Shikar with the bat, Bhuvi with the ball crushed Proteas
Shikar with the bat, Bhuvi with the ball crushed Proteas
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ndian opening star batsmen Shikhar Dhawan with his magnificent 39-balls scored 72 runs 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 runs 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 mandatory batting powerplay, India lost opener Rohit Sharma and comeback master of strokes 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.

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