India were denied 13 consecutive wins in T20Is after South Africa defeated them by seven wickets in the first T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on Thursday. Temba Bavuma and co now lead the five-match series 1-0. 

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David Miller carried his rich vein into the series as he slammed 64 runs in 31 balls with the help of four boundaries and five maximums. He and Rassie van der Dussen shared 131 runs, chasing India’s 212. The 33-year-old made 75 off 46. This was South Africa’s highest successful run chase in the 20-over format. 

For India, Axar Patel (1/40), Bhuveneshwar Kumar (1/43) and Harshal Patel (1/43) scalped one wicket apiece.

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In the first innings, Ishan Kishan struck a scintillating 76 off 48 balls before new skipper Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya’s pyrotechnics propelled India to an imposing 211 for 4 . 

While Kishan dazzled at the top, Pant (29 off 16) and Pandya (31 not out 12) went ballistic in the slog overs, adding 46 runs to take India past 200.

Talking about the loss, on his T20I captaincy debut, Rishabh Pany said that the team was a litte off with the execution. 

“We had enough on the board, but I think we were a little off with the execution. But sometimes you got to give credit to the opposition. Miller and RvD batted well. Slower balls were working when we batted, but the wicket got better in the second innings. Mostly we executed our plans (to Miller) but the wicket got better and better. We were very happy with the total but next time we are in a similar situation we will do better,” the India captain said. 

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Brief Scores: India: 211 for 4 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 76; Wayne Parnell 1/32).

South Afrrica: 212 for 3 in 19.1 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 75 not out, David Miller 64 not out; Axar Patel 1/40).