Shikhar Dhawan, South Africa vs India 2018
Shikhar Dhawan scored 72 off 39 (Credits: BCCI)

High-flying India defeated South Africa by 28 runs in the first T20 International to go one nil up in the three-match series. Shikhar Dhawan’s quickfire knock helped India post 203 before Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s five-wicket haul saw the Proteas restrict to 175 for 9.

Chasing a daunting 204, the Proteas were off to a decent start. JJ Smuts and Reeza Hendricks added 29 runs off just 16 balls before Bhuvneshwar Kumar put India on top. The pacer first dismissed Smuts and then skipper JP Duminy to leave the hosts reeling at 38 for 2. By the end of the powerplay, the Proteas were 41 for 2.

The hosts then received a body blow when Hardik Pandya dismissed the dangerous David Miller for just 9. Reeza Hendricks and Farhaan Behardien steadied the ship but could not provide the momentum needed for the chase. By the time the tenth over ended, the hosts were 79 for 3. They reached the 100-run mark in the 12th over.

SA vs IND, 1st T20I: Twitter Erupts As All-Round India Rout Hosts To Take The Lead
Bhuvneshwar picked up 5 for 24 (Credits: BCCI)

Hendricks and Behardien soon brought up the fifty-run stand while the former compiled his maiden T20I fifty off 37 balls. However, just when it looked the Proteas are set for a fight, Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Behardien on the last ball of the 15th over to end the 81-run stand. The equation was finally down to 75 off the last 5 overs.

Their slim hopes of winning the game soon ended when Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Hendricks for 70. At that stage, the hosts needed 50 off 17 balls.  Bhuvneshwar Kumar then all but sealed the game by dismissing Klaasen and Chris Morris off successive deliveries to leave the Proteas reeling at 158 for 7. He finished the game with stunning figures of 5 for 24. The hosts eventually ended on 175 for 9.

Earlier in the day, Shikhar Dhawan’s whirlwind knock of 72 helped India post a mammoth 203 for 5 in the allotted 20 overs. India were off to a blistering start, with Rohit Sharma slamming 2 sixes and a four in the first over. However, the right-handed batsman did not last long and was out for 21.

Suresh Raina was promoted at number three but he failed to grab the opportunity. The comeback man failed to get going and scored just 15. Dhawan and Virat Kohli then took the innings forward as runs came at a healthy rate. By the time the powerplay ended, India were 78 for 2, their highest score in the powerplay.

SA vs IND, 1st T20I: Twitter Erupts As All-Round India Rout Hosts To Take The Lead
Dhawan (Credits: BCCI)

Both the Delhi teammates were going great guns before Tabraiz Shamsi  applied the brakes. The leg-spinner dismissed Kohli for 26 to end the 59-run stand. Kohli’s departure, however, did not affect Dhawan as he completed his fifty off 27 balls. Dhawan was finally dismissed by Andile Phehlukwayo in the 15th over. But by then, he had done the damage by scoring 72 off just 39.

India’s middle-order then once again failed to finish the innings strongly. The visitors collected only 46 runs off the last 5 overs despite having six wickets in the hand.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:

https://twitter.com/BanarasiBasanti/status/965245202003673089?

https://twitter.com/anand63/status/965235450511351808?

https://twitter.com/DesiAuthor/status/965212178730008577?

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