India beat South Africa by 8 wickets in 1st T20I, take 1-0 lead in series

On a challenging Thiruvananthapuram pitch, India’s eight-wicket victory over South Africa to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series was made possible by solid opening performances from Arshdeep Singh (3/32) and Deepak Chahar (2/24).

Halfway through the third over, India’s new-ball bowlers had the tourists out of the game at 9/5, but Keshav Maharaj’s spirited comeback helped them score a respectable 106/8. Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul both scored fifty-plus scores in the 17th over to complete the chase despite losing two early.

Also read: Arshdeep Singh and Deepak Chahar tear apart South Africa top order: Watch

In the first 15 balls straight, practically everything was settled. Arshdeep and Chahar’s game-changing effort of swing bowling early with the new ball put to rest any bowling worries resulting from India’s frontline pacers being rested or sitting out. Although there was a hint of green on the field, South Africa’s top order was largely crushed by stiffness.

Temba Bavuma was set up by Chahar with a number of outswingers before the South African captain was confused by a quick backswinger. In his first over, Arshdeep struck three times, taking out Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw, and David Miller.

Rilee Rossouw stepped behind when attempting to drive away from the body. David Miller was struck by another inswinger. As Chahar chose his second ball in as many overs, Tristan Stubbs became the third player to record a golden duck in a succession.

Also read: India vs SA 1st T20I: Exceptional bowling by Men in Blue breaks record

At 9 for 5, South Africa appreciated any runs.   Adien Markram (25 off 24) and Wayne Parnell (24 off 37) briefly rallied them to 30/5 at the end of the powerplay, but the real push didn’t come until Maharaj hit two sixes and five boundaries in his cameo of 41 off 35 balls, which was also the highest total for the visitors.

He entered the game after Harshal Patel had used the DRS to dismiss Markram, the final recognised batter for South Africa. He took his time getting settled in before gradually starting to release his arms.

Maharaj split the chains with an assertive pull over cow-corner while batting on 5 off 16 at one point, and from that point on, at least one boundary came every over. He destroyed India’s most effective bowler of the game in the penultimate over with a reverse-lap, a perfectly timed drive for two boundaries, and an upper cut over third man nestled in between. The tourists limped their way into triple digits over the 17-run over from Arshdeep.

Also read: Deepak Chahar fills in for Jasprit Bumrah vs SA, takes a wicket in the first over: Watch

It was time for the Indian batters to take the field after a brief drizzle. Rohit Sharma was sent packing for a duck by Kagiso Rabada, who started with a maiden, with a peach of a ball that was full, just a hair outside off in that zone of doubt, and forced the Indian captain forward in defence. De Kock made a quick one-handed diving grab for the outside edge.

India’s powerplay ended with a score of 17/1, the lowest in the format, as Rahul continued to avoid Parnell’s barrage of in and outswingers. When Anrich Nortje started his delivery with a short, wide delivery outside off but could only muster an outside edge for the ‘keeper, Virat Kohli spotted an opportunity during the first bowling change.

Also read: 1st T20I: India wins toss vs SA, Chahar, Arshdeep send top order packing

Suryakumar and Rahul made sure there were no additional setbacks despite the fact that they travelled different paths to reach their half-centuries. With back-to-back sixes off Nortje’s over, the former got things moving and gave India the initiative.

While South Africa burned both of their reviews out of desperation, the pair rotated the strike well. After being dropped off by Nortje on 15, Rahul found his groove with a wristy flip over long-on for six. Before the third-wicket pair attacked the spinners, India had already passed the fifty-run mark off the first delivery of the eleventh over.

Also read: India vs South Africa 1st T20I: Records, stats and pitch report

While Nortje continued to concede runs, Parnell returned to take control of the situation and concluded with impressive numbers of 4-0-14-0. However, the India opener, who was now in his forties, continued to give up runs by throwing an incorrect yorker into the stands.

The consecutive fours Suryakumar hit to get India’s score to 100 didn’t significantly affect Rabada’s statistics (4-1-16-1). Rahul hoisted his with a slog sweep into the stands to end the pursuit in style as he quietly achieved his second consecutive half-century with a single.