INDIA TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA, 2018
Live Cricket Score of South Africa vs India, 1st T20I
Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Sun, 18 Feb, 2018, 09:19 PM
Live Score Updates South Africa 175/9 (20.0 Ovs) Junior Dala 2 (3) India 203/5 Bumrah 4-0-32-0 India won by 28 runs Live Scores Full Scorecard
Suresh Raina fell cheaply in a manic powerplay period © Getty
Bhuvneshwar Kumar becomes the first Indian pacer to take atleast a five-wicket haul in all three formats of international cricket.#SAvIND — Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) February 18, 2018
It's a team hat-trick!
Bhuvi isn't getting his sixth wicket but India get one anyway via a run-out. Paterson's attempts to get a second run ends with him getting dismissed. India have got three wickets off three balls and South Africa need a nearly improbable 45 from the final two overs.
Best figures for Bhuvi
Two wickets off two balls. Two identical dismissals. First it was Klaasen and off the next ball, it's Morris. Both batsmen find the fielder at long on as Raina helps Bhuvneshwar pick up a five-fer in T20Is. What a rare feat! Well deserved as well. He is a superstar across all formats.
Another feather in his cap
Most catches by WKs in 20-over cricket:
134 MS DHONI (262 inngs) *
133 K Sangakkara (194)
123 D Karthik (196)
115 Kamran Akmal (203)
108 D Ramdin (166)
106 Naman Ojha (166)#SAvIND — Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) February 18, 2018
Bhuvi strikes again!
How good is he? On a day when bowlers keep leaking runs, Bhuvneshwar has picked up his third wicket and his economy rate is only six. He bowls one slow and wide and Hendricks mistimes it for Dhoni to safely pouch it. This is surprising though. South Africa are still not sending Morris out. Phehlukwayo comes in.
50 needed from 18
It boils down to this now with India's frontline seamers having one over to bowl each. This is going to be extremely difficult for South Africa since all three Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah and Unadkat are good at the death.
Behardien falls
The 81-run stand is broken and with that, South Africa's minor hopes take a huge hit. Behardien wants to send Chahal out of the stadium but the bottom hand leaves the handle as he attempts the shot and it's a mis-hit as a result. Pandey taking a comfortable catch.
50 for Reeza
A vital knock on a day Duminy and Miller failed to make an impact. Reeza Hendricks gets to his maiden fifty in T20Is and the crowd cheer him on. SA need 92 from the final seven overs now. A huge task ahead of them especially with Bumrah having three overs up his sleeve.
I dont wana jinx him but I hope Fudge comes good today. This is where he dominates day in and day out for the Titans — Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) February 18, 2018
RECOVERY ON TRACK - SA 103 for 3
Chahal gives away 14 in the 12th over but plenty of work still left to be done from South Africa. They need 101 off 48 now. The half-century stand between Behardien and Hendricks is also up.
At the halfway stage, South Africa have 79 for 3 with Reeza Hendricks and Farhaan Behardien plotting the home side's recovery. But they still need 125 off the last 60 balls. Will take a special effort to pull it off.
Hardik Pandya strikes!
David Miller survived a great fielding effort on the fence by Jasprit Bumrah, but fell in the same over as he mistimed a slower one from Hardik Pandya. The ball went high up in the air again, but Dhawan was once again there to complete the catch - at long on.
JP Duminy goes!
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's knuckle ball claims another! Duminy flicked the length ball, but Suresh Raina ran backwards to complete a sharp catch that sent the South Africa skipper packing. South Africa are stuttering here, they're down to 38 for 2 in 5 overs.
Early wicket!
JJ Smuts is gone! He has been foxed by a Bhuvneshwar knuckle ball. It was full and Smuts looked to flick it away. But the batter ended up hitting it really high up in the air. Shikhar Dhawan got under it and had to wait for a really long time to complete the catch. South Africa 29 for 1 in 2.5 overs.
