Cuttack, Dec 9 (ANI) – Hardik Pandya’s all‑round effort, coupled with the bowlers’ cumulative work, gave India a 101‑run win in the first T20I of the five‑match series against South Africa at Barabati Stadium. With that victory, the hosts now lead 1‑0 as they gear up for the T20 World Cup.
India were chasing 176 and got a good start. Arshdeep Singh dismissed Quinton de Kock for a duck on the second ball. The opening partnership looked solid until Tristan Stubbs’ spell was broken early when the Indian pacer took the wicket in the third over. Markram and Dewald Brevis recovered quickly, but a bowling change that brought Axar Patel during the powerplay saw the Protea skipper fall for a quick 14.
Hardik Pandya returned to the attack after a long break and removed the dangerous David Miller with his first ball, giving India another key wicket. The South African batting collapsed as the Indian bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Marco Jansen managed a few sixes in the middle, but Varun Chakaravarthy trapped him and the visitors slid deeper into trouble.
Bumrah was just one wicket away from his 100th T20I dismissal when he claimed Dewald Brevis in the 11th over and also picked up Keshav Maharaj in the same spell. The Proteas were bowled out by their ninth wicket in the 12th over, with Anrich Nortje dismissed by Axar. Shivam Dube sealed the game with a remarkable catch by Abhishek Sharma that dismissed Lutho Sipamla, and South Africa finished with a disastrous 74.
India struggled early in their innings. Shubman Gill was out to Lungi Ngidi in the first over, and the pacer followed up to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav, leaving the side unsettled. Captain Suryakumar fought back with a six and a four, including his famous “supla” stroke, before a mistimed shot ended his innings. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma steadied the chase, but the opening wicket to Lutho Sipamla stalled momentum. The middle overs were slow as Varma and Axar fought for rhythm, with Varma eventually being dismissed for 26 off 32 balls.
The innings really depended on Pandya’s dominant knock. He hit six fours and four sixes, steering India to a competitive total. Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma contributed crucial runs in the closing overs. Despite the pitch turning heavily and the ball resisting, Pandya kept his composure and drove India back into the hunt.
With India now ahead in the series, the teams will clash again on Thursday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh for the second T20I.
Key figures: India 175/6 (Hardik Pandya 59*, Tilak Varma 26); South Africa 74 (Dewald Brevis 22, Tristan Stubbs 14; Axar Patel 2‑7, Arshdeep Singh 2‑14). The match was won by India by 101 runs.
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