IND vs SA 1st T20I: India defeated South Africa by 56 runs in the first India vs South Africa T20I of the four-match series on November 9 (Friday) at Kingsmead in Durban. Meeting for the first time since the T20 World Cup 2024 final where India defeated South Africa to win the title, Suryakumar Yadav & Co never let the Proteas off the hook throughout the match. Sanju Samson was the standout player for the Men in Blue as he brought up his second T20I century by scoring 107 runs off just 50 balls.
Winning the toss, South Africa captain Aiden Markram sent India in to bat first. India openers Abhisihek Sharma and Sajnu Samson got the team off to a flying start but Sharma departed shortly after, in the fourth over. However, Samson continued his strokemaking. He was joined by Suryakumar Yadav who contributed with a 17-ball 21 runs knock before being dismissed.
Tilak Varma came and stayed for a longer time and gave full support to Samson as the Rajasthan Royals skipper brought up his second consecutive T20I ton in just 47 balls.
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Samson became the first Indian batter to hit two back-to-back centuries, with his previous century having come against Bangladesh at Hyderabad in the last T20I of the IND vs BAN series.
While India looked well set to go beyond the 23-run mark, South Africa staged a late-innings comeback and restricted India to 202-8 in 20 overs, with Samson being the standout batter with 107 runs off 50 balls.
Varun Chakaravarthy Shines With Ball For India
Chasing 203 runs, South Africa never looked settled throughout the chase. Skipper Markram lost his wicket to Arshdeep Singh in the very first over. Tristan Stubbs too could not contribute much as he departed after scoring 11 runs,
Ryan Rickelton and Heinrich Klaasen tried to revive SA’s innings but Varun Chakaravarthy bagged Rickelton’s wicket in the 6th over. Klaasen was joined by David Miller and the duo looked like taking South Africa out of the troubled waters but Chakaravarthy sent them both back in the hut in the same over to put out the Proteas’ final hopes.
South Africa were eventually dismissed for 141 runs in 17.5 overs, losing the series opener by 61 runs.
Sanju Samson won the Player of the Match award for his match-winning century.