Alright then folks! Hendricks and Smuts are out to open for South Africa. Bhuvneshwar to start for India.
India finish on 203 for 5 in 20 overs. Considering how the pitch has played out, South Africa will be pleased they gave away only 46 runs in the last five overs. India's essay was all about Shikhar Dhawan's blitz - 72 off 39 balls. There were contributions from the middle-order too - Kohli got 26, Manish Pandey got 29, MS Dhoni got 16 - just enough to push India past the 200-run mark. But is that enough on this surface? We'll have to wait and watch.
How much can India get?
Despite the regular fall of wickets, India have maintained a run rate in excess of 10 an over. They have 175/4 in 17 overs.
WICKET!
End of Shikhar Dhawan's blitzy knock! He goes for a 39-ball 72, while trying (and failing) to play a cheeky lap shot towards fine leg. Dhawan shuffled across and looked to place it in the empty space but Andile Phehlukwayo took the pace off the ball, resulting in Dhawan only managing to hit it as far as Heinrich Klaasen behind the stumps.
Half-century for Shikhar Dhawan
Amidst all the boundary fest and glut of wickets, Shikhar Dhawan has scored a half-century - his fourth in T20Is.
Virat Kohli goes!
Tabraiz Shamsi ensures not much is lost after the missed chance. He has Kohli trapped leg before off a ball that was quicker through the air, pitched on middle and spun in sharply to beat Kohli's bat and hit him high on his back pad. Shamsi was so sure of his wicket that he had run up all the way till the Indian captain at the batting crease while appealing. The umpire raised his finger, Kohli reviewed and the technology sided with the hosts. Kohli walks off for 26, India 109/3 in 9.4 overs.
DROPPED!
Virat Kohli - yes the Indian captain who has scored 500-plus runs in the ODI series - has been gifted a reprieve on 10! Tabraiz Shamsi tossed one up, and hit the ball straight down to Farhaan Behardien at long on, but the all-rounder couldn't pouch the simple chance. Kohli follows up that opportunity with a boundary! Another long day in the offing for the hosts.
Riveting start for India
They've lost Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina, but India have amassed their highest powerplay score - 78 for 2. The South Africa bowlers have perhaps lacked variation in speeds and lengths so far. Lots of short stuff that has got them a couple of wickets but has also cost them several sixes.
Maybe a change of pace guys ???? — Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) February 18, 2018
It seems like a boom-or-bust day! Suresh Raina has come out, whacked a six, survived one top-edge that went for a four and then perished on another. Shikhar Dhawan too has been trigger-happy, and has been lucky to have survived a nick to the keeper that South Africa didn't appeal for. In the midst of all the harakiri, debutant Junior Dala has two big wickets. India 49 for 2 in 4 overs.
Raina at No.3!
So captain Virat Kohli sacrifices his one-drop spot for the comeback man. Can he make the most of it?
Fiery start
Rohit Sharma whacks two sixes and a four off the opening over of the innings from Dane Paterson. 18 come off it!
TOSS: South Africa opt to bowl first. Big news coming in is that AB de Villiers is out with injury!
INDIA: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni(w), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah SOUTH AFRICA: JJ Smuts, Reeza Hendricks, JP Duminy, David Miller, Heinrich Klassen, Farhaan Behardien, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dane Paterson, Junior Dala, Tabraiz Shamsi
While you wait, do not miss this cracker of a story about AB and Faf...about the young AB and Faf and this (mis)adventures growing up together.
Prelude - Can Suresh Raina make it count?
We're nearing the very end of India's tour of South Africa. The two teams face-off in the first of the last three fixtures of the long tour, and the focus is undeniably on Suresh Raina. Raina's comeback was anticipated in the limited-overs fold was anticipated for quite some time, and after struggling with the much-dreaded yo-yo test, he finally passed it and was brought right it. Coming good in the three-match series could open new doors for the top-order batsman.
