India vs South Africa, 4th T20I Match Summary

Lucknow, a city celebrated for its 'nafasat aur nazakat', steps forward to host cricket's naughtiest format, a game that cares little for delicacy or subtlety. With the five-match T20I series already tilted in India's favour, South Africa are in no position to say 'pehle aap'. That famed gesture of courtesy here would simply hand the hosts an unassailable lead, an invitation the visitors can ill afford to extend. Across the three games so far, South Africa's batting has been inconsistent, to put it mildly, veering between the sublime and the ridiculous. Dew has been a decisive factor for both sides. In the second game, the Proteas showed the way by piling up a big total and then staying disciplined with the ball under trying conditions. The same template was required at Dharamsala, but they could not replicate it as the surface suddenly assisted the pacers, offering lateral movement. On that count, going in without a frontline spinner was a smart call, but the meek surrender from the batters left the pace battery with too little in reserve to mount a serious fight. As many as three changes were made by the touring side in the last game, and with the series on the line, it will be intriguing to see the combination they back in Lucknow, where dew could once again play a telling role as winter begins to set in. India have played three T20Is at this venue and remain unbeaten, a statistic that will only bolster their confidence after a commanding win in the third T20I. Without Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel, the bowling initially appeared to be the softer side of their game, especially after what unfolded at Mullanpur. But Arshdeep Singh silenced the doubters, made full use of the conditions, and scripted a fine redemption story. If one were to nitpick, the Indian batting during the last chase was far from convincing in testing conditions. Had Abhishek Sharma not seized the initiative in the Powerplay, it could easily have drifted into a close finish. With Axar ruled out and Bumrah unlikely to return, India are expected to stick with the last winning XI. Although Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav are yet to hit top gear, the hosts will hope those gears finally click in the capital city, a place rich in history and culture, where timing, like good manners, is everything, and form, much like tradition, eventually finds its way back.