India dominate South Africa in Durban securing crucial lead in four-match sequence

It was a grand start for Team India in South Africa as they steamrolled the hosts in the curtain-raiser of the four-match T20I series. A batting masterclass from Sanju Samson laced with some quality spin bowling from the duo of Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy laid waste to the Proteas.

Winning the toss, South Africa opted to bowl first and their bowlers were right up the alley of India as they got rid of Abhishek Sharma for cheap. However, the fall of Sharma did very little to deter the Indian spirits as their captain dropped anchor at the other end while Sanju Samson took over the reins of smashing the ball into every nook and cranny of the park.

The duo added 66 runs for the second wicket before Patrick Kruger got the better of Yadav for 21. The Indian batters still came thick and fast at the visitors as Tilak Varma didn’t let the scoring rate to slide. In fact, he shifted gears and it was double trouble for South Africa with India blasting away at will in Kingsmead.

With 87 runs stitched for the third wicket, Tilak Varma fell for 33 from just 18 balls. In his sojourn in the center, he clubbed three fours and two sixes, also assisting Samson in continuing to cook his storm. Shortly after the departure of Varma, Samson followed suit too but he had already scored a second consecutive T20I century and in the process became the first Indian to do so.

Despite a late slide, India managed to tot up 202/8 from their allotment of 20 overs, leaving South Africa with a mountain to climb. Samson was the leading run-scorer for India with a blistering 107 while Gerald Coetzee claimed three wickets from his quota of four overs.

The hosts, though, were absolutely no match for the Indian bowlers. Despite a feisty start with a couple of boundaries, the South African captain, Aiden Markram quickly fell to Arshdeep Singh for just eight. A desperate attempt from Rya Rickleton (21) and Tristan Stubbs (11) to stabilize the ship lost steam midway and they were soon on their way back. The fall of Rickleton gave Varun Chakravarthy a sniff of blood and India’s very own mystery spinner was quick to come for more.

Despite a solid show from two of South Africa’s most experienced campaigners, Heinrich Klaasen (25) and David Miller (18), CV Varun was too hot to handle for the seasoned duo of doom. Chakravarthy got both of them removed in a span of two balls, opening up the lower middle-order for the hosts.

It was now the turn of Ravi Bishnoi to enter the party and the leggie was equally brutal like his partner. He kept on tucking at the strings and despite a show of resilience from Gerald Coetzee (23), the Indians kept on rocking back and forth and were eventually done with the showdown with more than two overs to spare. South Africa got bundled out for 141, imparting India a stunning 61-runs win. The spinning double of Bishnoi and Chakravarthy plundered six wickets between them to spearhead the show. Sanju Samson was the Player of the Match for his incredible century.