But can he make it count? We'll have to wait and see...
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SRI LANKA TOUR OF BANGLADESH 2018
Live Cricket Score of Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I
Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Sun, 18 Feb, 2018, 08:09 PM
Sri Lanka lead the two-match series 1-0 © AFP
Bangladesh have been bowled out 135. Big win for Sri Lanka to wrap up what has been a good tour for them. After having won the tri-nation one-day series, and the Test series, they finished the tour clean sweeping the hosts in Sylhet in the T20I series. Bangladesh never were in the chase having lost quick wickets up front from which they never recovered. Good all-round win for Sri Lanka who wrap up the series with a 75-run win. Thank you for your company today. Do join us the next time.
Saifuddin departs: Can't get on top of the short ball. Ends up pulling straight to deep backward square.
The resistance ends. Mahmudullah falls for 41. The slower ball popped up for a return catch to the bowler who missed the easy chance. The ball went straight to short midwicket and Mahmudullah was already halfway through for a single. Didn't stand a chance. Six down now.
Bangladesh are pegged back further as Mendis has Anamul Haque trapped leg before. Half the side is now back in the dressing room.
Just as I said that, Tamim falls. Amila Aponso picks up his maiden T20I wicket as Tamim sliced it to the waiting hands of Dananjaya.
Fifty up for Bangladesh. Tamim Iqbal stabilising the innings with skipper Mahmudullah.
MAKE THAT THREE! Bangladesh are losing the plot early. Two wickets in that Madushanka's over has Sri Lanka in the driver's seat. It was a long over with a couple of wides and also a run-out chance which would've had Mithun short of his crease. It didn't matter anyway as he fell on the last ball of the over after lobbing a leading edge to mid off for a simple catch.
POOR START: Bangladesh are off to a poor start in a steep chase. Rahim follows Sarkar back to the pavillion. This delivery was banged in short, which hurried onto Rahim as he tried to pull. Ended up handing a simple catch to mid on.
GONE FOR A DUCK! Sri Lanka strike early and Sarkar has to depart. Spoons an easy catch to cover-point. Bangladesh are 8/1. Would've been a wide had he left it alone, but he chased it.
Dasun Shanaka has shifted momentum back towards Sri Lanka with a brilliant 11-ball 30 to take them past the 200-run mark. Sri Lanka's openers started beautifully, adding 98 runs for the opening wicket, but the damage was done in the last 10 which fetched them as many as 119.
Bangladesh were sloppy in the field once again, but credit to the Sri Lankan batsmen to have attacked from the onset. Bangladesh will need a mighty spirited effort to chase down 211. Join us for the chase in a bit.
Bangladesh have clawed their way back into this game which seemed like Sri Lanka were running away with at one stage.
MENDIS DEPARTS: Shift in momentum in Sylhet as both Perera and Mendis depart in quick succession. Both the set batsmen have been sent back now. Mendis top-edges Mustafizur to deep midwicket. Departs for 70.
BIG WICKET! Perera falls after a 31-run cameo off just 17 balls. The dangerman is gone and Bangladesh can breathe easy. Abu Jayed with his maiden T20I wicket as Perera toe-ended one straight to long off!
Into the 16th over and Sri Lanka have 150 on the board. Mendis is still around.
Sri Lanka are scoring over 9 an over with seven to go. How many will they get? Over 200 from here, surely?
AND OUT! Gunathilaka finally makes his way back to the shed after Soumya Sarkar strikes in his opening over. The opening stand did not ultimately reach 100 as they fell two short. The batsman miscued one that came off the toe-end. Tamim at long off does the rest.
FIFTY FOR MENDIS! And back-to-back ones! It's been a great knock from the opener, who reached the landmark off just 29 balls. Five fours and two sixes so far. The pair is nearing a century stand.
SLOPPY! Bangladesh drop another, and this time it's the skipper Manmudullah who mistimed his jump as the ball burst through his fingers at extra cover. Gunathilaka handed a life again.
