South Africa’s decision to bowl first backfired as India’s openers raced to 24/0 in just three overs before Abhishek Sharma fell, struggling with the Durban pitch’s unpredictable bounce. Suryakumar Yadav then joined Sanju Samson, and the pair upped the tempo, guiding India to 56/1 by the end of the powerplay.
Samson was in full flow, reaching a rapid fifty off 27 balls, while Suryakumar fell to Patrick Kruger in the ninth over. India were 99/2 at the halfway mark, with Tilak Varma coming in to join Samson, who was unstoppable.
Samson brought up a spectacular century in just 47 balls, becoming the first Indian to score consecutive T20I hundreds. Tilak made a quickfire 33 off 18 before falling in the 15th over. Samson continued to dominate, eventually being dismissed for a brilliant 107 off 50 balls.
India finished at 175/4 in 16 overs, with Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya at the crease. The momentum slowed briefly as Gerald Coetzee claimed Pandya’s wicket, and Axar Patel came in. Despite losing Rinku and Axar in the final overs, India crossed the 200-run mark, finishing with 202/8 in their 20 overs.
In reply, South Africa’s chase faltered early as Aiden Markram was dismissed by Arshdeep Singh in the first over. They reached 28/1 after three overs, but Tristan Stubbs failed to capitalize, falling to Avesh Khan in the fourth.
South Africa’s troubles deepened as Rickelton was dismissed before the end of the powerplay, leaving them at 49/3 after six overs. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller showed some resistance, pushing the score to 76/3 in nine overs, but with the pitch favoring spin, Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy applied the pressure.
As the required run rate climbed past 14, Klaasen and Miller awaited a breakthrough, only for Chakravarthy to dismiss both in the same over. Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee briefly counterattacked, bringing the score to 101/7 in the 14th over, but Bishnoi struck again, removing Jansen.
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Coetzee fought on, hitting two sixes in the 16th over, but with 74 needed off 24 balls, South Africa’s hopes faded. A sharp throw from Suryakumar run out Coetzee, and Avesh Khan claimed the final wicket of Keshav Maharaj, sealing a comprehensive 61-run victory for India.