India vs South Africa 1st T20: Duminy powers Proteas to win

South Africa put on a thrilling batting display to brush aside India by seven wickets in the first Twenty20 match in Dharamsala on Friday and grab the lead in the three-game series.

In a high-scoring encounter played before a sell-out crowd of 23,000 at the picturesque venue, the tourists chased down India's challenging 199-5 with two deliveries to spare.

India's innings after being sent in to bat revolved around a superb 106 off 66 balls by opener Rohit Sharma, ably supported by Virat Kohli's 27-ball 43.

But the Proteas, helped by the Indian bowlers' inability to grip the ball in the evening dew, made light of the stiff target following a rip-roaring opening stand of 77 from 53 balls between Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers.

Amla hit 36 off 24 balls and de Villiers contributed a typically aggressive 51 from 32 deliveries that included seven fours and a six.

India claimed three wickets for 15 runs to reduce South Africa to 95-3, but JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien stepped in to hit a match-winning partnership of 105 that came off just 55 balls.

Left-handed Duminy returned unbeaten on a 34-ball 68 that was studded with seven sixes, three off them from successive deliveries by left-arm spinner Axar Patel.

Behardien chipped in with 32 not out.

Sreenath Aravind, a 31-year-old left-arm seamer from Karnataka, made a forgettable international debut as he was hammered for 44 runs in 3.4 overs, including a last-over six by Duminy. 

In India's innings, Sharma plundered 12 boundaries and five sixes in his maiden T20 century, displaying a spectacular array of strokes all round the ground.

Kohli became the first Indian batsman to score 1,000 T20 runs as he blazed his way to three sixes and a four.

The pair put on 138 off 74 balls for the second wicket after Shikhar Dhawan was run out for three attempting a second run.

India were coasting at 160-1 in the 16th over before the tourists hit back with four wickets in the final overs.

The second match will be played in Cuttack on Monday and the third in Kolkata next Thursday.

South Africa will also play five one-day internationals and four Tests during their 10-week tour of India.

Heroics

JP Duminy's batting heroics secured South Africa a thrilling seven-wicket victory in the first Twenty20 International despite Indian opener Rohit Sharma burnishing his limited overs reputation with a blistering century on Friday.

Needing 10 runs off the last over chasing a 200-run victory target, Duminy's seventh six tied the contest before he took a single to seal victory with two balls to spare and put his team 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Duminy remained unbeaten on 68 off 34 balls, frustrating India who rode Sharma's century to post a commanding 199-5 at one of the most picturesque cricket stadiums in the world.

As the only batsman with two ODI double centuries to his name, Sharma blasted 106 off 66 balls, highest score by an Indian in a Twenty20 International, as the hosts threatened to go beyond the 200-mark at one stage.

After opening partner Shikhar Dhawan perished in his half-hearted pursuit of a non-existent second run, Sharma teamed up with Virat Kohli (43) to lay the foundation for a big total.

The duo added 138 runs, an India record, in 12.2 overs and the elegant Sharma belted five sixes and 12 boundaries in his scintillating knock.

The Mumbai batsman brought up his century clobbering Marchant de Lange for a six to become the second Indian, after team mate Suresh Raina, to register a century in all three formats of the game.

AB de Villiers (51) and Hashim Amla (36) led South Africa's robust reply with a breezy 77-run opening stand before falling in quick succession.

At 95-3, South Africa looked in trouble but Duminy and Farhaan Behardien (32 not out) refused to throw in the towel.

Duminy hit spinner Axar Patel for three successive sixes in the 16th over to turn the match on its head and stayed put till the end to see the visitors home in a man-of-the-match winning performance.

Cuttack hosts the second Twenty20 International on Monday.

JP Duminy smashed an unbeaten 68 off just 34 balls, a knock which was studded with seven sixes and just one boundary, to steer South Africa to a thrilling seven-wicket over India in the first of three one-day internationals at Dharamsala on Friday.

Chasing a target of 200, Proteas were given a flying start with openers Amla (36) and AB de Villiers (51) posting 77 in 7.4 overs.

After a flurry of wickets, Duminy found an able partner in Behardien (32 not out) to figure in a breezy unbroken stand of 105 pacing their run-chase beautifully.

Earlier, India put into bat made 199-5 thanks to Rohit Sharma's maiden T20 century.

Sharma smashed a brilliant 106 off 66 balls, an inninings which was laced with 12 fours and five sixes.

South Africa innings

Duminy latches onto a waist-high full toss from Aravind which disappeared into the stands for his seventh six as South Africa win by seven wickets with two balls to spare.

South Africa need 10 off the last over bowled by debutant Arvind with Behardien on strike. SA 190-3, 19 overs.

