India restricted South Africa to 106-8, a total that looked unlikely after a spectacular top-order collapse left the touring side at 9-5 in 2.3 overs. Rahul made 51 not out and Yadav, the world’s number two Twenty20 batsman, remained unbeaten on 50 from 33 balls as India romped home with 20 balls to spare. India’s pace attack, led by Arshdeep Singh, laid the foundation for victory on the track at the Greenfield International Stadium.
They blew away South Africa’s top order within 15 deliveries to take early control of the match.Deepak Chahar dismissed visiting captain Temba Bavuma in the first match and sent back Tristan Stubbs in the next. Meanwhile, Singh dispatched three wickets to break the back of the South African line-up. The left-arm seamer got Quinton de Kock to stretch the ball onto his stumps and removed Rilee Rossouw and David Miller in successive deliveries to leave the tourists in tatters.
Aiden Markram (25) and Wayne Parnel (24) put up resistance with the bat but it was Keshav Maharaj’s counter-attack of 41 that helped South Africa win by over 100 runs. India endured their own woes of the highest order as they launched the hunt. Captain Rohit Sharma fell for a duck and Virat Kohli made three, but Rahul played the anchor and Yadav the aggressor in an unbroken 93-run third-wicket stand to give India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The teams move to Guwahati for the second match on Sunday. Batsman Deepak Hooda was ruled out of the series for the home side with a back injury, while paceman Jasprit Bumrah missed the opener with his backside. Both are part of the Indian squad for the World Twenty20 in Australia next month.
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