Dhawan’s 39 balls 72 & Bhuvi’s 5 wickets Easies India’s Victory Over SA in 1st T20

After a decisive win over South Africa in the ODI Series, India thrashes SA the last day in the 1st T20. India secured a 28- run victory in the first T20I to lead 1- 0 in the series, at the Wanderers on Sunday.

Eventually, South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl.

India’s Batting:

On a batting beauty at the Wanderers, Rohit Sharma (21 off nine balls) and Dhawan got India off to a flying start as they put on 23 off only 11 balls. Rohit struck two sixes during his short stay as the ball was flying to all corners of the park. He used the bounce on the pitch for his shots, but it brought his downfall as well.

Suresh Raina (15) was promoted to No. 3 and played a handy little cameo.

India had hit five sixes before the fifth over was completed.

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Raina and Dhawan put on 26 runs off 13 balls, with the former smashing two fours and a six. Kohli ( 26 off 20 balls) too, like Raina, got an early life from Behardien who grassed a simple catch at long on off Tabraiz Shamsi. The India captain and Dhawan marched on quickly as India were placed at 78/ 2 after the Powerplay.

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The duo put on 50 off just 25 balls as India crossed 100 in the ninth over. Shamsi, however, returned to trap Kohli’s leg- before in the 10th over and while the Indian skipper called for DRS, the decision remained in the bowler ‘s favor.

Dhawan continued smacking the ball and reached his half-century off 27 balls.

It was the quickest T20I half-century by an Indian batsman against South Africa, going past Rohit ‘ s 32- ball effort at Durban in 2011.

Shikhar Dhawan smashed his fourth T20 half-century making a 39- ball 72 which helped India to reach a total of 203. He studded with 10 fours and two sixes…

Bhuvi’s Magic Spell:

Chasing 204, South Africa made a quick start with opener Jon- Jon Smuts ( 14) and Hendricks putting on 29 off 17 balls as Jaydev Unadkat was expensive in his opening spell.

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But then Smuts skied one off Bhuvneshwar and Dhawan took a well- judged catch at mid-on.

Two overs later, Raina took a similarly well-judged catch running back from midwicket, this time sending back captain JP Duminy (3) off Bhuvneshwar again, as the hosts managed only 41/ 2 at the end of the Powerplay.

Hendricks and Behardien put on 81 for the fourth wicket, bringing some measure of stability to the South African innings.

Hendricks reached his maiden T20I half-century off 37 balls, while Jasprit Bumrah had a moment of brilliance at the boundary, pulling the ball back in with an acrobatic jump. But it was six still, as per new rules, as his last touch was on the rope.

South Africa crossed 100 in the 12th over even as the asking rate touched 13 per over.

Yuzvendra Chahal took some stick but finally managed to dismiss Behardien and got breakthrough India were looking for.

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Virat Kohli left the field owing to stiffness in his glute, meanwhile, Chris Morris was caught off the first ball, giving Bhuvneshwar a five-wicket haul. He became the second Indian bowler after Chahal to pick up a five- for in T20Is.

Virat: “A good team effort”

Virat Kohli lauded the team effort that earned India a comprehensive 28-run victory in the first of the three T20Is in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, the India captain said: ” Boys were really impressive again. It was a very good wicket to bat on and although Rohit (Sharma) didn’t ‘ t get many runs, his 21 off nine balls at the top gave us the start we needed.

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” Precisely, Rohit and Shikhar were outstanding at the top, especially Shikhar. It was a total team batting performance.

” With the ball, Bhuvi showed his experience. We could always bank on Jasprit Bumrah and (Jaydev) Unadkat too did well. Overall, it was a good team effort and one of our most balanced performances. ” Kohli admitted that India was thinking of a total well beyond 220, but they had to be a bit careful once Mahendra Singh Dhoni was dismissed in the penultimate over of the Indian innings.

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” We were thinking about reaching maybe 220 or say at the 16-over the mark. But when Dhoni got out, we had to pull it back. You also have to give credit to South Africa for their slog- overs bowling.

” In the end, though, it turned out to be a winning score, ” he said.

Kohli’s Injury:

Kohli said that there was nothing to worry about his injury scare that kept him out for the most part when South Africa batted

” The injury was early on in the innings. It was in the glutes while taking a single. Thankfully it wasn’t a hamstring. So I went off before I would tear a muscle, ” Virat said.

Sources: “The Telegraph”

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