India vs South Africa Highlights 1st T20I: IND beats SA by eight wickets; Rahul, Suryakumar shine with fifties

Not the smoothest of chases, considering there were only 107 runs to get but KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav did well to see India through. It wasn’t the easiest wickets to bat on as the green covering on the pitch clearly indicated. South Africa was reduced to 30 for five inside the PowerPlay but the South African pacers couldn’t replicate their Indian counterparts despite getting Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early on. Spinners Shamsi and Maharaja also leaked runs, conceding 48 runs in 5.4 overs between them. That’s all from us for tonight! Join us for the second T20I on October 2 in Guwahati.

India just needs six runs to win. Shamsi has the ball. Turning away outside-leg and Suryakumar gets on the backfoot and flicks this behind square for a single. Pushed down the ground by Rahul for one more. 33-ball 50 for SKY as he takes a single. SIX! Slog-swept by Rahul behind square-leg and fifty for Rahul too off 56 balls. India wins by eight wickets.

Rabada from the other end. Beaten first ball as SKY misses outside off as the ball moves away a bit. FOUR! Low full-toss and Suryakumar drives it down the ground for a boundary. FOUR! Suryakumar waits and drives this through covers for back-to-back boundaries. He keeps strike with a single off the last ball.

Here comes Nortje. Rahul swings and misses outside off again. Two dot balls to start the over. SIX! Full-toss and Rahul makes full use of it and hammers it over covers for a maximum. Flicked off the pads for a quick single. India just needs 20 runs to win now. FOUR! Agricultural from Suryakumar but he finds the boundary behind point. Low full-toss and Suryakumar throws his bat at it. Short just outside off and SKY swings and misses.

Parnell comes back. Rahul miscues a pull that lands over mid-on outside the circle for a single. Suryakumar drives to mid-off for a dot ball. Guided to third man for a single by SKY next ball. India chugging along in this chase now. Slow and short outside off and Rahul lets it go. Wild swing and a miss outside off for Rahul as Parnell takes the pace off the ball. Single to end the over and Rahul keeps strike.

Maharaj continues. Three singles off the first three balls. SIX! Suryakumar clubs this over covers for another maximum. Two singles to end the over. 11 from it.

SIX! Half-tracker Shamsi on leg-stump and Rahul rocks back and pulls this behind square for a maximum. A couple more next ball for Rahul. Driven down the ground for one more. FOUR! Boundary to end the over as SKY flicks this wide of long-on.

FOUR! Suryakumar slaps this past point for a boundary and fifty up for India in 10.1 overs. Six runs from Maharaj’s over.

Nortje gets the ball to jag in sharply and rap Rahul on the back pad. The batters scamper for a quick single. Wide down-leg and the batters steal a single. Quinton de Kock has hurt his finger trying to save that one. He seems to be fine and continues behind the stumps. Nortje beats Rahul with an outswinger outside off and de Kock judges well to collect this without much fuss. SIX! Full and Rahul flicks this with flourishing wrists for a maximum over midwicket.

Maharaja from the other end. Suryakumar drives down the ground for a single. Rahul pushes off the backfoot but to the mid-on fielder. Cut away next ball for a single at deep point. Suryakumar cuts behind point for a couple and another sharp effort from Rabada in the deep saves a boundary.

Shamsi with the ball. Rahul flicks the first one for a single. Two more singles from the over. Three runs already. Hammered over covers by Suryakumar as Shamsi offers width outside off but just a single. Dot to end the over.

Anrich Nortje comes into the attack. OUT! Kohli chases this good length delivery wide outside off and gets an edge to the keeper. Cut him in half! Comes in sharply into Suryakumar Yadav from a short-of-a-length and wakes the batter up. SIX! Suryakumar gets a top edge on the pull and the pace on the ball means it goes over third-man for a maximum! SIX! This is more convincing. Full on the pads and whipped away by SKY over fine-leg this time. LBW appeal next ball but SKY has got some bat on it and SA loses both reviews. Slower bouncer to end the over.

