India-South Africa T20I: Kishan, Pandya's fireworks help India to post 211/4 against South Africa
New Delhi: Batsman Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya's fireworks helped India set a massive 212-run target for South Africa in the first T20I at Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Thursday.
211/4 is the highest total for India versus South Africa surpassing the previous high of 203/5 in Johannesburg in 2018.
Kishan's power-hitting batting display put India on course for a big total. He smashed 76 runs off 48 balls with 11 boundaries and 3 sixes.
The Mumbaikar completed his half-century by smoking Keshav Maharaj for a six on the 37th ball he faced. It was, however, a chance knock for Kishan. Right after celebrating his 50 he miscued a slog sweep but the ball fortunately landed between several onrushing fielders.
Before he walked back to the pavilion, Kishan copped over Maharaj by punishing him for two sixes in the first two balls and crasmoking two boundaries in next two.
He miscued a sweep shot and was given out by the straight umpire but overruled it after the TV umpire ruled the DRS in Kishan's favour on the fifth ball of the over.
The very next ball Maharaj had his man after Kishan found the long-on fielder.
India were off to a great start as both Ishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad rode their luck to stitch a 50+ opening stand.
Shreyas Iyer (36 off 27 1x4 3x6) played his part by taking on the spinners in the middle overs though he decreased the pace of his innings in the second half of his knock.
Captain Rishabh Pant (29 off 16 2x4 2x6) made handy runs and then Hardik Pandya (31 no 2x4 3x6) displayed his swag with the bat donning the finisher's role to perfection.
Ariche Nortje bowled a great last over to keep it to 211.
(With UNI inputs)
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