IND vs SA: India outplayed South Africa in the 1st T20I at Kingsmead, Durban, in a comfortable fashion by 61 runs. It helped the visitors in sending the four-match series to the second game with an upper hand. Sanju Samson’s match-winning cameo of 107 off just 50 balls with 7 fours and 10 sixes became a tight fortress for India’s total of 202/8. Indian skipper for the day Suryakumar Yadav scored some pivotal runs in a short span of 21, while Tilak Varma cut loose with an effortless 33.
South Africa opted to bowl first; things appear to have taken a boomerang turn since Samson began hitting huge shots and took India close to an arduous total. Gerald Coetzee was the pick of the South African bowlers, taking 3/37; Marco Jansen as well as Keshav Maharaj also chipped in with a wicket each.
South Africa’s chase for 203 never gathered any momentum. Loses also came thick and fast for hosts, particularly after losing the captain Aiden Markram in the first over. Heinrich Klaasen (25) and Ryan Rickelton (21) tried to knock some sense into their innings, but India’s spinners held their nerves and narrowed down the chance. Varun Chakravarthy (3/25) and Ravi Bishnoi (3/28) were the respective architects of dismantling the middle order of South Africans. Avesh Khan too contributed with two crucial knocks.
Gerald Coetzee’s late cameo of 23 off 11, including three sixes, was too little too late as South Africa were bowled out for 141 in 17.5 overs. Disciplined Indian bowling, accompanied by sharp fielding, meant that the Proteas never really threatened at any stage.
While it was a scintillating century by Sanju Samson that deservedly fetched him the Player of the Match award, this win takes India to lead in the series 1-0, and it should help them launch off well into the next games.
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