India started the three-T20I series on a high with an eight-wicket win after Arshdeep Singh and Deepak Chahar caused a record-breaking Proteas batting collapse. In pacer-friendly conditions, Indian pacers tore apart South African batting lineup. Indian top-order was tested by Proteas pacers but Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul’s half-centuries led the team home.
The decision to field first after winning the toss turned out to be a successful one. Deepak Chahar opened the bowling and got skipper Bavuma out for a four-ball duck with a huge in-swinger. In the next over, Arshdeep Singh struck thrice. Quinton de Kock dragged one on to his stumps whereas Rilee Rossouw and David Miller got bowled for golden ducks. In the next over, Chahar struck again to get Tristan Stubbs out for a golden duck. All of a sudden, South Africa found themselves 9/5 after just 15 balls. South Africa bagged am embarrassing record as it is the least number of deliveries taken by a team to lose half of their side in the format.
Aiden Markram and Parnell brought some calm to the crease and helped the visitors recover from the collapse. After powerplay overs, they had 30 runs on the board. However, the partnership did not last too long as Harshal Patel got rid of Markram. The middle-order batter scored 25 runs from 24 deliveries including three fours and one six.
After the wicket of Markram, India were expected to wrap up the innings but vice-captain Keshav Maharaj played a commendable rescue knock. Parnell got out to Axar Patel in the 16th over after scoring 24 runs. South Africa's score was 68 for the loss of seven wickets. Maharaj infused some life into South Africa's innings with a few boundaries. Maharaj scored 41 runs off 35 deliveries including five fours and two sixes. The southpaw lost his chance to score a half-century and lost his wicket to Harshal in the final over. Rabada (7) and Nortje (2) remained not out as the visitors posted 106/8, their second-lowest T20I score against India.
Chasing 107, India were given a reality check by Proteas fast bowlers. Rahul faced all the deliveries in the first two overs. In the third over, Rohit Sharma edged on to Kagiso Rabada off the second ball he faced. After Rohit's two-ball duck, Rahul and Kohli struggled against the swinging deliveries. Only one boundary was scored during the fielding restrictions as India registered their lowest score of 17/1 in powerplay overs. The pressure of dot balls mounted on Kohli as he got out off the first delivery he faced from Anrich Nortje. Kohli scored three runs from just nine deliveries.
Suryakumar caught a lucky break early on as a top edge off his bat went over the third man fielder for a six. He followed it up with a six off a flick. Rahul continued to struggle and even had his catch dropped by Nortje in the 10th over. Off the ball of the same over, Rahul broke free and hit a six. India's score was 47/2 after 10 overs but the run chase got easy after that.
Suryakumar and Rahul were comfortable against the spinners. Nortje came back into the attack and was hit for boundaries. Even Rabada could not make a mark against an in-form Suryakumar. In the 17th over of the run chase, both Suyrakumar and Rahul got to their respective half-centuries and helped India win the game by eight wickets with 20 balls to spare.
