bosch then pulls the ball to mid-wicket for a dot. Another dot later, Bosch clips the ball to deep mid-wicket for a four as Sundar misfields and the goes past his hands for a four.

Bosch then takes a single to long on and a dot to end the over as 6 come off it.

Ngidi is the new man in and he plays four balls watchfully.

He then clips the ball to square leg for a couple as a wicket and 2 runs come off it.

Bumrah is back in the attack and he starts with a slower ball, Jansen goes for the drive, gets a thin edge. Big shout for caught behind, no says the umpire and India review. Ultra Edge shows there was nick and Jansen walks back for 14 off 5.

22:40

SA staring at series defeat

SA 177-7 (16 ovs) vs Ind 231-5 | Scorecard

Bosch is the new man in and he starts with a single.

Jansen then smokes the bowling for two sixes back to back before taking a single as a wicket and 21 runs come in the over.

Chakravarthy is back in the attack and after a wide, Linde reaches for the wide ball and smashes it over extra cover for a six!

Chakravarthy strikes again as he has Linde bowled out for 16 as he swings across the line and misses.

Jansen is the new man in and he starts with a single to long on.

Linde ends the over with a single to the off side as 6 runs and a wicket come off it.

Arshdeep is back in the attack and Miller pulls it to the fielder at backward square leg for a single.

Linde then gets an inside edge to short fine for a single.

Linde then pulls the slower short ball to deep square leg for a couple.

Slower short bouncer next and Miller goes for the big shot, he miscues and the ball balloons into the air. Sanju calls for it, keeps his eyes on it till the very end and Miller is out for 18.

South Africa need 82 off 36 balls.

Pandya continues and Linde pulls the slower short ball past deep mid-wicket for a six!

Linde then takes a single next ball.

A dot later, Miller slashes the ball over short third man for a four!

Miller then pulls the ball wide of long on for a couple.

A single to end the over as 14 come off it.

22:23

He takes two in an over as Markram and Ferreira are back in the hut

SA 136-5 (13 ovs) vs Ind 231-5 | Scorecard

Linde is the new man in and he starts with a dot.

Linde then drives the ball to long-on for a single to get off the mark as 6 runs and 2 wickets come off it.

Ferreira is the new man in, he plays down the wrong line and is beaten by the one that comes in and he is out for a first-ball duck. SA lose half the side.

Chakravarthy is back in the attack and Miller starts the over with a single.

Markram then hammers the next ball down the ground for a four!

Markram then attempts a sweep and there is a big appeal for LBW as the ball seems to have hit is pad. Umpire raises the finger.

SA review and the ball tracking shows it was hitting and umpire's decision and Markram is out for 6.

22:14

Hardik removes Brevis

SA 130-3 (12 ovs) vs Ind 231-5 | Scorecard

Markram is the new man in and is off the mark with a single.

Miller and Markram then take a single each before Miller swats the slow bouncer for a four towards deep point.

A single to end the over as a wicket and 8 runs come off it.

Hardik continues, he starts with a slow bouncer, Brevis goes to pull, mistimes it and plays it straight towards deep mid-wicket as Sundar runs sideways with his eyes firmly on the ball till the very end and Brevis is out for 31 off 17.

Miller comes out to bat and starts with two dots.

Miller is then off the mark with a single to square leg.

Brevis ends the over with a single as 4 runs and a wicket come off it.

Bumrah continues after drinks and he starts with a full toss and Brevis starts with a single.

A wide bouncer next.

Bumrah comes around the wicket again. A slower yorker and de Kock plays it straight to Bumrah and de Kock is out for 65 off just 22 balls and SA lose their 3rd wicket.

22:01

42 runs have come off the last two overs

SA 118-1 (10 ovs) vs Ind 231-5 | Scorecard

Hardik in the attack now and Brevis drives but the ball flies off the inside edge past Sanju for a four!

Brevis then lofts the ball straight over long off for a six!

Brevis then cuts the late and hard past backward point for a four! WOW!

Brevis is beaten next ball.

Brevis then mistimes the pull and the ball falls short of the fielder at long on. He takes a single. A short ball next and de Kock pulls and Abhishek fails to pick the ball and it goes to the boundary as 19 come off the over. 42 runs have come off the last two overs as SA accelerate.