Duminy slams Kumar down the ground for his half century off 28 balls followed by his sixth six as South Africa scent victory.

Duminy smashes his fourth six clearing long-off as South Africa need 24 off the last two overs. SA 176-3, 18 overs.

Duminy clobbers three consecutive sixes off Patel with the 50 partnership with Behardien off 32 balls. SA 156-3, 16 overs.

Behardien spoils a good over from Ashwin by pouncing on a short ball to send it sailing over the ropes. SA 134-3, 15 overs.

Good over for Proteas with Behardien picking up a couple of boundaries off Mohit. SA 126-3, 14 overs.

Duminy gets into his stride smashing Patel over long-on for a six. SA 115-3, 13 overs.

Arvind gets his first wicket in T20 internationals yorking Faf with a slower delivery to peg back South Africa. SA 95-3, 10.3 overs.

Faf du Plessis b Arvind 4 (5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 80.00

Duminy survives the first ball from Ashwin who beat his outside edge as South Africa are 93-2 at the halfway stage chasing 200.

AB de Villiers carves Ashwin through midwicket for his seventh boundary to complete his half century off 31 balls but is out next ball beaten in flight. SA 93-2, 9.5 overs.

AB de Villiers b Ashwin 51 (32b 7x4 1x6)

Spin seems to slowed down South Africa but there is no stopping AB who slaps Patel through the covers for a boundary. SA 87-1, 9 overs.

India get the breakthrough with Amla failing to beat a throw from Kumar going for a second. SA 77-1, 7.4 overs.

AB de Villiers run out 39 (22b 5x4 1x6)

Amla and AB have powered South Africa to 67-0 after six over chasing 200.

AB de Villiers is using the bat like a bludgeon while Amla cracks a boundary off Arvind through point with his silky touch. SA 60-0, 5 overs.

AB de Villiers hammers two consecutive boundaries on either side of the wicket off Mohit. SA 46-0, 4 overs.

Amla also gets into the act swinging Kumar to long leg for a boundary. SA 34-0, 3 overs.

AB de Villiers skips out and clobbers Arvind over midwicket for the first six of the innings and slices another over extra cover for a boundary. SA 24-0, 2 overs.

Everything seems to going South Africa's way as Amla edges one through slips for another boundary. SA 10-0, 1 over.

Amla clips the first ball from Kumar to fine leg for a boundary as Proteas begin chasing 200.

India innings

Dhoni finishes the innings in style clubbing the last ball from Abbott for a straight six as India make 199-5.

India lose another in quick succession as Rayudu sacrifices his wicket attempting a cheeky single. Ind 184-5, 18.4 overs.

Ambati Rayudu run out 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) 

Raina is trapped leg before by Morris. Ind 184-4, 18.3 overs.

Suresh Raina lbw b Morris 14 (8b 0x4 2x6)

It's raining sixes at Dharamsala with Raina sending de Lange sailing over square leg. Ind 182-3, 18 overs.

Raina top edges a short pitched delivery from Rabada over the ropes and is dropped next ball by the bowler. Ind 170-3, 17 overs.

Rohit's spectacular knock comes to an end miscuing to fine leg. Ind 162-3, 16 overs.

Rohit Sharma c Morris b Abbott 106 (66b 12x4 5x6)

South Africa get a break through as Kohli holes out to Duminy after a record 138-run stand with Rohit. Ind 160-2, 15.3 overs.

Virat Kohli c Duminy b Abbott 43 (27b 1x4 3x6)

Rohit completes his maiden T20 century which came off just 62 balls in style by flicking de Lange to long leg followed by a sweetly timed straight six. Ind 158-1, 15 overs.

Rohit has raced into the 90s smacking a couple of boundaries off Morris. Ind 140-1, 14 overs.

Tahir goes for 21 in his third over with Kohli hammering two consecutive sixes after Rohit begins the onslaught. Ind 115-1, 12 overs.

Rohit completes his century by smacking Abbott to third man fence. Ind 86-1 10 overs.

Kohli gets into the act clubbing a six and boundary off consecutive balls from Morris. Ind 65-1, 8 overs.

Rohit is on fire blasting Morris over long leg for the first six of the match. Ind 46-1, 6 overs.

Dhawan is run out as they attempt to steal a single off a misfield. India 22-1, 3.1 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan run out 3 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Rohit is on song cracking de Lange for a couple of boundaries. Ind 21-0, 3 overs.

Rohit hits the first boundary of the match carving Abbott over point. Ind 4-1, 1 over.

South Africa won the toss and put India into bat in the first T20 international at Dharamsala on Friday.

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