India v South Africa 1st T20I review: Rohit’s ton in vain as South Africa chase 200

India v South Africa 1^st T20I review: Rohit’s ton in vain as South Africa chase 200: What a start it’s been to the Gandhi-Mandela series. Not many times would a batsman who scores a century in T20s finish on the losing side. But that’s exactly what transpired. A fabulous knock from JP Duminy and some lacklustre bowling by the hosts meant Rohit’s brilliant century was to count for nothing.

The visitors eventually won the game by 7 wickets in the final over. Dew also played a major role but affected both sides equally. India pulled the game back nicely after the South African openers got to a quick start. But the late assault from the visitors was too much to handle as Indian bowlers capitulated under pressure.

Earlier South Africa’s much talked about the attack was able to make first use of conditions after Faf du Plessis put India into bat in Dharamsala. Rohit was pretty busy right from the start. He and Dhawan started opening their arms but Dhawan was unfortunately run out when he tried to steal a second run off a misfield and AB de Villiers quickly removed the bails.

Rohit after escaping a close LBW shout went absolutely berserk soon after losing his opening partner. Along with Kohli he added 50 in just 35 balls and the duo looked comfortable against spin and pace alike. A neat uppercut and then a lap over fine leg followed his fifty.

The spinners were always going to be quite ineffective given the dew on the ground. Tahir barely managed to turn even a single delivery and both – Rohit and Kohli – recognized this early. Tahir’s 3rd over, the 12th of the innings, cost 21 runs including three massive sixes. Kohli became the first Indian batsman to go past 1000 T20I runs as well.

It took him just 23 deliveries after his half century for Rohit to get to a magnificent ton. It was his first in T20Is and only the second by an Indian after Suresh Raina. What was profusely on display was how he can switch gears within a matter of few deliveries. Virat Kohli fell for a 27-ball 43, but he had done his job. India looked well set to cross the 200-mark after 15 overs.

Twice in the innings, India lost two wickets in an over. Rohit and Kohli fell in the same Abbott over while Raina and Rayudu fell in the 18th over. Dhoni assumed the role of finisher and was quite determined to keep strike as much as possible late in the innings. He smashed the final ball over the boundary to give India a boost as it meant South Africa needed to chase exactly 200.

Without breaking the sweat, Amla and de Villiers put on 34 in just 3 overs to start the chase. Sreenath Aravind, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohit Sharma were all taken to task as the tourists reached 60 in just the 6^th over. Amla was finally dismissed while going for a quick second run but was well short. AB was looking seemingly ominous, bringing up his fifty with nonchalant ease.

India desperately needed someone to get rid of him and Ashwin did exactly that with a nicely tossed up delivery that beat AB in the flight spun past him and hit the stumps. What followed was the South African skipper du Plessis playing on to give the debutant Aravind his first international wicket. Ashwin was getting some turn and making it difficult for Duminy and Behardien.

But after getting set they took the Indian bowlers to the cleaners. South Africa needed 66 runs in the last 5 overs but with 7 wickets in hand they were still on course. Duminy smashed three sixes off Axar Patel to tilt the equation in South Africa’s favour. He put on a good stand with Farhaan Behardien as South Africa inched closer to victory. The southpaw was lucky though to have been adjudged not out against a plumb LBW shout off Bhuvneshwar but made it count thereafter.

South Africa required 10 off the final over and debutant Aravind was the one entrusted with the job. After a couple of good deliveries, Duminy put all doubts to rest as he smacked a gigantic six and sealed the game for South Africa.

What an enthralling finish and what a start to the tour. This sets up the series nicely. Both teams will have to look at their bowling resources. We can expect another high scoring game in Cuttack.

Brief Scores

India – 199/5 (20 ov) (Rohit 106, Kohli 43;  Abbot 2-29)

South Africa – 200/3 (19.3 ov) (Duminy 68, de Villiers 51;  Ashwin 1-26)

South Africa won by 7 wickets

Man of the Match – JP Duminy