Parnell continues. The runs are still hard to come by. Three dot balls to start with. Kohli whips one away off his pads and some brilliant work by Rabada at fine-leg keeps it down to a single. Rahul drives crisply outside off but straight to the cover fielder. He is on 11 off 25 balls now. Length ball on off-stump and defended back by Rahul. India just gets 17 runs in the PowerPlay - its lowest score ever in the PowerPlay.

FOUR! Streaky boundary for Rahul. He drives on the up outside off and gets an outside edge that flies over slips for a boundary. Another LBW appeal! Looks like Rahul will be safe as he got his front pad outside off-stump. Bouncer to end the over. Rahul ducks under it.

Just a single off the last ball of the over. Rahul nudges it behind for a single. He survived an LBW appeal in the over but it was probably too high as de Kock signalled.

OUT! Rohit Sharma goes for duck. He defends a fullish ball on off-stump and it takes his outside edge and de Kock clings on to a good catch behind. Kohli comes in at number three. Inside edge to mid-on first ball. Beaten! Good length delivery outside off and it beats Kohli’s defensive bat. FOUR! Lofted over covers by Kohli for a couple. Beaten again outside off to end the over.

Parnell to Rohit. Wide ball down and the batters also steal a single. India is off the mark. Rahul pushes a full ball through midwicket for a couple and first runs off the bat for India. FOUR! Full on the pads and Rahul flicks it behind the keeper for a boundary. Loud appeal for LBW and not given! Bavuma goes upstairs and Rahul gets lucky as the ball just clips the outside of off-stump and the umpire’s decision stands. Wide down leg-side again and India now has nine runs on the board. Rahul still tentative outside off. Hides his bat in time and lets the ball go in the channel. Dot to end the over.

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are out to open the batting. Should be a breeze for India unless Rabada and Nortje cause damage with the new ball. First ball is short-of-a-length outside off and Rahul defends off the backfoot. Beaten! Moves away a bit outside off and beats Rahul’s gentle prod in the channel. Five consecutive dot balls here as Rahul starts off tentatively. Short ball on the body to end the over. Maiden over for Rabada.

Harshal starts with a wide delivery outside the off-stump. OUT! Harshal follows up with a slow-dipper that cleans up Maharaj. A superb fightback from Maharaj comes to an end as Notrtje walks in at 10. Nortje drags the ball to wide long-on for a single. Another wide from Harshal. Slower-ball angling away and Rabada fails to connect with a big swing across the line. Low full toss and Rabada flicks it to mid-wicket for a single. Nortje drives the ball down to long-on for a single. Last ball coming up. A leg bye to finish and SA finishes at 106/8.

Keshav Maharaj b HV Patel 41 (35b 5x4 2x6)

Arshdeep comes around the wicket and goes full and Maharaj unleashes a reverse-ramp shot for FOUR. Short and wide from Arshdeep. Maharaj arches back to make room and parries the ball over backward point for SIX. A couple of singles to follow. FOUR more as Maharaj flicks Arshdeep down to the fine leg fence. Arshdeep sends one into the blockhole and Maharaj digs it out through the off-side for a single to retain strike.

Rabada attempts to connect a couple of slog-sweeps but Axar deftly darts the ball in quickly on length. Four singles added to the board.

Rabada and Maharaj knock off a couple of singles from the first two deliveries. Harshal fends one short towards the leg-stump and Maharaj cheekily paddles the ball behind square for FOUR.

Short from Axar and Parnell smacks it across the line for FOUR. Axar to Parnell, OUT! Tosses one up and Parnell toe-edges a slog-sweep straight to Suryakumar Yadav at deep mid-wicket. A brief little hand from the left-hander ends.

Wayne Parnell c Yadav b AR Patel 24 (37b 1x4 1x6)

Ashwin cramps the batters once again. Concedes a couple of singles and bowls out with his most economical T20I figures: 4-0-8-0.

Short and drifting in and Parnell helps the ball behind square for a single. Maharaj pushes a ball towards short-cover and sets off on a quick single. Just the two runs from the over. South Africa’s lowest T20I total is 87. Can they get past it?