Sri Lanka have raced away to 63 at the end of the Powerplay.
GOOD START: Sri Lanka have made a brisk start to the final T20I after being asked to bat. The openers have added quick runs. Gunathilaka gave Bangladesh a chance in the fourth over, but the chance was dropped after being hit straight to mid off. It was a tough chance, but one that should've been taken. The ball popped in and out.
Teams:
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah(c), Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan, Ariful Haque, Nazmul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal(w/c), Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Akila Dananjaya, Shehan Madushanka, Isuru Udana, Amila Aponso
TOSS: Bangladesh win toss and opt to bowl; Tamim returns
Hello and welcome to the second and final T20I between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The hosts find themselves down 0-1 despite scoring their highest-ever T20I score in the first game, as Sri Lanka ended their eight-match losing streak in the format with a six-wicket win.
Some poor bowling from the hosts had them end up on the losing side. Tamim Iqbal's return, however, should boost the hosts in the final game of Sri Lanka's tour.
Join us for the toss and teams in a bit.
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T20 TRI-SERIES
Live Cricket Score - New Zealand vs England, 6th T20I, Hamilton
Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Sun, 18 Feb, 2018, 02:52 PM
Live Score Updates New Zealand 192/4 (20.0 Ovs) de Grandhomme 7 (5) England 194/7 Jordan 4-0-41-0 England won by 2 runs Live Scores Full Scorecard
England are yet to win a game in the ongoing T20I series © Getty
A win not enough to qualify
Was it Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan whose fifties went in vain or was it the half centuries from Guptill and Munro?
Tom Curran bowled a superb last over to help England win by two runs, but that wouldn't be good enough for them to qualify for the final. However, they can take heart from the fact that they didn't finish the series without a win.
New Zealand have qualified for the final but a big issue lies in front of them. Yet again, after a good start provided by the openers - Colin Munro and Martin Guptill, New Zealand's middle order failed to capitalise.
In the game
Even as New Zealand have qualified for the final, England have done well to come back into the game. The hosts now need 12 runs to win off the last over. Mark Chapman, who paddled a ball on to his stumps, is lucky to survive as Chris Jordan has overstepped. He is at the crease for the last over alongside Colin Grandhomme. Can England at least escape with one win in the series?
Taylor departs
New Zealand are only three runs shy of the qualification mark, and England are just delaying them from the target. Ross Taylor, looking to hit over the ground, holes out to the fielder at extra cover. The game is still on, but the final spot is only a shot away for the hosts.
Guptill's good form continues
Martin Guptill has continued his good form with the bat and scored a responsible fifty. In the process, he has also added a half-century stand with Mark Chapman. New Zealand are well placed in the chase.
Steady stand
Martin Guptill has been slow today but he has played a steady hand to keep New Zealand in the chase. Mark Chapman has played a few rash shots so far but done enough to survive . New Zealand need 57 runs off the last five overs to win the game. More importantly, they need only 37 runs to qualify for the final.
England hit back
After the powerplay, England spinners have looked have tightened the screws. Kane Williamson yorks himself. Martin Guptill nearly runs himself out. In the seven overs after the Powerplay, New Zealand have managed only 31 runs. Will they now look to play to win the match or to reach the final?
Munro falls
Adil Rashid has finally come into the attack, right after the powerplay - a period in which New Zealand amassed 77 runs - and strikes rightaway. Colin Munro looking to sweep him outside the ground holes out to the fielder at deep mid wicket. First strike for England. Eoin Morgan must be wondering if he brought his spinner a couple of overs too late? Nonetheless, a fine innings from the destructive Munro.
Another Munro 50
18 balls is all it takes for Colin Munro to bring up yet another half century. His attacking game has thrown the English bowlers off their lines and lengths. He is tonking them all over the park, in a brutal assualt mode. What a treat for the fans. 66 runs from 5 overs.
