In a high-scoring encounter, India edged South Africa with a 16-run win at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. David Miller's second T20I century went in vain as the Proteas top-order batters failed to get them to a flyer chasing a record-breaking target of 238. On an eventful night where snake and bad light interrupted the game, India had too many runs on the board as they registered their first T20I series win at home against South Africa at home.
South Africa's run chase got off to a horrible start. In the second over, Arshdeep Singh struck twice to send skipper Temba Bavuma and Rilee Rossouw back to the pavillion for their respective ducks. Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram tried to get the visitors back in the game. 45 runs were scored in the powerplay overs. Just when Markram was ready to take off, he got bowled by Axar Patel. Markram scored 33 runs from 19 deliveries including four fours and one six.
In the next few overs, boundaries were scarce despite De Kock and Miller in the middle. At the halfway stage, South Africa were 70/3. Miller tried to take the game head on from the 12th over. Ravichandran Ashwin's last over went for 19 runs including two sixes and one four. After playing at less than run-a-ball till the 14th over, De Kock targetted Axar and hit him for two sixes and one four. In the last five overs, South Africa needed 95 runs to win.
Meanwhile, Miller and De Kock reached their half-centuries and tried to go ballistic in the slog overs. In the last two overs, South Africa needed 63 runs to win. Arshdeep erred a few too many times and was hit around the park for Miller. In the final over, the visitors needed 37 runs. Miller could not win the game for his side but got to his second T20I century from 46 deliveries with two consecutive sixes. De Kock remained unbeaten for 69 runs from 48 deliveries including three fours and four sixes. On the other end, Miller scored 106 runs from 47 deliveries. Miller's explosive knock was studded with eight fours and seven sixes.
Earlier, Bavuma's decision to field first did not go in South Africa's way. The new-ball bowlers failed to take a wicket with the new ball. In the powerplay overs, Rahul was the more dominant one. After six overs, India had 57/0 on the board. Rohit also joined the party and started taking more chances. Keshav Maharaj broke the partnership in the 10th over with the wicket of skipper. The opener scored 43 runs from 37 deliveries including seven fours and one six. The duo put on 97 runs for the first wicket. This was Rahul and Rohit’s 15th fifty-plus partnership in T20Is, the most by any pair.
In the next over, Rahul got to his half-century with a six. The opener answered his critics in style as he reached the fifty-run mark from just 24 deliveries. However, Maharaj struck again and cut-short Rahul's carnage-filled knock. Rahul got trapped in front of the wicket. He scored 57 runs from 28 deliveries including five fours and four sixes.
Despite two quick wickets, the scoring rate did not take a hit. Suryakumar seemed to pick right where he left off. In the 15th over, he took on Kagiso Rabada and hit him for a couple of fours and sixes. He got to his half-century from just 18 deliveries making it joint second-fastest for India in the format. In the 17th over, Kohli broke free as well and hit Wayne Parnell for two fours and a six. Suryakumar was looking to finish with a flourish but in the penultimate over he ran himself out trying to sneak a non-existent single. He got out after scoring 61 runs from 22 deliveries including five fours and as many sixes.
Kohli made up for the run out and hit two fours off Anrich Nortje in the 19th over. He did not get the strike in the final over as Dinesh Karthik fulfilled his role. Karthik hit Rabada for two sixes and one four in the innings. 17 runs were scored in the final over as India posted 237/3, the highest total against South Africa in T20Is.