Chahar is still finding some movement with this ball. He hits the length and shapes one away, just inches wide from an outside-edge off Maharaj’s blade. Short from Chahar and Maharaj swats it away over deep mid-wicket for SIX.

Axar Patel enters the attack. Just the single from the over as South Africa crawls to 50. Maharaj and Parnell are simply out of options to go for the big hits as the spinners have backed up the seamers with some sharp bowling.

​Arshdeep, Chahar restrict South Africa to 30/5; India’s third-best PowerPlay bowling performance​

Ashwin loops one in and Parnell drives it down to long-off for a single. Ashwin drifts one in sharply to Maharaj who dabs it down to the on-side. Five dots on the to finish the over. Top spell from Ashwin.

Harshal angles one towards the pads and Maharaj flicks the ball behind square for FOUR with a nimble shuffle. Six runs from the over.

Ashwin mixes up his deliveries with the carrom ball and slider in play. Parnell does his best to not have a poke at them with a slip in play. Maiden over for Ashwin.

Harshal Patel into the attack. Short from Harshal and Markram slams the ball over deep mid-wicket for a massive SIX. Harshal follows up with a quicker delivery that takes off length to surprise Markram. Rapped on the pads and Harshal appeals. Loud shout but umpire Nitin Menon is unmoved. Rohit opts for a review. Markram shuffles across as Harshal hits high on the front-pad. THREE REDS on the review as the ball zips in to hit the middle-stump.

Aiden Markram lbw b HV Patel 25 (24b 3x4 1x6)

Ashwin with a decent first over. Markram and Parnell remain watchful as they pick the gaps for five singles.

Arshdeep moves one sharply across length and nearly clips Markram’s ouside-edge. Rohit is excited about an edge and goes up for a review. Replays suggest that there is a clear gap between bat and ball.

Chahar sends one across the length and Parnell steps out to slam the ball over mid-off for SIX.

Arshdeep strays to the pads and Markram flicks it through square leg for FOUR. Arshdeep recovers with a couple of deliveries that swing into Markram who does well to bring his bat down. Four dots to finish the over.

OUT! Short and wide from Chahar and Stubbs sends it straight to the third-man fielder! He falls for a golden duck and Chahar is on a hat-trick! Chahar overpitches and Markram steps out to drive through square for FOUR.

Tristan Stubbs c Arshdeep Singh b Chahar 0 (1b)

Arshdeep to de Kock from the opposite end. OUT! Arshdeep strikes rightaway! A beautiful out-swinger and de Kock drags one onto the stumps. This is quite a start for India in the absence of its frontline PP seam bowlers. Aiden Markram in at 4. Arshdeep sends in a beautiful outswinger and Markam lobs it safely towards short cover. Arshdeep strays away from the off-stump and Markram slams it through extra cover for FOUR. He gets a single. Arshdeep to Rossouw, OUT! Edged and taken by Pant! A gentle outswinger on length and Rossouw pokes at it and falls first ball. David Miller is the new batter. BOWLED HIM FIRST BALL! Three wickets in the over for Arshdeep Singh! A corker swings in from length to smash the stumps as Miller plays down the wrong line. South Africa has been shattered inside two overs!

Quinton de Kock b Arshdeep Singh 1 (4b); Rilee Rossouw c †Pant b Arshdeep Singh 0 (1b)

Chahar begins with an inswinging delivery to Bavuma. QDK is off he mark with a single through cover. Beaten! Chahar gets some fine late movement to beat Bavuma’s outside-edge away from the off-stump.. Chahar to Bavuma, OUT! A jaffa to clean up the South African captain. Chahar sends in a cracking in-swinger that rushes through the gates to hit the stumps. Rilee Rossouw is in at 3.

Temba Bavuma b Chahar 0 (4b)

Rohit Sharma has a chat with the team in a huddle before walking out to their positions. Temba Bavum and Quinton de Kock walk out for South Africa.

BCCI updates: “Jasprit Bumrah complained of back pain during India’s practice session on Tuesday. The BCCI Medical Team assessed him. He is ruled out of the first T20I.”

