CUTTACK, INDIA: Hardik Pandya led the way for India with an all-round show as they beat South Africa by a whopping margin of 101 runs in the first T20I played between the two teams at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9. The home team batted first and put up a gigantic total of 175-5 on the board, thanks largely to all-rounder Pandya’s unbeaten 59, which came off just 28 deliveries. The Baroda man had missed the last two months of international cricket due to injury, and made a strong statement on his comeback.
After losing openers Abhishek Sharma (17) and Shubman Gill (4) early, India seemed to be in some trouble. However, Tilak Varma (28) guided the team to some kind of safety before Axar Patel (23) and Pandya took over. The latter took particular exceptions to balls pitched up, hitting six boundaries and four sixes during his stay at the crease. Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma’s 5-ball 11 helped India finish on a high.
In reply, South Africa appeared to be batting on another surface altogether. They lost the experienced Quinton de Kock on the second ball of the innings, and from there, the flow just did not stop. The visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals, often to ordinary shots. Only Dewald Brevis (22) offered some resistance. Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy and Patel picked up a couple of wickets apiece to bowl the Proteas out for a mere 74 in just 12.3 overs. Pandya too picked up a wicket with his more than handy medium pace. This handed India a massive victory.
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