IND vs SA: Sanju Samson, Spinners script dominating victory for India in Durban

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India's juggernaut in the T20Is continued as they registered a magnificent victory over South Africa in the first T20I on Friday (November 8).

Sanju Samson starred with the bat as the visitors secured a 61-run victory at Durban. With the victory, team India has now taken a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.

IND vs SA: As it Happened

India were put into bat by South Africa captain Aiden Markram. On an overcast afternoon, it looked the right decision but Sanju Samson emerged the dominating factor, rather than the South African pacers.

Abhishek Sharma (8 off 7 balls) departed early but Samson continued his onslaught. The stylish batter decimated the Proteas bowlers across the park and stitched a partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav of 66 runs in just 37 deliveries. After Suryakumar's dismissal, Samson continued and registered his 2nd T20I century. With that, the batter became the first Indian to score consecutive T20I centuries.

Sanju scored 107 runs off just 50 deliveries, hitting 7 fours and 10 sixes in it. Tilak Varma (33 off 21) also played well but India suffered a late collapse. They could only manage 35 runs and lost five wickets in the final 5 overs, thus finishing 202 for 8 at the end.

South Africa were rocked early as Arshdeep Singh dismissed Aiden Markram in the first over. Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton were also sent back early in their knocks. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller started to build a strong partnership, but the former's wicket changed the scenario completely. Varun Chakravarthy got the wicket of Miller (18 off 22), and Heinrich Klaasen (25 off 22) followed soon to break the spine of the run chase. Then Ravi Bishnoi came into the party and got a double blow in an over, sending Patrick Kruger (1) and Andile Simelane (6) back to the pavilion. Gerald Coetzee fought for the Proteas with a couple of enormous blows, but it was too bigger a bridge to cross for the Proteas tail, who fell well short of the chase.

The hosts got bowled out for 141 runs with more than two overs to spare. Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, India's spin twins got three wickets each while Avesh Khan also managed a couple of wickets.

IND vs SA 1st T20I Brief Scores

India: 202 for 8 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 107, Tilak Varma 33; Gerald Coetzee 3/33)

South Africa: 141 all out in 17.5 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 25, Gerald Coetzee 23; Varun Chakravarthy 3/25)

Result: India won by 61 runs