India claimed a commanding 61-run victory over South Africa in the first T20I of the four-match series at Kingsmead, Durban, on November 8, 2024. A record-breaking century by Sanju Samson and stellar performances by spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy led India to a 1-0 series lead.
Source : X/BCCI |
Match Highlights & Stats
Key Stats:
- Victory Margin: India’s 61-run win was their third-largest by runs against South Africa in T20Is.
- Samson’s Record-Breaking Knock:
- Became the first Indian to score back-to-back T20I centuries.
- Scored the fastest T20I century (47 balls) by an Indian against South Africa.
- Joined an elite group of players with two T20I centuries for India.
- Hammered 10 sixes, equaling the record for most sixes in an innings by an Indian.
- Partnership Milestones:
- Samson and Suryakumar Yadav added 66 runs for the second wicket.
- Samson and Tilak Varma put up 77 runs for the third wicket.
- Team Total: India’s 202 is their fourth-highest total against South Africa in T20Is and the second-highest at Durban.
India’s Batting
India set a daunting target of 203, thanks to:
- Sanju Samson: A blistering 107 off 50 balls, including 10 sixes and 7 fours, at a strike rate of 214.
- Tilak Varma: A quickfire 33 off 18 balls, with three boundaries and two sixes.
- Contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (21) and Rinku Singh (11).
South Africa Bowling:
- Gerald Coetzee: Starred with 3 wickets for 37 runs.
- Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Patrick Kruger, and Nqabayomzi Peter chipped in with a wicket each.
South Africa’s Chase
South Africa faltered under pressure, bowled out for 141 in 17.5 overs.
- Top scorers included:
- Heinrich Klaasen: 25 off 22 balls.
- Gerald Coetzee: 23 off 11 balls with 3 sixes.
- Ryan Rickelton: 21 off 11 balls with three boundaries and a six.
- Others, including David Miller (18) and Temba Bavuma, failed to convert their starts.
Indian Bowling:
- Varun Chakravarthy: 3 wickets for 25 runs in 4 overs.
- Ravi Bishnoi: Claimed 3 wickets for 28 runs.
- Avesh Khan: Took 2 wickets, with Arshdeep Singh adding one to his tally.
Player of the Match
Sanju Samson was named Player of the Match for his explosive 107 off 50 balls. His innings featured 10 sixes and 7 fours, setting the stage for India’s dominant victory.
India’s strong all-around performance gives them momentum heading into the second T20I of the series.