KL Rahul and Suryakumar star in India’s first-ever T20 series win over South Africa
The Indian team came out all guns blazing to complete a feat that had eluded them since the game’s inception. It was their first T20 series victory at home, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
South African captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to field first bearing the dew factor that might come later in the game.
Indian top order firing all cylinders
The Indian openers made sure they set the tone for the game for minute won and went berserk. Rohit Sharma found his touch and scored a well-compiled 37-ball 43 in his 400th T20 game. Kl Rahul played a contrasting inning from last time out.
In the first T20i, KL played to the situation by holding up one end and batting out the pacers to see through the time over the line. Yesterday he played at a strike rate of over 200 and put the critics to rest.
The Indian team’s middle order looks more set than ever as everyone seems to be in their groove. Suryakumar Yadav brought up his 3rd consecutive T20i fifty as he demolished the south African attack with menace.
Virat remained unbeaten at 49 with ‘the finisher’ Karthik providing the finishing touch. India finished on 237 in their 20 overs.
South Africa’s innings.
Arshdeep Singh seems to have developed an interest in scalping wickets in pairs as he picked up two in his very first over of the game. Captain Bavuma and Rillie Rossow had no answers to his seething opening spell.
Markram tried reviving the collapse but Axar got the better of him.
Opener De Kock and David Miller stayed till the end stitching a record tumbling 174-run partnership just to fall short by 16 runs. De Kock is facing endless criticisms for his unusual knock whereas his partner David Miller appeared to be batting on a different pitch.
The crowd was brought to their feet as David Completed his century with a towering six in the final over of the match as he provided them with the entertainment.
South Africa might wanna address the elephant in the room Temba Bavuma for his no-show thus far, but with the World Cup fast approaching I suppose it’d be curtains for him as captain if he doesn’t progress with the team.
India ended up winning the game but since they were a few overs behind in time, they were reprimanded with an extra fielder inside the circle in the closing overs.
Arshdeep had a long day after his initial bust as he bowled a few no-balls which he would certainly work on. A series victory against the Proteas with batters getting into the groove is a positive out of this series.