21:55

50 up for de Kock

SA 99-1 (9 ovs) vs Ind 231-5 | Scorecard

Chakravarthy continues and de Kock lofts the ball straight over the bowler for a six to start the over.

Chakravarthy then bowls a wide.

De Kock then reverse sweeps the next ball past backward point for a four!

De Kock then knocks the ball around the corner for a single even as the Indians misfield in a comedy of errors.

In the slot next and Brevis then hits through the line over long off for a six!

Quicker ball on the off stump, Brevis stays back and slashes it past vacant backward point for a four.

A single to cover to end the over as 23 come off it.

Sundar continues and Brevis and de Kock take a single each.

A dot later, the bowler bowls back-to-back wides.

Brevis then plays the ball to extra cover and takes a tight single.

A dot later, de Kock guides the ball to backward point to bring up his 50. 6 runs come in the over.

21:45

Hendricks out for 13

SA 52-0 (4 ovs) vs Ind 231-5 | Scorecard

Brevis is the new man in and after two dots, he gets off the mark with a single as 3 runs and a wicket come off it.

Varun Chakravarthy is in the attack now as Hardik is pictured getting some treatment on the sidelines.

Hendricks and De Kock start the over with a single each.

Chakravarthy gets a wicket against the run of play to get the first breakthrough,

Hendricks fails to pick the googly as he flicks the ball to mid-wicket and Dube casually sticks his hand out and grabs the catch as Hendricks is out for 13.

Sundar is back in the attack and Hendricks starts the over with a single.

Next ball Samson does well to attempt a stumping but de Kock was in the crease, replays show.

De Kock then pulls the next ball to mid-wicket for a four.

Full and straight next and that is a dot.

De Kock then plays it to cover and takes a tight single. Another single to end the over as 7 come off it.

Bumrah in the attack now and other than wide down the leg side, he bowls a fine over as just 8 come off it.

21:32

De Kock on fire

SA 52-0 (4 ovs) vs Ind 231-5 | Scorecard

Sundar continues and Hendricks starts the over with a single to long on.

A dot later, Sundar then raps de Kock on the pads and unsuccessfully appeals for LBW.

De Kock then makes room and hammers it down to long on for a six!

A dot later, two singles to end the over.

Arshdeep continues and de Kock lofts the wide yorker over long-off to start the over with a six!

A wide later, a full and wide ball is crashed through backward point for a four.

A dot later, the short ball is pulled through mid-wicket as the ball runs to the boundary.

Arshdeep bowls another wide down the leg side, nicely collected by Sanju.

And again! Another wide.

Arshdeep then bowls down the leg again and the swinging yorker is played by de Kock to fine leg for a four.

De Kock then lofts the ball over mid-off for a couple as 23 come off it.

21:18

De Kock, Hendricks find early boundaries

SA 20-0 (2 ovs) vs Ind 231-5 | Scorecard

Offie Sundar opens at the other end Hendricks gets a four in the over as the batters take 8 runs in the over.

Arshdeep opens the attack for India as de Kock and Hendricks come out to chase 232 for victory.

After a dot, de Kock opens the over with three successive fours before he ends the over with two dots. 12 come off the opening over.

21:01

Hardik-Tilak put on 100 run-stand in just over 7 overs

Ind 231-5 (20 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

India score 231 for 5 against South Africa in the fifth and final T20 International in Ahmedabad.

Hardik (63 off 25) went hammer and tongs and scored the 2nd fastest 50 by an Indian in T20Is.

Varma (73) also smashed a half-century as they sent the SA fielders on a leather hunt.

This after Sanju Samson and Abhishek gave India a good start. After a mini stutter, Hardik came out and controlled the match from there on end.

Jitesh is the new man in.

Dube is on strike and he ends the innings with a pull through mid-wicket for a four as 17 runs and 2 wickets come off it.

India put on a massive 231 for 5. This is their 2nd highest score on this ground.

Dube is the new man in and he is off the mark with a six as he pulls the slow short bouncer over deep mid-wicket!