Reaching T20I 50s in 18 balls or less - most times
3 - Colin Munro
2 - Glenn Maxwell
1 - 5 others#NZvEng — Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 18, 2018
Nothing sweeter for Tom Curran
Colin Munro is quickly developing to be the most dangerous batsman in T20 cricket currently. He doesn't treat Tom Curran any better either. Tonks him for consecutive sixes and then in a leg glance to a leg stump yorker for a boundary. The hosts have powered themselves to 32 runs off only 2 overs. England don't have a massive target to play with, and if they keep leaking runs at this rate, the matter will be dusted rather quickly. BOth Martin Guptill and Munro are in form. The legstump line isn't helping them for sure against them.
On the move
New Zealand are on the move straightaway, led by Colin Munro's charge in the first over. The left-hander smashes David Willey for a couple of sixes, taking 13 runs off the over
A six to start, a six to finish
After Jason Roy in the first over, Eoin Morgan in his third it was Liam Dawson who went after Trent Boult in the final over, stroking him for a six and a boundary off the first two deliveries before holing out to Martin Guptill off the third. Boult finished with 3 for 50 off his four overs with England reaching 194 for 7. Morgan finished unbeaten on 80 off 46 balls - four boundaries and six sixes. New Zealand need only 175 runs to qualify for the final.
New Zealand might consider themselves as favourites to go through, but England have enough score to give a tough fight. An exciting chase awaits.
On the move
15 runs off Colin de Grandhomme's over, 18 off Trent Boult's. Eoin Morgan is taking the New Zealand bowlers apart in the death overs, exhibiting why he is still one of the best hitters in world cricket. Clean and big. How many IPL franchises are already regretting of letting the England skipper go without a bid?
In other news, Sam Billings has just middle a paddle on to the middle stump. What a way to bring about your own downfall! Boult gets his second wicket though!
Captain 50
Colin de Grandhomme, who had gone only for 17 runs off his first three overs, is whipped for a six by Eoin Morgan, who brings up his half-century. Nonetheless, it was England's first boundary in 28 balls. Another new ball has been called for. Morgan is the key as England look for a desperate late charge.
Buttler beaten, dismissed
After a couple of big overs for England, New Zealand have struck back with two wickets in two overs. After Malan, it is the out-of-form Jos Buttler who departs, Ish Sodhi, who bowled superbly, was at his best in the final over of his spell, troubling both the batsmen. Eventually, it was Buttler who was undone and out stumped.
Another slower ball strike
Third time in the innings it's a slower ball which gets the wicket for New Zealand. And it's a pacer again - Colin de Grandhomme who strikes. Looking to clear the ground, half centurion Dawid Malan holes out to Chapman at deep mid wicket. Malan, who was dropped off the penultimate ball of the previous over by the 'keeper, fails to make the opportunity count.
New balls, please
Dawid Malan has continued his good form and brings up yet another half century clubbing a free-hit off Ish Sodhi outside the park for a six. Umpires have called for a new ball.
Dawid Malan's good winter continues, hits his fourth fifty in first five T20 internationals - only man to do so #NZvEng — Alan Gardner (@alanroderick) February 18, 2018
After Santner
4, wide, 4, 4, 6, wide, 1, 0 - Eoin Morgan has also got going. Whatever was in the zone was dispatched past the bvoundary ropes. Mitchell Santner tried to vary his line but there was little he could do to contain the England skipper. England have gone past the 100-run mark in the 11th over and look well-placed to go past 200 by the end of the innings. The spin ploy certainly doesn't seem to be working for the hosts for now.
The $50,000 man © Getty
Malan charge
The in-form Dawid Malan has taken little time to find his groove. With two left-handers in the middle - Eoin Morgan and Malan - Kane Wiliamson decided to bring himself on to the attack and use his offspinners to trouble them. However, the move has backfired with Malan striking him a six straight down the ground, followed by one from Morgan in the same region a couple of balls later.
