[Watch] Flying ants halt play in IND vs SA 2024 3rd T20I in Centurion

Bizarre scenes were witnessed during the third T20I between India and South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday, November 13, as flying ants forced play to be halted.

South Africa began their chase of 220 amid a wave of flying ants, but only one over of play was possible in their innings when the umpires decided that the players needed to go off the field.

The match was delayed by nearly half an hour, and the players got back onto the field only after the situation was brought under control. A number of videos of pictures of flying ants stopping play in the third T20I between India and the Proteas in Centurion went viral on social media.

Here are a few such videos:

This was not the first time insects had stopped play during a cricket match in South Africa. In 2017, during a game between the Proteas and Sri Lanka, bees reportedly interrupted play for more than an hour.

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Tilak Varma slams maiden T20I ton as India beat South Africa in Centurion thriller

For the third match in a row, South Africa won the toss and asked India to bat first. The visitors lost Sanju Samson for a duck for the second consecutive time as he was again bowled by Proteas left-arm pacer Marco Jansen for a duck.

Tilak Varma (107* off 56), though, notched up his maiden T20I ton, clobbering eight fours and seven sixes in his brilliant innings. Varma added 107 for the second wicket with opener Abhishek Sharma, who hammered 50 off 25, with the aid of three fours and five sixes. Debutant Ramandeep Singh (15 off 6) chipped in with an impressive cameo as India ended on 219-6.

South Africa came hard at India in their chasem but the visitors kept striking at crucial intervals. Ryan Rickelton (20 off 15), Reeza Hendricks (21 off 13) and skipper Aiden Markram (29 off 18) all got starts but couldn't carry on.

Tristan Stubbs (12) was trapped lbw by Axar Patel, who also took an excellent catch to end David Miller's stay at the crease for a run-a-ball 18. After 16 overs, South Africa were 143-5, with Heinrich Klaasen batting on 37 off 19, before finishing on 208-7.