A dot ball next. Varma is run out next ball as the Dube watches the ball go wide past his leg stump. Varma runs the full length of the pitch even as Dube comes out. Umpires check which batter is out and the replays show it is Varma who is out for a superb 73!

Baartman is back in the attack and he starts with a wide.

Varma then goes low and scoops it over short fine leg for a four.

He then plays the low full toss to long on for a single.

Low full toss next and Hardik fails to nail this one and sends it straight down the throat of deep mid-wicket and he is out for 63 off 25.

Jansen is back in the attack and Varma connects and sends the slow ball for a four.

Varma and Hardik then take another 5 runs in the over as 9 come off it.

20:43

Hardik hits 2nd fastest 50 by an Indian!

Ind 205-3 (18 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Ngidi is back in the attack and Varma starts the over with a couple as he digs out the yorker to deep point.

A single off a leg bye next.

A dot later, Hardik swings and he gets the edge and the slower ball flies to third man for a four!

A wide later, Hardik and Varma take a single each as 10 come off it.

Bosch is back in the attack and Varma stars the over with a single.

Hardik then smashes a six and a four to continue the carnage.

A dot later, Hardik brings up his 50 with a six! The half-ton comes off 16 balls, it is the second-fastest 50 by an Indian in T20Is. A dot to end the over as 17 come off it.

20:32

Varma brings up his 50

Ind 178-3 (16 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Jansen is back in the attack and Hardik plays it down the ground for a couple.

Hardik then digs out the yorker to long on.

Varma then turns the ball around for a single.

Slower bouncer next and Hardik pulls it to long on for a single.

Varma then tries to go after the full ball and misses as he mishits to the leg side for a single.

Hardik then digs out the yorker and creams it to deep backward point for a couple as 8 come off it.

Last three overs have yielded 55 runs!

Ngidi is back in the attack. Varma and Hardik take a single each.

Varma then brings up his half-century as he comes down and guides the ball down to third man for a four.

A dot later, the short ball is pulled hard towards deep mid-wicket for a four as 12 runs come off the over.

20:23

150 up for India!

Ind 158-3 (14 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Linde continues and he bowls in the slot and Varma swings and lofts it over deep mid-wicket for a six!

Varma then gets a single to the off side.

Slightly full next and Hardik swings it over mid-wicket for a four!

Hardik then waits on the ball and pummels the next ball over extra cover for a six!

Hardik in some mood as he brings up India's 150 with a six as he swings it over mid-wicket for a maximum.

Linde throws it wide next and Hardik slaps it through covers for a four as 27 come off it.

20:15

Out for 5

Ind 131-3 (13 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Hardik is the new man and he wastes no time in getting off the mark with a six down the ground off his first ball and the ball hits the camera man.

Hardik gets a single next ball thanks to a mis-field by Jansen at mid-wicket.

Varma then loft chips it over mid-on for a four! Just over the fielder!

Varma then digs out the yorker and takes a single to the leg side.

Short ball next and Hardik pulls it to mid-wicket for a four as 16 runs and a wicket come off it.

Bosch is back in the attack and he strikes first ball as Surya fails to clear the infield and hands a catch to Miller at mid-off. He is out for 5.

Linde continues and after a dot, Varma and Surya take a single each.

Varma then moves across the stumps and tries to scoop-sweep, but its a wider ball and it flies off the glove past the keeper for a couple.

Varma and Surya then take a single each as 6 runs come off it.

Baartman is back in the attack and Varma welcomes him with a boundary as he goes low and slices the ball past backward point for a four.

A dot later, Varma takes a single to backward square leg.

A wide later, Suryakumar gets a bottom edge as he goes to cut and the ball rolls down to the keeper.

Surya and Varma then take a single each, either side of the wicket as 8 come off it.

20:01

India lose 2nd wicket

Ind 97-2 (9.1 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Suryakumar Yadav is the new man in and he gets off the mark with a single to the off side.

A dot later, Varma clips the ball to mid-wicket for a single.

Surya then nudges the ball to the leg side for a single to bring up India's 100.

Varma then guides the leg side ball to backward square leg for a single as a wicket and 4 runs come off it.

