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Vice-captain K.L Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav hit unbeaten fifties to help India beat South Africa by eight wickets in the first T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium on Wednesday.
South Africa bowlers were able to take out Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early on a pitch that was made for fast bowlers to have fun, as evidenced by the five-wicket burst provided by Arshdeep Singh and Deepak Chahar earlier in the match.
With the required run rate not too high, Rahul hung in and, along with Suryakumar, put on an unbeaten stand of 93 off 63 balls to chase down 107 with 18 balls remaining, giving India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
A peach from Kagiso Rabada in the second over enticed Rohit Sharma into playing at it, and his thick edge went behind to Quinton de Kock, who dived to his right to dismiss the Indian captain for a two-ball duck.
Virat Kohli tried to cut a short and wide ball from Anrich Nortje after India made 17/1, their lowest score in the six overs phase, only for the extra bounce to take the edge behind to de Kock. Suryakumar smashed back-to-back sixes after hopping and fending on his first ball, a top-edge on pull going over third man and a nonchalant flick going over backward square leg.
Suryakumar slapping through point for four off Keshav Maharaj after Rahul was kept quiet by a slew of outswingers and inswingers and surviving close lbw shouts off Parnell and Rabada.
Rahul lofted a pacy full toss from Nortje over cover for six, while Suryakumar hit a slower ball through point for four as India began to cruise to victory.
Suryakumar continued to collect fours with ease against Rabada, reaching his second consecutive fifty in the next over in 33 balls. Rahul slog-swept Shamsi over backward square leg on the next ball to reach his fifty in 56 balls and finish the chase in style.
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