IND vs SA T20 2024: Sanju Samson century powers India to 61-run ...

The Indian men’s cricket team registered a convincing 61-run victory over South Africa in the first of the four-match T20 2024 series played at the Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.

World No. 1 India, facing the sixth-ranked South African side for the first time since beating them in the T20 World Cup 2024 final in June, posted 202/8 in 20 overs. Sanju Samson’s fluent 107 off 50 balls at the top proved to be decisive.

Indian bowlers, led by Varun Chakravarthy (3/25) and Ravi Bishnoi (3/28), picked up regular wickets to keep the South African run chase in check and eventually seal the victory in 17.5 overs after bowling out their opponents on 141.

Opting to bowl first, South Africa struck early as India lost opener Abhishek Sharma (7) in the fourth over. However, Sanju Samson took advantage of the shorter square boundaries and lifted India to 56/1 at the end of the powerplay.

Samson’s half-century came in just 27 balls with two towering sixes off leggie Nqabayomzi Peter in the eighth over.

Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav (21) fell in the ninth over but Tilak Varma’s knock of 33 off 18 allowed Sanju to flourish from the other end.

Samson, who struck 111 off 47 against Bangladesh in his last match in October, became the first Indian batter to hit consecutive T20I centuries with a single in the 15th over.

His whirlwind 107, featuring 10 sixes and seven boundaries, lifted India to a strong 167/3 in 15 overs.

However, Sanju’s departure in the 16th over saw India lose momentum as the world champions managed only 35 off the final five overs to finish at 202/8.

Gerald Coetzee picked up three wickets for 37 runs from his four overs and was the most successful bowler for the Proteas.

In reply, South Africa’s chase faltered early as Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh removed skipper Aiden Markram (8) in the opening over. Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs followed soon after as South Africa were reduced to 44/3 inside six overs.

The right and left-handed combination of Heinrich Klaasen (25) and David Miller (18) tried to rebuild the innings but the Indian spinners, led by Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, kept a firm grip on the contest.

South Africa were 79/3 after 11 overs, with 124 needed of the remaining 54 balls. With the required rate climbing up to 14 per over, Klaasen and Miller tried to up the ante but were dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy in the 12th over.

South Africa slipped to 93/7 by the 13th over, with the chase out of reach.The lower batting order, led by Gerald Coetzee (23 off 11), showed some fight but the target of 203 proved too much in the end as South Africa folded on 141 in 17.5 overs.

The second match of the India vs South Africa T20 series 2024 will be played at St George's Park in Gqebera on Sunday. The four-match T20 series will conclude on November 15.

IND vs SA T20 2024 1st match brief scores: India 202/8 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 107; Gerald Coetzee 3/37) beat South Africa 141/10 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 25; Varun Chakravarthy 3/25) by 61 runs.