IND Win by 61 Runs | India vs South Africa Highlights of 1st T20I 2024: Sanju Samson, Spinners Help Hosts Kickoff Series With Sensational Victory

That's It! South Africa never really got into the chase and got bowled out for only 141 runs. The credit for this has to go to the Indian spinners who together scalped six wickets and never allowed the Proteas batters to get into the game. Earlier, India got to a very competitive score due to century scored by Sanju Samson. Overall, a clinical performance from the Indian stars in the opening match of the series. 

Out! Horrible mixup results in a wicket. Keshav Maharaj sets off for a single that didn't exist. Gerald Coetzee responded and was hoping against hope to get through. Suryakumar Yadav nails the direct hit and Coetzee has to go back. Gerald Coetzee run out (Suryakumar Yadav) 23(11).

Out! One more down. After some solid hits, Marco Jansen finally miscues one and South Africa are now waiting for the loss to arrive. The spin duo continue to enjoy and this time it was the turn of Ravi Bishnoi to scalp his third wicket. Marco Jansen c Hardik Pandya b Ravi Bishnoi 12(8).

Out! South Africa have completely lost the plot here. First Patrick Kruger miscued a big shot and then Andile Simelane got trapped infront in the same over of Ravi Bishnoi. Bishnoi has grabbed the momentum generated by Varun Chakaravarthy and pushed South Africa deeper into the trench. Simelane lbw b Ravi Bishnoi 6(4) and Patrick Kruger c Hardik Pandya b Ravi Bishnoi 1(2).

Out! Wickets falling in a heap for South Africa now. After Heinrich Klaasen now David Miler tries to go over the top but doesn't connect well. Another comfortable catch in the deep and South Africa is in tatters now.  Miller c Avesh Khan b Varun Chakaravarthy 18(22).

Out! Heinrich Klaasen perishes and South Africa's chances got bleaker with the wicket. It is Varun Chakaravarthy again. Hits the hard length, skids through and Klaasen mishits it into the hands of long on. Proteas are in trouble now. Klaasen c Axar b Varun Chakaravarthy 25(22).

Despite the target being a steep one and early loss of wickets Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller have been somehow able to maintain the required run rate and keep the Proteas alive in the chase. They are trying to take the game as deep as possible and then launch an assault. 

Out! Varun Chakaravarthy strikes just in his second over. Bowls a length ball and Ryan Rickelton desperately goes for the slog sweep. The deep mid-wicket fielder was ready for it and takes the catch comfortably. India ahead in the game now. Rickelton c Tilak Varma b Varun Chakaravarthy 21(11).

Out! Big wicket for India. Tristan Stubbs wanted to go over covers but Avesh Khan's ball hit his bat hard and just scooped to the hands of mid-off. The pressure of the runs has worked in India's favour.  Tristan Stubbs c Suryakumar Yadav b Avesh Khan 11(11).

Despite the fall of Aiden Markram's wicket, South Africa have showcased intent. Ryan Rickelton took the charge against Avesh Khan in the second over, and hammered the pacer for back-to-bakc boundaries. Rickelton is joined by Tristan Stubbs in the middle. 

OUT! Arshdeep Singh gets the big fish, South African captain Aiden Markram departs. After slamming successive boundaries, Markram trying to flick the ball off the pads, got unbdone by late swing with the ball taking the edge of the bat, and going straight into the wicketkeeper's hand. Aiden Markram c Sanju Samson b Arshdeep Singh 8(4)

That's It! Solid comeback from South Africa in the end overs. India were 167/3 when Tilak Varma was dismissed in the 15th over. In the next 5 overs they have gathered only 35 runs and lost five wickets. Sanju Samson scored the majority of the runs in one of his best innings ever. But except for Tilak Varma he didn't get much support from anyone else. South Africa were on spot in the death overs and were also good in the outfield with their fielding and catching. They will consider the target chasable. Ravi Bishnoi run out (Klaasen/Marco Jansen) 1(3).

Out! India is collapsing in the end overs now. Axar Patel connects one outside offstump just short of length but it is the longer side and Marco Jansen was able to extract some bounce because of his height. Tristan Stubbs settles and takes a good catch. Axar c Tristan Stubbs b Marco Jansen 7(7).

Out! Gerald Coetzee is on a roll here. Gets the change of pace correctly, Rinku Singh tries to come inside the line and hoik it over deep fine leg but doesn't get the connect and the ball scoops to the hands of Heinrich Klaasen who completes a good catch. Rinku Singh c Klaasen b Gerald Coetzee 11(10).

Out! Hardik Pandya doesn't manage to jump into the river of momentum. Throws his hands at one from Gerald Coetzee outside offstump but the ball doesn't get enough elevation to clear deep cover. Has to depart without hitting any boundary. Hardik Pandya c Marco Jansen b Gerald Coetzee 2(6).

Out! An unfortunate end to a solid innings from Sanju Samson. Nqaba Peter went short again and Sanju's eyes lit up once again. Went for the pull shot but was a little late and despite a good connection the ball held up in the air and Tristan Stubbs took a really good catch in the deep.  Samson c Tristan Stubbs b Nqabayomzi Peter 107(50).

Out! Tilak Varma's breezy knock comes to an end. India won't mind as he has been showing his intent throughout his stay on the crease. Attempts the slog sweep but wasn't able to get a good connection. Keshav Maharaj has finally got the breakthrough. Tilak Varma c Marco Jansen b Maharaj 33(18).

Century! Back-to-Back T20I hundreds for Sanju and he becomes the first batter to achieve the feat for India in the history of International cricket. He has been sublime throughout in his innings. Some of the shots he played were just class. The experiment of opening the batting has really come off for him and he brings up his second T20I hundred in some style. 

As Sanju Samson keeps smashing the bowlers from one end, Tilak Varma also provided him with good support from the other end. He expressed his intent clearly after coming to the crease and played some great shots to keep the scoreboard ticking. 

Out! Patrick Kruger will be relieved. He bowled a really long over with the wides and no balls and looked in sea. But the last ball of the over was a well-executed knuckleball and Suryakumar mistimed the pull in the hands of deep mid-wicket. Suryakumar Yadav c Simelane b Patrick Kruger 21(17).