South Africa were dominated in the first T20I against India, losing by 101 runs.
Proteas captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bowl first in the opening T20 International against India at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday.
The Proteas began positively with the ball, reducing India to 78-4 after 11.4 overs. Lutho Sipamla and Lungi Ngidi bowled with control and aggression, striking early blows.
Ngidi opened the account by dismissing Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav, while Sipamla removed Abhishek Sharma for 17. Ngidi then claimed Tilak Varma, who had made 26.
But it was Hardik Pandya who dominated the middle overs, blasting 59 off 28 balls, featuring six fours and four sixes. Despite wickets falling to Sipamla (Axar Patel, 23) and Donovan Ferreira (Shivam Dube, 11), Pandya’s explosive innings guided India to 175-6.
South Africa’s reply never got going. The Proteas struggled against India’s pace attack, with Dewald Brevis top-scoring with 22 off 14 balls.
Ultimately, they were bowled out cheaply, leaving India in a commanding position.
India bowled SA out for 74 and won by 101 runs.