IND vs SA | What Happened The Last Time When India & South Africa Clashed In A T20I In Durban?
Kingsmead, Durban will host the 1st T20I between IND and SA [X.com]
After securing a thumping 4-1 victory against Australia at home, India will cross swords against South Africa in the first T20I of the much-anticipated three-match series today evening. The epic encounter is set to be played at the iconic Kingsmead in Durban.
This series holds significant importance for team India, as it will help them resolve their grey areas before the all-important T20 World Cup next year in the Caribbean. So, as Suryakumar Yadav's troops gear up to take on the Proteas, let's revisit the iconic game when both teams clashed for the last time in Durban.
What Happened The Last Time When India & South Africa Collided In A T20I In Durban?
India and South Africa have faced each other in a solitary T20I at the Kingsmead in Durban, where the Proteas suffered a gut-wrenching 37-run defeat from their counterparts. The stage was the inaugural ICC World T20, where India eventually emerged victorious by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in the final.
Rohit & Dhoni's fireworks guide India to a respectable score
Rohit Sharma played a memorable knock [X.com]
It was the 24th match of the tournament, with India desperately needing a victory to stay alive in the competition. However, they had a disastrous start to the innings, as the rampant South African pace battery, led by the legendary duo of Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, rattled their top order.
However, a young Rohit Sharma came to India's rescue, rising to the occasion and slamming a memorable 40-ball 50 on a deck having significant assistance for the fast bowlers. Skipper MS Dhoni also did his job perfectly, guiding India to a competitive total of 153 runs in 20 overs.
RP Singh & Co. strangle South Africa through relentless bowling
RP Singh celebrating Pollock's dismissal [X.com]
In response, South Africa had an even worse start, with RP Singh and S Sreesanth reducing them to 31 for five. Albie Morkel and Mark Boucher steadied the ship for the hosts, adding a fighting 69-run stand for the sixth wicket.
But as soon as Sreesanth cleaned up Boucher, the South African tail fell like a pack of cards. As a result, they finished on a paltry 116-run total on the board, losing the game by 37 runs.
With the emphatic victory, India got the much-needed momentum before the knockouts, which helped them clinch the first-ever T20 World Cup.
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