India Dominate South Africa In First T20 Victory

India takes control, South Africa struggles

Further into the tour to India, things only continued to get worse for South Africa. They dominated in the Test series, fared reasonably well in the ODIs but got off on the worst possible note in the T20 series. India put on an excellent all-round show and thrashed South Africa by 101 runs in the first T20.

Hardik Pandya played a big role after returning from the injury. He added 59 not out in 28 balls with six fours and four sixes. India reached 175/6. For South Africa, Lungi Ngidi bowled well to take 3/31.

It all came crashing down for South Africa. They folded over for 74 in 12.3 overs. Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel picked up two wickets each. Dewald Brevis made 22 and was top-scorer. All six Indian bowlers picked at least one wicket.

South Africa Fail to Chase a Manageable Target

And 176 in T20 cricket is not a hard target at all. Recently, South Africa chased 359 in an ODI. So doubts were there, whether India can defend this total or not. But India bowled with discipline and kept control in front throughout the innings.
The wickets started falling right from the first over.
It never built stable partnerships.
Their highest stand was only 24 runs.
The early benefits came when Arshdeep Singh removed De Kock for 0 and Stubbs for 14. Markram and Brevis tried to stabilize things, but Axar Patel changed that equation as well with the first ball of the sixth over, removing Markram. Beyond that point, the fall of wickets just did not stop for South Africa.
Neither Miller nor Donovan Ferreira nor Jansen could stay long at the crease. Bumrah also later sent Brevis and Keshav Maharaj back in the same over to rule out any chance of recovery.

Hardik Pandya Lifts India's Total

India opted to bat first. The early phase of the innings suggested that they would manage only around 150. The returning Hardik Pandya, after a two-month injury break, upped the ante to propel India to a competitive total.
Pacers of South Africa bowled effectively during the opening overs. Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav fell while trying to play aggressive shots. Abhishek Sharma showed brief promise with two fours and a six but was dismissed for 17.
While Tilak Varma and Axar Patel tried to rebuild the innings, the run rate wasn't increased much either. India reached 80/4 after 12 overs.
Hardik changed momentum straight away. He struck a six off the second ball he received. In the same over bowled by Keshav Maharaj, he added another six. Hardik remained not out till the end, scoring his half-century in 25 balls. Jitesh Sharma gave him company with an unbeaten 10.