New Delhi, June 10: South Africa started the five-match T20I series with a dominating seven-wicket victory over India courtesy of a dream chase led by David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen.
India registered their highest total against South Africa in T20Is, and South Africa recorded their highest successful run chase – it all happened in one game, in front of a packed Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
The visitors chased down a target of 212 with five balls to spare; ending India’s 12-match winning streak, and also breaking their hopes of making a world record of 13 straight wins in T20Is.
Ishan Kishan sets the stage on fire
After a not-so-impressive run in the IPL 2022, Ishan Kishan tore apart South Africa’s bowling line-up in the opening T20I, smashing 76 off 48 balls. Kishan from the start looked aggressive and collected boundaries swiftly. He batted with intent, taking his time before launching himself against the spinners.
Kishan reached his half-century in 37 deliveries and then went all guns blazing at spinner Keshav Maharaj. Kishan smashed Maharaj for two sixes and two fours in a row in the 13th over but in an attempt to send another one out of the park, he lost his wicket on the final delivery, handing a catch to the long-on fielder.
India register their highest T20I total against South Africa
India got off to a flying start after the visitors asked them to bat first. In the absence of senior players, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad stepped up and helped India set the tone from the start. The batters didn’t miss the opportunities to score runs and picked boundaries whenever possible.
However, Gaikwad who was looking good was dismissed by Wayne Parnell on 23, but new batter Shreyas Iyer continued the momentum with Kishan and helped India reach the 100-run mark within the first 10 overs. Iyer immediately put pressure on the South African bowlers charging against Tabraiz Shamsi and scored 36 runs off 27 balls before getting dismissed by Dwaine Pretorius.
Skipper Rishabh Pant (29) and Hardik Pandya (31*) then continued the assault during the death overs and helped India finish at 211/4, their highest T20I total against South Africa.
South Africa’s decent start
Chasing the big total, South Africa got off to a decent start. Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock both collected boundaries from Avesh Khan’s over, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Bavuma early in the third over.
Pretorious was promoted up the order and the plan apparently worked for South Africa as Pretorious (29) did the damage by hitting four sixes in the Powerplay before getting dismissed by Harshal Patel in the sixth over. At the end of the powerplay, South Africa were 61/2.
David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen undo India’s effort
After losing their top three at the score of 81 runs, Miller and van der Dussen put together a match-winning unbeaten 131-run partnership. Miller continued his brilliant form from the IPL and scored a Player of the Match performance – 64* runs in 31 balls. He gained momentum when he collected two sixes and a four in Axar Patel’s over and later charged against the pacers to guide his team to victory.
Van der Dussen, on the other end, was as impressive as Miller. After rotating the strike early in his innings, he got going towards the end and smashed a flurry of boundaries in Harshal’s over to reach his half-century in 37 balls. Van der Dussen then continued his assault and took South Africa across the line with a boundary in the final over. Courtesy:ICC