All-round Pandya, bowlers hand India thumping win over S.Africa

Hardik Pandya struck an unbeaten 59 and took a key wicket as India thrashed South Africa by IOI runs in the first T20 international on Tuesday.

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Pandya’s 28-ball blitz, laced with six fours and four sixes, powered reigning world champions India to 175-6 after they were put in to bat first in Cuttack.

The Indian bowlers then combined to skittle South Africa for their lowest T20 total of 74 in 12.3 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series as part of their buildup for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February-March.

India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill returned from injury for the match but had a disappointing outing.

He started with a boundary off Lungi Ngidi but got out next ball when he spooned a catch to mid-off.

Wickets kept tumbling as T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav fell for 12 and swashbuckling opener Abhishek Sharma soon followed him for 17 as India slipped to 78-4.

But all-rounder Pandya made an instant impact at the crease on his international return after suffering a quadriceps injury in September.

"I was very satisfied with the way I was batting,” Pandya said after being named player of the match.