Team India got off to a fantastic start in their South Africa tour, winning the first T20I match on November 8 by a substantial margin of 61 runs, thanks to Sanju Samson’s century. This marks India’s 11th consecutive win in T20s, a testament to the team’s remarkable consistency and form in the shortest format of the game.
Under the leadership of captain Suryakumar Yadav, India displayed a dominant performance against South Africa in Durban. Winning the toss, South Africa opted to bowl, inviting India to set the stage. India responded strongly, posting a challenging total of 202/8 in their 20 overs.
Sanju Samson Shines with a Century
Sanju Samson was the star of the match, scoring a brilliant 107 off 60 balls, including 10 sixes and 7 fours, propelling India to a strong total. Samson’s aggressive and calculated shots kept the pressure on the South African bowlers, allowing India to set an intimidating target. Tilak Verma provided a stable partnership, scoring 33 runs, while captain Suryakumar Yadav contributed 21 runs. Rinku Singh chipped in with 11 runs before getting dismissed. For South Africa, Gerald Coetzee was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets.
South Africa’s Response Falls Short
Chasing a target of 203, South Africa struggled against the disciplined Indian bowling attack and were bowled out for 141 runs in just 17.5 overs. Indian spinners Varun Chakraborty and Ravi Bishnoi played a crucial role, each taking three wickets and dismantling South Africa’s batting lineup. Avesh Khan took two wickets, while Arshdeep Singh grabbed one.
Among the South African batsmen, wicketkeeper Henrik Klaasen top-scored with 25 runs, followed by Gerald Coetzee with 23, and Ryan Rickelton with 21 runs. Star players like Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, and Marco Jansen fell short of expectations, failing to provide the resistance needed to reach the target.
Score Summary
India: 202/8 in 20 overs
- Sanju Samson: 107 runs (10 sixes, 7 fours)
- Tilak Verma: 33 runs
- Suryakumar Yadav: 21 runs
- Gerald Coetzee: 3 wickets
South Africa: 141 all out in 17.5 overs
- Henrik Klaasen: 25 runs
- Gerald Coetzee: 23 runs
- Ryan Rickelton: 21 runs
- Varun Chakraborty: 3 wickets
- Ravi Bishnoi: 3 wickets
Playing XI
Team India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicket keeper), Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Akshar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakraborty, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
South Africa: Aidan Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton (wicket keeper), Tristan Stubbs, Henrik Klaasen, David Miller, Patrick Kruger, Marco Janssen, Andile Simelon, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Nkabayomji Peter.
With this victory, India leads the four-match T20I series 1-0. The teams will face off in the next game with South Africa aiming to bounce back and India looking to extend their impressive winning streak in T20 internationals.
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