Finally, the streak is broken and India has faced its first loss in the last 13 games. The dream of becoming the first team to win consecutive 13 T20I games has been shattered by the brilliance of David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen. India also registered their first loss after defending 200+ runs at home. It all started with the toss. Temba Bavuma won the toss and asked India to bat first.
The Men in Blue had a great start and both openers added 57 runs for the first wicket. Gaikwad got out after scoring 23 off 15, which brought Shreyas Iyer to the crease. Then he added another 80 runs for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan. The left-hander scored his third half-century and scored 76.
All the Indian batters took on the South African bowling. In the end, a cameo from skipper Rishabh Pant (29 off 16) and vice-captain Hardik Pandya (31 off 12) helped India to reach a big score of 211/4.
Chasing the big target, the visitors lost the wicket of their skipper early. But all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius got promotion up the order and he didn’t disappoint. He played a brilliant cameo of 29 off 13.
South Africa had the run-rate under control but lost two quick wickets. At 81/3, India were all-over the visitors. But then came an unbeaten match-winning partnership between Miller and Der Dussen.
Twitter Reacts on the Captaincy of Rishabh Pant
Both batters added 131* off to seal the deal for South Africa and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Miller took the charge initially, but later on, Dussen also found the rhythm and smashed the Indian bowler all over the ground.
Miller was unbeaten on 64 off 31 and Dussen on 75 off 46. The left-hander also won the “Man of the Match”. This was also the most successful run-chase against India in history.