In a match that saw both flying sixes and flying ants, Tilak Varma’s maiden Twenty20 International century propelled India to a thrilling 11-run win over South Africa at Centurion Park on Wednesday. This came after play was unexpectedly paused when a swarm of flying ants invaded the field, prompting players and officials to leave for nearly half an hour.
Batting first, India set a daunting target of 219 for six in 20 overs, thanks to Varma’s stunning 107 from 56 balls and a quickfire 50 off 25 balls by opener Abhishek Sharma. The pair shared a blistering 107-run partnership off 50 deliveries for the second wicket, laying a solid platform for the visitors. South Africa’s bowling struggles were compounded by 10 wides and three no-balls.
South Africa’s chase began with an unexpected twist: the match was only one over in, with the home team at seven without loss, when the swarm of flying ants halted play. After a 30-minute delay, the players returned to the field, with India’s bowlers quickly turning up the pressure. Axar Patel (1-29) and Arshdeep Singh (3-37) delivered tight spells, reining in South Africa’s run rate through the middle overs.
Despite a valiant effort from Marco Jansen, who smashed a career-best 54 off 17 balls, and Heinrich Klaasen’s explosive 41 off 22 deliveries, South Africa managed 208 for seven, falling short in the end. India’s win gives them a 2-1 lead in the four-match series, with the final game set to take place on Friday in Johannesburg.
Varma’s sensational knock featured eight fours and seven towering sixes, with his century coming off just 51 balls. His performance, coupled with Sharma’s aggressive start, left South Africa struggling to keep up. This match marked yet another strange insect interruption at Centurion Park, echoing a 2017 incident when bees delayed play in a South Africa-Sri Lanka game.