Tim Southee and Trent Boult are appearing together in their 100th international match since 2011. They have so far claimed 511 wickets (Southee 244, Boult 267).#NZvEng — Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 18, 2018
Strike 2
The slower balls and working for New Zealand. Trent Boult returns to the attack from the other end and strikes, dismissing the dangerous-looking Jason Roy. Roy departs in a fashion similar to that of his opening partner Alex Hales, failing to clear the infield and giving Williamson his second catch at mid-off. Another easy one for the New Zealand skipper.
Hales falls
Tim Southee, who replaces Trent Boult, has struck early. Alex Hales, looking to play over the top, fails to connect well and holes out to Kane Williamson at mid off.
Spin on
New Zealand have quickly resorted to spin, bringing Mitchell Santner on from the other end. The left-arm spinner bowls fast and flat. But a reverse sweep and a slog through mid-wicket helps Jason Roy earn back-to-back boundaries. Another good over for England. 22 runs from 2.
Quick start
Very little time to settle in. Alex Hales goes after Trent Boult, tonking him for a six over widish long on off the third ball of the game followed by a boundary. 11 runs of the over. England need to pile on a massive score to have any hopes of qualifying for the final. Expect a lot of fireworks today.
Toss
New Zealand have won the toss and elected to field. All-rounder Mitchell Santner returns to the side. And Ben Wheeler, who went for 64 runs in 3.1 overs in the previous game, has been left out. also the 100th game together for New Zealand's lead pacers - Trent Boult and Tim Southee
For England, skipper Eoin Morgan has returned to the side.
England (Playing XI): Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Billings, Liam Dawson, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Chris Jordan, Tom Curran
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Mark Chapman, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Seifert (wk), Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
England need to win by about 20 runs or with about two overs to spare against New Zealand tomorrow to qualify for the final of the T20 tri-series. #NZvEng — Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) February 17, 2018
Build Up
Hello and welcome to the live updates of the Match 6 of the T20I tri-series, to be played between New Zealand and England. The visitors, led by Eoin Morgan, are yet to win a game in the ongoing series and even a win against New Zealand in the final group game wouldn't guarantee them a win. They will need to beat the hosts by a massive margin. Will they be able to do it? New Zealand, on the other hand, are comfortably placed to join Australia in the final. But they would be well aware that the job is not complete as yet.
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INDIA TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA, 2018
Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar guide India to 1-0 lead
Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Sun, 18 Feb, 2018, 09:45 PM
Dhawan scored 72 off just 39 balls. © AFP
After Shikhar Dhawan's 39-ball 72 set up India's massive first-innings total, Bhuvneshwar Kumar's five-wicket haul ensured South Africa would eventually fall short of it despite opener Reeza Hendricks's commendable batting effort (70 off 50 balls). A blitzy stand between Hendricks and Farhaan Behardien threatened to upstage India's big score, but that was spectacularly thwarted during Bhuvneshwar's final spell. South Africa lost five wickets for just 21 runs, and finished 28 short of India's total to give the visitors a 1-0 series lead.
In a harakiri-filled batting powerplay, India lost Rohit Sharma and comeback man Suresh Raina, but also smashed their highest score in that period in the format - 78 runs. That came mainly through a glut of fours and sixes after JP Duminy saw a good reason to win the toss and put the visitors in. In a venue where the ball travels quicker through the air, India began with an 18-run over via Rohit's twin sixes and a four off pacer Dane Paterson. Debutant fast bowler Junior Dala pulled things back for his side in the second over, as he got Rohit to nick one to Heinrich Klaasen behind the stumps. The decision had to be reviewed by the home side as the umpire and Rohit seemed unmoved by the appeal, but the show of deviation in the snickometer when the ball went past the bat sent Rohit on his way.
