India rode on explosive half-centuries from Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya to post a commanding 231 for 5 against South Africa in the fifth and final T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.

After being asked to bat first, India lost Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in quick succession, but the middle order ensured there was no slowdown. Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya stitched together a crucial partnership that completely shifted the momentum in India’s favour and took the hosts beyond the 200-run mark with ease.

Tilak Varma anchors as wickets fall

India got off to a brisk start through Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Abhishek scored 34 off 21 balls before edging a short delivery, while Samson added 37 off 22, mixing timing with power. Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles continued as he was dismissed for 5, leaving India three down inside 12 overs.

Tilak Varma, however, showed composure amid the wickets. The left-hander reached his fifty off 30 balls, rotating strike efficiently and finding boundaries at regular intervals to keep the innings on track.

Hardik Pandya’s 16-ball fifty turns the tide

The highlight of the innings was Hardik Pandya’s brutal assault on the South African bowling attack. The all-rounder brought up his half-century in just 16 balls, the second-fastest by an Indian in T20 internationals. His knock featured four fours and five sixes, with one over yielding 27 runs as India surged ahead rapidly.

Hardik eventually fell for 63 off 25 balls after adding a 105-run stand with Tilak Varma for the fourth wicket, a partnership that laid the foundation for India’s imposing total.

India finish strong at 231/5

Despite some disciplined bowling spells, including a tidy final over from Lungi Ngidi, South Africa struggled to contain the flow of runs in the death overs. India crossed 200 in the 18th over and finished at 231/5 from their 20 overs.

Earlier, South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bowl. Sanju Samson returned to the playing XI after Shubman Gill was ruled out with a niggle, as confirmed by skipper Suryakumar Yadav at the toss. India entered the match leading the five-match series 2-1, with the fourth T20I having been abandoned due to bad weather.

India made a steady start in the fifth and final T20I against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, riding on useful contributions from the top order after being asked to bat first. Sanju Samson, brought into the Playing XI in place of the injured Shubman Gill, scored a brisk 37 off 22 balls before being dismissed, while Abhishek Sharma added 34 off 21 deliveries.

South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bowl on a surface that looked good for batting. India, who lead the five-match series 2-1 after the fourth game in Lucknow was abandoned due to bad weather, aimed to seal the series with a strong batting effort.

Samson, opening the innings, looked fluent after a nervy start and struck several clean shots, including a six off Marco Jansen. During his knock, he also completed 1,000 runs in T20I cricket, reaching the milestone in 679 balls, placing him joint third among Indian batters to do so in the fewest deliveries.

Abhishek Sharma provided early momentum before edging a short delivery from Corbin Bosch to the wicketkeeper. Samson’s innings ended when George Linde produced a sharply turning delivery that rattled the middle stump, reducing India to two wickets down.

At the other end, Tilak Varma continued to hold the innings together, rotating the strike and finding boundaries at regular intervals. India crossed the 100-run mark inside 10 overs, keeping themselves on course for a competitive total.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav, who walked in after Samson’s dismissal, looked to rebuild alongside Tilak. However, his lean patch with the bat continued as India looked to maintain the scoring rate through the middle overs.

Gill was ruled out of the contest after picking up a niggle in the previous match, a development confirmed by Suryakumar at the toss. The Indian captain said the team was keen to put runs on the board on a pitch expected to remain consistent through the evening.

As the holiday season kicks in, a packed slate of fresh OTT and theatrical releases is set to entertain audiences this week. From crime thrillers and disaster dramas to comedy shows and romantic films, viewers have multiple options across platforms and cinemas. Here is a detailed look at what’s releasing between December 19 and December 26, based strictly on available information.

Major OTT releases this week

Several high-profile web series and films are making their digital debut across platforms, spanning genres like thriller, drama, comedy and fantasy.

Mrs Deshpande (December 19)
An Indian adaptation of the French thriller La Mante, this series stars Madhuri Dixit as a convicted serial killer imprisoned for years. The story takes a turn when a copycat killer surfaces, forcing the police to seek her assistance to crack the case.

Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders (December 19)
This standalone sequel revisits Inspector Jatil Yadav, who finds himself probing a complex murder. As the investigation progresses, layers of greed, betrayal and dark family secrets come to light.

Four More Shots Please Season 4 (December 19)
The final season focuses on the four central characters confronting personal truths and growth. The narrative tracks their emotional journeys as they reassess choices, relationships and identities.

A Time For Bravery (December 19)
The film follows a nervous psychoanalyst sentenced to community service after a traffic accident. Assigned to counsel a depressed police officer, the unlikely duo soon gets caught in a dangerous criminal conspiracy linked to national security.

The Great Flood (December 19)
Set against what appears to be Earth’s final day, this disaster drama depicts a massive global flood. The story centres on survivors trapped inside a sinking high-rise building as water levels rise rapidly.

The Great Indian Kapil Show Season 4 (December 20)
Returning after a short break, the new season brings back familiar faces with fresh sketches, aiming to appeal to viewers across age groups.

Sicily Express (December 22)
This series follows two Sicilian nurses working in Milan who discover a magical dumpster portal allowing instant travel between Milan and Sicily. Their plan to run a secret commuter service leads to unexpected misadventures.

Ghost Adventures: House Calls – Season 2 (December 24)
The paranormal series documents investigators visiting real homes where families report unexplained experiences, aiming to identify and understand unusual activity.

Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking – Season 2 (December 25)
Set on actual movie locations, this season challenges bakers to create desserts inspired by iconic moments from the Harry Potter films, with hosts and guest appearances from the franchise.

Hustlers, Gamblers, Crooks – Season 2 (December 26)
The series presents real-life stories of risk, cons and high-stakes decisions, narrated by the people who lived through them.

Films releasing in theatres

Two notable films are hitting cinema screens on Christmas Day, offering contrasting genres.

Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri (December 25)
Marketed as a Christmas romance, the film stars Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday. It follows two individuals who discover love during personal journeys of self-discovery, while navigating family expectations and modern relationships.

Anaconda (December 25)
The film tracks two friends dealing with midlife crises who travel to the Amazon rainforest to remake their favourite childhood movie. Their plans spiral into a survival ordeal when they encounter a giant anaconda.