Suryakumar Yadav’s brigade announced their arrival in South Africa by winning the 1st T20I match at Durban on 8th November by a massive margin of 61 runs. After being asked to bat first by South Africa skipper Aiden Markram, India managed to put a slighlty par score of 202-8. Sanju Samson was in a beast mode as the wicket-keeper batter smashed his consecutive T20I century. Sanju Samson didn’t allow any batter to settle as he smashed 7 fours and 10 sixes in his breath-taking knock of 107 runs in 50 balls.
South Africa’s bowlers were quite clueless against the onslaught of Sanju Samson as no field placement was proving to be ineffective. Perhaps, South Africa missed the services of the left arm chinaman Tabraiz Shamsi & the deadly fast bowler Anrich Nortje as these two players astonishingly weren’t considered for selection and it may be because they refused central contracts of South Africa cricket team.
Sanju Samson pummels South African bowlers
Abhishek Sharma & Sanju Samson were opening the batting for India. Abhishek Sharma couldn’t make an impact with the bat this time and was dismissed cheaply on 7 runs by Gerald Coetzee. Sanju Samson though took responsibility and unleashed the attack on the opposition and was quite fearless in his approach. India scored 56 runs in the powerplay overs for the loss of 1 over and Sanju Samson was looking ominous.
Sanju Samson along with skipper Suryakumar Yadav stitched an invaluable partnership of 66 runs in 35 balls. Suryakumar Yadav was seen a bit struggling but the dismissal of the skipper didn’t affect Samson’s aggressive intent. Sanju Samson was seen targeting the square boundaries as well as not afraid to go down the track. It looked as if Samson has established himself as a proper T20I opening batter.
Sanju Samson attained his 2nd T20I century in 15th over and in only 47 balls and at the end of 15 overs India’s score was 167-3. It was quite unexpected that South Africa would make a comeback as the hosts took 5 wickets and gave away only 35 runs in that crucial death overs phase. The likes of Hardik Pandya & Rinku Singh couldn’t accelerate in the last 5 overs which doesn’t happen too often. India scored 202-8 in 20 overs.
Aiden Markam was seen backing his bowlers as the youngsters Nqabayomzi Peter & Andile Simelane were taken to cleaners by Indian batters. Gerald Coetzee was the pick of the bowlers who took 3 wickets and conceded 37 runs in his 4 overs. At one stage, it looked as if India might get past the mark of 220 runs and the comeback was quite remarkable from the Proteas.
Varun Chakaravarthy & Ravi Bishnoi spin a web
Ryan Rickelton & Aiden Markram needed to lay the foundation for the run chase but the skipper Aiden Markram was dismissed in the very first over by Arshdeep Singh. Markram tried to hit third consecutive boundary but while playing a straight drive shot he was caught out by wicket-keeper Sanju Samson. South Africa’s batters were getting the odd boundary but the required run rate was climbing very quickly.
Tristan Stubbs was outdone by the sheer pace of Avesh Khan while playing a back-foot punch shot at long on but couldn’t clear the 30 year circle fielder. Just in the last over of powerplay over, Varun Chakaravarthy was introduced into the attack and was bowling wicket to wicket and Ryan Rickelton couldn’t read his delivery and gave an easy catch at mid-wicket and all of a sudden South Africa’s score in powerplay overs was 49-3.
India were truly ahead in the match and all the hopes for the hosts was on David Miller & Heinrich Klaasen who had a steep run chase ahead of them. Chakarvarthy & Bishnoi were getting ample turn from the surface and made sure that they concede a flurry of boundaries in an over. At the half way stage South Africa’s score was 78-3 and they required another 125 runs to win and Miller & Klaasen were getting into the groove.
10th & 11th over of South Africa’s innings was quite shocking as they managed to score only 3 runs in that 2 overs. Chakaravarthy & Bishnoi made sure that they don’t bowl in the hitting arc of the batters. The pressure was building and in the 12th over, Chakaravarthy took the priced wicket of Klaasen as he couldn’t succeed to clear the long on fielder and on the 5th ball Miller couldn’t smash a short ball to square leg and all of sudden South Africa’s score was 87-5 in 12 overs.
The run chase was looking quite distant and the hosts got bundled out for 141 in 17.5 overs. There were some big shots from Gerald Coetzee but the required run rate demanded big overs which aren’t that easy from lower middle order. Not a single batter of South Africa scored 30 odd runs which is an alarming sign. Ravi Bishnoi & Varun Chakaravarthy took 3 wickets each and trapped the batters.
What lies ahead
South Africa need to quickly regroup as the 2nd T20I match is on 10th November on Gqeberha. They need to find a way to tackle the spinners and most importantly rotate the strike in the middle overs which wasn’t done. Skipper Aiden Markam would be eyeing to get back to form as he hasn’t contributed with the bat in T20I format significantly.
India on the other hand would be booming with confidence. Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy was quite efficient and the decision to introduce Axar Patel at the back end of the run chase did wonders for the team as during that time Klaasen & Miller were back in dug-out. India though would be hoping that they don’t make a mistake of not scoring big runs in the death overs as that phase is quite critical. As of now, India looks favorite to take 2-0 lead in the 4 T20I match series as South Africa’s bowling line up hasn’t looked threatening that much.
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