India started the T20 series against South Africa in fine style, winning the opener at Wanderers relatively comfortably.
Virat Kohli’s men put up 203 runs on the board after batting first before restricting the Proteas to 175-9 in their 20 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Here we look at the good and the bad from India’s 28-run win.
THE GOOD
DHAWAN CASHES IN
Virat Kohli gets a perfect 10 in India’s report-card after historic South Africa ODI triumph
Carrying on from his efforts in the ODIs, Shikhar Dhawan seemed in cruise control from ball one. On a pitch perfect for shot-making, the left-hander attacked pacers and spinners in equal measure.
He raced away to a 27-ball fifty, his fourth in T20I cricket, as he helped India post their highest-ever power-play score of 78-2. Dhawan found gaps at will as he combined aggression with placement before ultimately falling for a 39-ball 72.
Shikhar Dhawan's fifty of 27 balls today - the fastest by an Indian against SA in T20Is.
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) February 18, 2018
Prev. 32 balls by Rohit Sharma at Durban in 2011#SAvIND
BHUVNESHWAR AT HIS BEST
Bhuvneshwar Kumar enjoyed some well deserved rest in the final ODI and came back fresh for the T20 opener. Where South Africa’s pacers failed, he succeeded by making use of his variations; he removed Jon-Jon Smuts and JP Duminy with a knuckle ball and leg-cutter respectively.
He then returned at the death to pick up three wickets in his final over to finish with best-ever T20 figures of 5-24 off his four overs to seal the game for India.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar first Indian paceman to claim a five wicket haul in T20Is#SAvInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 18, 2018
THE BAD
DANE PATERSON’S HORROR START
The 28-year-old opened the bowling for the Proteas and was taken to the cleaners by India’s openers. Rohit Sharma went after him in the first over smashing two sixes before Dhawan inflicted similar punishment in his next over.
Paterson went for 31 runs off his first two overs and although he bowled two tight overs at the end, he finished with figures of 0-48.
Paterson did not have the best of starts with the ball.
DUMINY FAILS TO LEAD FROM THE FRONT
After losing stalwart AB de Villiers for the entire series to a knee-injury, the onus was on South Africa’s captain and senior-most batsman to lead from the front.
JP Duminy however, succumbed to the scoreboard pressure. He threw his wicket away to a slower delivery from Bhuvneshwar to perish for just three runs off seven balls.