Drinks called after the fall of Sanju's wicket. India going at over drive. It will be interesting to see how they go after two cuts.

Linde continues and he gets the flighted ball to straighten after pitching on leg, Samson makes room and misses as the ball crashes into his stumps.

He is out for 37 and India lose their 2nd wicket.

South Africa players celebrates the wicket during the 5th T20I match between India and South Africa at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India on December 19, 2025.

Ferreira continues and Varma hits him for back-to-back fours, one straight down the ground and one over backward point.

Varma then takes a single to long on.

Sanju then smacks it straight to the bowler who doesn't collect it, the ball goes off his hands to hit umpire Pandit on his knee as the ball rolls to long on.

Both the physios check on the umpire and he gets an all-clear and the game resumes.

Varma and Sanju then take a single each as 12 runs come off it.

19:45

India keep the momentum going

Ind 85-1 (8 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Left-arm spinner Linde in the attack now and Varma starts the over with a single to the leg side.

Flatter and into the pitch next and Sanju plays it back for a dot.

Short and outside off and Sanju cuts it to deep point for a single.

Varma nudges the next ball to mid-wicket for a single.

Sanju survives as he makes room and the ball goes just over the stumps.

Full and straight and Sanju clears his front foot and flicks it over deep mid-wicket for a six as 9 come off it.

Offie Donovan Ferreira is in the attack now and Sanju sweeps it to fine leg for a single.

Quicker ball next, down the ground and Varma guides it down to fine leg for a four!

A dot later, wide signalled next ball.

Varma then clips the ball to mid-wicket for a single.

Sanju then clips the next one off his hips for a single to backward square leg.

The ball stops on him next but Varma manages to play it past the diving bowler for a single as 9 come off it.

19:36

Abhishek out for 34

Ind 67-1 (6 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Varma is the new man in and he comes down the track and smashes it over to deep backward point for a four!

He comes down the track again, plays and misses as 11 runs and a wicket come off it.

Corbin Bosch in the attack now and after two dots and a wide, Abhishek lofts the ball over long-off for a six!

Abhishek then goes for the pull, but it seems to have kissed his glove on the way to the keeper. Big appeal for caught behind and the umpire raises the finger.

Abhishek reviews and the Ultra Edge shows a spike and the first wicket down for India as Abhishek is out for 34 off 21.

Abhishek Sharma of India plays a shot during the 5th T20I match between India and South Africa at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India on December 19, 2025.

Sanju Samson of India during the 5th T20I match between India and South Africa at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India on December 19, 2025.

Jansen is back in the attack and Abhishek starts with a single off a leg bye.

Fuller ball next and Sanju thumps it over extra cover for a four!

A single by Sanju later, Abhishek then hammers a boundary down the ground and one square of the wicket on the off side.

Abhishek ends the over with a single to mid-off as 15 come off it.

19:26

SA bowlers shown no mercy

Ind 41-0 (4 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Ottneil Baartman is in the attack and he is welcomed with a beautiful drive straight down the ground for a four!

A dot later, the slot ball is dispatched over long on for another four.

Sanju then miscues the next one and lucky for him it falls in no man's land and he gets a couple.

Full and on leg and Sanju digs out the yorker.

Sanju slashes at the next ball and the ball flies off the outside edge for another four as 14 come off it.

Ngidi continues and he bowls full and straight and Abhishek squeezes it out to the leg side for a single.

Another full ball and Sanju digs it out towards deep square leg for a single.

Ngidi follows that up with three slow balls as Abhishek is beaten on all occassions as he tries to go after it.

De Kock meanwhile goes to ground in pain as he collects the ball. He seems to have injured his finger when he collected the first ball of the match and the pain is beginning to tell.

After a small break in play, another slower ball and Abhishek plays the ball to mid-on for a dot as just two singles come in the over.

19:12

Big runs come early for India

Ind 25-0 (2 ovs) vs SA | Scorecard

Jansen opens at the other end, Abhishek opens the face of the bat and slices it over deep back point for a four!

Again Abhishek comes down the track and cuts in the same region for the same result.

Abhishek then swings and the thick edge flies over the slips for another four!

Jansen then gets some movement and the batter looks to guide it over the keeper but doesn't make contact.