India XI: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

South Africa XI: Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi

Rohit Sharma: We are gonna bowl first. It was a good wicket when we played here last time. Bit of green covering but it’s gonna be a good batting track. Very critical to continue to do what you’re doing and keep that momentum in this format. Very healthy atmosphere in the group and we also want to make sure to tick all the boxes and so far we have been doing good and we just want to continue to do that. Hardik and Bhuvi are rested from the last series. Pant and Arshdeep come in for them. Bumrah and Chahal miss out.

Temba Bavuma: We probably would have fielded first as well. Good going over the last couple of months. This is an important series for us and we want to continue all the good work. Guys always enjoy the India trip, the energy of the guys is up again and nice to be back in action after a couple of months. Different conditions to Australia but in terms of match practice, it is a great opportunity.

India wins toss, opts to bowl.

Rohit Sharma and Temba Bavuma out at the centre.

Straight boundaries are 74m with 64m and 61m square boundaries.

Suryakumar Yadav needs one six to become the leading six-hitter in T20I cricket in a calendar year. He is currently level with Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan who had smashed 42 sixes in 2021.

Ashwin is lethal against left-handers - he averages less than 25 against them compared to 50-plus against right-handers over T20s in 2022. He has got LH batters out nine times and righties, eight times. Sure starter today?

While we build towards the toss, you can watch the latest episode of Wednesdays with WV. In E07, former cricketer WV Raman catches up with World Cup-winning Indian batter Sandeep Patil on the highlights of his career, his openness to try different avenues of opportunity and his evolving roles in Indian cricket.

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Wicketkeeper: Quinton de Kock

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav (c)

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Dwaine Pretorius, Aiden Markram (vc)

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje

Team Composition: IND 6: 5 SA Credits Left: 8.5

India will be playing its final set of three T20Is before the World Cup next month. South Africa and India had earlier met this year post the IPL where a side led by Rishabh Pant drew the five-match series 2-2 at home.

India has added Shreyas Iyer, Shahbaz Ahmed and Umesh Yadav to its squad for three-match series against the Proteas.

Hooda, Shami ruled out; Umesh, Shreyas Iyer named as replacements

The opening show is only a fortnight away. So both India and South Africa will be particularly keen to put in their best efforts in the last dress rehearsal.

The three-match T20I series, which gets underway at the Greenfield Stadium here on Wednesday, offers one last opportunity for the teams to iron out the flaws, try something different and for the stars and to get their acts right ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia, beginning on October 16. India’s first World Cup match is scheduled for October 23 and South Africa’s the following day.

A fine show in this series will do no harm to either team. Both sides have landed in this city -- known for its lovely beaches, rich cultural heritage and traditional as well as colonial architecture – in a confident frame of mind, having won their last respective series.

The city has a strong cricketing tradition, too. A full house is expected for the match. The fans have plenty to look forward to, too, with both teams boasting quite a few showstoppers.

The South Africans would be desperate to stop the flow of runs – which are being scored not just with brute power but with plenty of flair as well – from India’s top and middle order. Few things have brought as much joy to the Indian supporters in recent times as Virat Kohli’s return to form. Skipper Rohit Sharma also seems to be in good touch, after that match-winning, unbeaten, 20-ball 46 against Australia at Nagpur.

Then of course there is the man of the moment – Suryakumar Yadav, who is rapidly growing in stature. It would be interesting to see if he could carry on from his superb 36-ball 69 that helped India win the Australia series, coming back after losing the first match.

After the victory, much-needed after the disappointment at the Asia Cup, Rohit had spoken about the concern the team had about its death bowling. He must be hoping for better performances from the pacers, but should be happy with the way left-arm spinner Axar Patel has delivered against the Aussies.

It will be interesting to see how the South African batting, featuring the likes of Quinton de Kock, David Miller and skipper Temba Bavuma handles him. As for bowling, the visitors have come armed with a formidable pace battery: Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen and Wayne Parnell.

SQUADS

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs