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

What a brilliant performance it was from Team India yet again in the limited-overs leg of their tour of South Africa. The victory was largely built around a sensational knock of 72  of a mere 39 deliveries by Shikhar Dhawan and a brilliant spell of bowling by Bhuvneshwar Kumar who finished with magical figures of 5/24 in his 4 overs. In the end, India claimed a thumping victory by 28 runs.

Great Batting performance by the Men in Blue

Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey. (Twitter)

It was Proteas skipper JP Duminy who won the toss and put the visitors in. It was a good start by Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. Rohit struck a couple of fours and sixes each en route to his innings of 21 of 9 deliveries but was dismissed by Junior Dala. Comeback man Suresh Raina was promoted up the order and the southpaw struck a four and six before perishing.

However, Dhawan kept going and smashed some sensational shots during his 39 balls knock of 72 which was studded with 10 fours and a couple of sixes. It was a great start for India which never allowed them to fall under the 10 runs per over radar. Manish Pandey played a sensible hand but failed to connect the big shots. India eventually finished their allotted 20 overs with the score on 203/5.

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Reeza Hendricks plays a good hand

The home team got off to a sensible start from new openers JJ Smuts and Reeza Hendricks and shared a 29 runs stand. However, it was Bhuvneshwar Kumar who broke the South African top order. Reeza Hendricks kept South Africa interested with some amazing strokes while Farhan Behardien also played some exceptional shots en route to 36 of just 21 deliveries.

However after their wickets, there was no way back for the Proteas. Bhuvneshwar Kumar bagged crucial wickets towards the dying stages and ended with sensational figures of 5/24 in 4 overs. South Africa finally managed to score 175 at the end of their allotted 20 overs losing 9 wickets in the process.

India won the match
South Africa v India. (Photo: Getty Images)

Captain Virat Kohli wasn’t in the field during the 2nd half of the match but spoke at the post-match presentation ceremony. Here is what he said:

The injury was early on in the innings when I went for the single. It was my glute and thankfully not my hammy. You know how I am, I had to bend bit more quickly. Then I felt a little bit more stiffness in my glute and that is why I went off. Not to be stupid and tear a muscle, I decided to go off and get it checked. Very impressive from the boys. Shikhar was outstanding. It was a total team batting performance. With the ball, Bhuvi showing his experience. This was one of our most balanced performances. We never let the run rate drop less than 10.5. I was thinking maybe 220 at the 16 over the mark. The basic message to the team was we are here till 25th. We can’t go away before that and have to make the best of every time here.

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