1st T20I; India beat South Africa by 28 runs

India beat South Africa by 28 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series, at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. Shikhar Dhawan was the wrecker-in-chief, walloping 72 off 39. His knock helped India set a target of 204 runs, their highest score against South Africa. The bowlers then complimented the batters’ work, not succumbing to pressure. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the bowlers, taking his maiden five-wicket haul in the format.

The Indian batters went berserk right from the word go. Rohit Sharma picked up 18 runs off the first over, smacking Dane Patterson for two sixes and a four. However, the debutant Junior Dala got the better of him in the next over. In came Suresh Raina, ahead of Virat Kohli, and fired on all cylinders. However, his innings was as short and entertaining as Rohit’s. Raina, playing for India after a year, went for 15 off 7.

Kohli steadied the innings with Shikhar Dhawan. Amidst his brilliant strokeplay, he was dropped by Farhaan Behardien on 10. He added another 16 runs before getting trapped in front to become Tabraiz Shamsi’s maiden T20I wicket.

All the same, it was the Gabbar show that downed the South Africans. He reached his fourth T20I fifty off 27 balls. Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni, and Hardik Pandya added 58 runs combined to take India to 203 for 5.

South Africa did not have a start they had dished out. Bhuvi got JJ Smuts and JP Duminy in quick succession. Two overs later Hardik Pandya got the better of David Miller for a mere 9. South Africa were 48 for 3 in 6.2 overs.

Then began the resurgence scripted by Reeza Hendricks and Behardien. The duo added 81 runs for the fourth wicket, reviving the South African innings. Hendricks scored his maiden T20I fifty, while Behardien added a vital 39 runs. However, the lower-middle order could not make use of the laid foundation. Bhuvneshwar took three wickets in his last over. The over read OUT, 2, 2, OUT, OUT, OUT. The last wicket, however, was a run out, as Bhuvi’s missed hat-trick chance became a team hat-trick. From 154 for 4, South Africa were throttled to 159 for 8. Jaydev Unadkar took one more wicket, as South Africa concluded their innings at 175 for 9 in 20 overs.