Suresh Raina earned a promotion on his comeback but hardly did justice to the opportunity. His seven-ball manic stay in the middle involved a trademark hit over midwicket for a six, a big heave on the offside that the fielder nearly reached, but didn't and it trickled for a four, and another four over backward point. The flow and rhythm was back, but Raina pushed his luck while going for another aerial shot. Junior Dala called well and completed a catch off his own bowling to pick up his second scalp. Amidst all this, Dhawan kept scoring boundaries at will. Dala's third over - and the last of the batting powerplay - saw the left-handed opener smash two fours and six, taking India to 78 for 2.
Even after the field restrictions were relaxed, there was more heartache for South Africa as Behardien dropped a sitter at long on - giving Virat Kohli a life when the Indian captain was on just a run-a-ball 11. Kohli hit a four and a six off the same over, and looked set to boss over South Africa bowlers once again on the long tour. Tabrais Shamsi however, hit back and didn't let that missed opportunity cost South Africa too much. He trapped Kohli leg before in his next over for 26. Kohli reviewed but in vain, and exited in the 10th over with India's total just over a 100 runs.
In the 12th over of the innings, Dhawan completed his 27-ball half-century - his fourth in the format - in the company of Manish Pandey. Even with the fall of wickets, India maintained the scoring rate at over 10, courtesy Dhawan's free-scoring ways. From 50 off 27, Dhawan added 22 off the next 11 balls, before Andile Phehlukwayo deceived him with change of pace. Dhawan shuffled across and looked to scoop one in the fine leg region, but the lack of pace on the ball meant his shot went only as far as Klaasen behind the stumps.
The platform was there for the likes of Pandey, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya to force a late burst to take India's tally well beyond the 200-run mark, but South Africa bowlers did well to put a lid on those aspirations. In relative terms, they would've been glad to have only conceded 46 runs off the last five overs as India finished on 203 for 5.
A 14-run second over from Jaydev Unadkat gave South Africa the sort of start they needed but Bhuvneshwar Kumar did what South Africa bowlers didn't at the start of the innings - used smart change of pace. JJ Smuts was foxed by a knuckle ball which the batter looked to flick away. The ball went high in the air and took a lot of time to come down, but when it did, it landed in Shikhar Dhawan's safe hands. With another slower one in his next over, Bhuvneshwar sent JP Duminy packing. The South African captain attempted an aerial flick over midwicket but Raina took a sharp catch running backwards.
South Africa managed just 41 in the first six overs and were in desperate need of a move on. David Miller smashed Hardik Pandya's first ball for a six - just about timing it well enough to deny Jasprit Bumrah an excellent catch at the fence - but became the third batsman to be hoodwinked by a slower delivery. His shot ballooned up and was taken at long on by Dhawan.
After watching rest of the top-order crumbling, from the other end, Hendricks finally found a batting partner in Farhaan Behardien, with whom he could try and plot South Africa's recovery. The pair did admirably well to keep South Africa in the chase, considering they needed 125 runs off the last 60 balls. The duo plastered 81 runs off the next 8.4 overs, during which Hendricks took Yuzvendra Chahal apart. Hendricks smashed his first-ever half-century at the international level and began to make India a tad uncomfortable on the field. Behardien too played his part well, but his exit in the 15th over swung the pendulum back in India's favour.
The equation was down to South Africa needing 75 off the last five overs, but Hendricks retained the determination to take the game all the way. He and Klaasen brought it down to 50 off three overs, but unfortunately for them, India could still turn to Bhuvneshwar. The India pacer - who rattled South Africa early on, came back to complete a superb five-wicket haul, thereby completely derailing the home side's chase. From 154 for 4 in 17 overs, South Africa were kept down to 175 for 9 by the end of the innings.
Brief Scores: India 203/5 in 20 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 72, Manish Pandey 29*; Junior Dala 2-47) beat South Africa 175/9 in 20 overs (Reeza Hendricks 70, Farhaan Behardien 39; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 5-24) by 28 runs
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