Next ball Abhishek gets a single square of the wicket.

Sanju ends the over with a six with effortless six, flicks it off his hips and over long on as 19 come off the over.

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma open the batting for India while Lungi Ngidi will open the attack for South Africa.

And Sanju swings and misses as Ngidi gets the ball to swing away and de Kock gets hit on the fingers as he tries to collect the ball.

Sanju swings and misses again as Ngidi gets a hit of shape.

Short and wide and Sanju slashes at it and it goes to deep backward point for a single to open his account.

Abhishek does Abhishek things as he comes down the track and hammers it down the ground for a four.

Abhishek then hits it to mid-off for a dot.

Abhishek then gets a leading edge towards mid-off and scampers for a four. A direct hit from Markram would have had the batter in trouble and 6 come off the first over.

18:40

Samson to open with Abhishek

South Africa captain Aiden Markram has won the toss and elected to bowl against India in Ahmedabad on Friday.

India have made three changes with Shahbaz coming in for Axar, Samson coming in for Gill and Bumrah coming in for Rana.

SA have one change as Linde comes in for Nortje.

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

India would hope that the challenging home assignment against South Africa, which has exposed a few chinks in the armour and thrown up difficult questions on selection, ends on a positive note when the two sides clash in the fifth and final T20 International in Ahmedabad on Friday.

After being blanked 0-2 in the Tests, India bounced back to win the ODI series and now have an unassailable lead 2-1 in the T20Is after the fourth game was abandoned due to poor weather conditions in Lucknow on Wednesday.

That India cannot lose the series should be comforting to embattled head coach Gautam Gambhir given that the other two leaders in the camp -- skipper Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Shubman Gill -- are battling challenges of their own with less than two months to go for the T20 World Cup.

For someone who was ranked world No.1 not so long ago, Suryakumar's form has sharply nosedived in the only format he is assured a place in the XI for India.

Having gone through 18 innings in 20 matches this year without a single half-century while averaging a poor 14.20 for his 213 runs, every failure for Suryakumar is adding to the concerns of the Indian camp.

Adding to it is the Gill conundrum.

Gill's return as vice-captain in the T20I format might have been perceived as one which put Suryakumar on notice a few months ago, but the former's ordinary run with the bat since his comeback and the latest injury setback only hampers the team's cause.

A toe injury suffered before the fourth T20I is set to keep Gill out of the final T20I here as India would want to take a cautious route, more so when there is a ready replacement for the top order slot in Sanju Samson.

Earlier, Gill had missed most of the two-Test affair following a injury to his neck which he suffered in the series-opener in Kolkata, something that also highlighted his busy schedule and growing list of responsibilities in Indian cricket across formats.

Samson was never the right fit in the lower order as the lowest he has batted apart from the top slot is at No.5, where the right-handed batter has scored a mere 138 runs in eight matches at an average of 23.

But each of his three T20I centuries and one half-century have come at the top slot in 14 innings, and in case of Gill's unavailability for the final game, the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter would be keen to make it count.

Aside from this, India have a settled unit with both the all-rounders, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, featuring in all three games so far

In the pace attack, Arshdeep Singh is coming into his elements and is also beginning to forge a partnership with Harshit Rana with the ball.

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the third T20I due to personal reasons, joined the team's camp before the fourth match.

A batting-friendly wicket here will pose a challenge to India's best bowler in the series Varun Chakravarthy (6 wickets).

For South Africa, who have blown hot and cold particularly with the bat in the T20I series, Friday's contest will be an opportunity to end with the satisfaction of drawing a series against India.

The Proteas could mull over bringing Aiden Markram back in the top order in place of Reeza Hendricks, who hasn't found his rhythm on this tour.

But at the same time, the visitors would also want the young and dangerous Dewald Brevis to find his form after having ordinary outings in each of the three completed matches in the series.

South Africa have also missed aggressive knocks from Marco Jansen, which made the ODI series such a tightly-contested affair but to their credit, Lungi Ngidi and Ottneil Baartman have done a fair job with the ball.

5th T20I updates: India thrash SA by 30 runs, win series 3-1

TOP STORIES