Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar took career-best figures of five for 24 to help India ease to a 28-run victory over South Africa in the opening Twenty20 International of their three-game series at the Wanderers on Sunday.
Having been sent in to bat, India plundered 203 for five from its 20 overs on a flat batting wicket as opener Shikhar Dhawan hit a superb 72 from 39 balls.
It is India’s highest innings total against South Africa in the shortest format of the game, with debutant seamer Junior Dala (two for 47 in four overs) the most successful home bowler.
South Africa was in the game until Bhuvneshwar’s final over when he picked up the key wicket of Reeza Hendricks (70 from 50 balls) and then dismissed Heinrich Klaasen (16) and Chris Morris (0) off successive balls, before Dane Paterson (1) was the fourth wicket to fall as he was run out.
The home side ended its innings on 175 for nine, continuing its struggles against the tourists in the limited overs matches on the tour having been thrashed 5-1 in the One-Day International series.
The second Twenty20 clash will be played in Pretoria on Wednesday (February 21), with the final game on Saturday (February 24) in Cape Town.
Dhawan it was who led an aggressive Indian batting performance. The left-hander hit 10 fours and two sixes in a 39-ball innings. He was lucky to escape on 10 when he flicked at a ball down the leg side from Dala.
South Africa appealed half-heartedly for a catch behind and the ball was called wide. Replays showed the ball had brushed his glove.
India made a flying start, with Rohit Sharma square-cutting the first ball from Dane Paterson for six. He added a second six in an over which yielded 18 runs.
Rohit was caught behind off Dala in the second over but all the Indian batsmen followed his attacking example on a ground where there have been three successful run chases of over 200 in T20 Internationals.
Indian captain Virat Kohli’s run of big scores ended when he was leg before wicket to left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi for 26. He had been dropped off the same bowler at long-on when on 10.
India suffered an injury blow, with left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav missing because of a thumb injury suffered in Centurion when India completed its ODI series win.
