India wins T20 series against South Africa after taking 5th match by 30 runs

AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — India won the Twenty20 series from South Africa 3-1 after taking the last match by a comfortable 30 runs on Friday.

Second fifties in the five-match series by Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya powered India to 231-5. South Africa's chase shrivelled from 120-1 to a flattering 201-8.

Jasprit Bumrah triggered South Africa's collapse when he caught and bowled Quinton de Kock on 65 off a yorker and finished with an outstanding 2-17 from four overs.

Leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy was plundered for 23 runs in one over by de Kock and Dewald Brevis but had the last laugh with 4-53.

India earned an eighth consecutive T20 series triumph since December 2023. It hosts New Zealand in January for one last T20 series before co-hosting the men's T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka in February.

The only Indian to fail to show on Friday was, again, captain Suryakumar Yadav, who came into the match with a 2025 T20 average of 14.20 and was out softly for 5.

Sanju Samson, covering for an injured Shubman Gill, used his first T20 since October to open with Abhishek Sharma and smash 63 runs inside six overs and 97 after nine. Samson even cut down umpire Rohan Pandit with a drive into his shin.

Samson's and Abhishek's 11-runs-per-over launch was extended by Varma and Pandya, who combined for 105 in 7.2 overs until they both fell in the last over.

Varma hit a 30-ball fifty with his seventh boundary and Pandya got to fifty in 16 balls thanks to his fifth six, over deep midwicket.

Pandya was eventually caught at deep midwicket for 63 off 25 and walked off to standing ovation, followed two balls later by Varma, who ran himself out off the penultimate ball on 73 off 42.

De Kock, 65 off 35, and Brevis, 31 off 17, were mainly responsible for matching South Africa's chase with India's progress to the 10-overs halfway point.

De Kock injured his thumb taking the first delivery of the match but shrugged off the pain to make one catch, run out one, and blast his third 50-plus score in five tour matches.

South Africa was 67-0 after the powerplay and 118-1 after 10 overs, more than halfway to the target. Then Bumrah ruined the Proteas' hopes of squaring the T20 series after winning the test series and losing the one-day international series.

India's Sanju Samson plays a shot during the fifth T20 cricket match between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

South Africa's Quinton de Kock plays a shot during the fifth T20 cricket match between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

India's Hardik Pandya celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the fifth T20 cricket match between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

India's Tilak Varma plays a shot during the fifth T20 cricket match between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

India's Jasprit Bumrah bowls a delivery during the fifth T20 cricket match between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

MIAMI (AP) — Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their heavyweight fight on Friday night.

The two-time heavyweight champion displayed why he is one of the sport’s elite punchers when he dropped the fading Paul twice in the fifth round.

Sensing the YouTuber was finished, Joshua rocked him with a right uppercut early in the sixth. The native of England then floored Paul with a combination to the head.

Although Paul (12-2) reached his feet again, Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) finally crushed Paul’s upset dream when he dropped him a fourth time with a right to the head. Referee Christopher Young counted Paul out at 1:31 of the round in front of a capacity crowd of 19,600 at the Kaseya Center.

“It took a little bit longer than expected but the right hand finally found its destination," Joshua said. "Jake Paul’s done really well tonight. I’m going to give him his props. He got up time and time again. I give Jake the respect for trying and trying. He came up against a real fighter tonight.”

With the victory, Joshua now can angle to reclaim the heavyweight title he lost against Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua also has talked about a long discussed match with countryman and former champion, Tyson Fury. However, Fury is currently retired following consecutive losses to Usyk in 2024.

It was Joshua’s first bout since Daniel Dubois knocked him out in five rounds in Sept. 2024.

Joshua methodically established pace against Paul from the opening round as neither fighter engaged early. Midway through the round, Paul threw an overhand right that Joshua blocked with his glove. In the closing seconds, Joshua scored with a right to the head near the ropes.

In the second, Joshua began utilizing his 6-inch reach advantage by leading with a left jab.

Paul scored with a short right to the head early in the fourth. Later in the round, Paul twice fell to the canvas awkwardly as he again attempted to cut distance during close exchanges

“I gave it my all," Paul said. "Anthony is a great fighter and I got my (rear end) kicked but that what this sport is all about. But I’m going to come back and keep winning.”

Paul weighed 216 pounds and Joshua weighed 243 for the bout.

The 28-year-old Paul, who began his career in Jan. 2020, originally had targeted an exhibition in Miami with lightweight champion Gervonta Davis last month. But Davis encountered legal problems that scrapped the event. Paul quickly pivoted and landed the bout against Joshua in the same venue.

Celebrities in the crowd included golf champion Rory McIlroy, New York Mets slugger Juan Soto, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and retired NFL receivers Michael Irvin and Brandon Marshall.

In an undercard bout between retired UFC champions, 50-year-old Anderson Silva scored a second-round TKO against Tyron Woodley.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports and https://www.apnews.com/boxing

Anthony Joshua, right, punches Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Jake Paul falls on the canvas after being hit by Anthony Joshua during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Jake Paul reacts during the heavyweight boxing match against Anthony Joshua, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Anthony Joshua, right, punches Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Jake Paul, right, and Anthony Joshua compete in their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Anthony Joshua, left, in action against Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)