IND vs SA: 1st T20I Review – Miller-Dussen break India’s winning streak
South Africa drew first blood with a well-deserved seven-wicket win over India in the first T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on June 9. With this loss, India’s 12-match winning streak in the shortest format came to a halt as well. The series-opener turned out to be a run-fest with an excess of 400 runs being scored.
South African skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bowl first. However, the hosts did not mind losing the toss as openers Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad were on the attack right from the word ‘go’ as they added 57 runs for the first wicket. After Gaikwad’s dismissal, Kishan cut loose and played a counter-attacking innings.
The youngster looked set for a big score before being sent back for a quickfire 76 runs from 48 deliveries. While Shreyas Iyer (36) and stand-in captain Rishabh Pant (29) played cameo knocks, Hardik Pandya added finishing touches with an unbeaten 12-ball 31 as India posted a mammoth 211/4. Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell and Dwaine Pretorius picked up a wicket each.
In reply, South Africa were reeling at 81/3 having lost their top order and at one stage it appeared that India have maintained a stranglehold over them. Nonetheless, it was just a matter of time before the visitors broke the shackles and took the attack to the Indian bowlers. The middle-order duo of Rassie Van der Dussen and David Miller showed no remorse once they got set and completely outplayed the hosts by finding boundaries at regular intervals. For India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel and Axar Patel picked up one wicket apiece.
Top performers of the game
Ishan Kishan
After blowing hot and cold in IPL 2022, Ishan Kishan was expected to make his bat do the talking in this series and he did create a good first impression by opening the innings on a good batting surface. The youngster toyed with the South African bowlers and went on to register a quickfire half-century. The southpaw scored a 48-ball 76.
Rassie Van der Dussen
Rassie Van der Dussen has time and again proved why he is one of the most consistent T20I batters in the modern-day game. The middle-order sensation once again mattered for his side when it mattered the most as he was involved in a match-winning unbeaten 131-run stand for the fourth wicket along with David Miller (64*). Van der Dussen remained unbeaten on 75 runs from 46 balls at a strike rate of 163.
What’s next for both sides?
The two sides will now be locking horns in the second T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on June 12.
