India vs South Africa Live Cricket Score, 1st T20: India inflicted early damage on South Africa’s chase in Johannesburg. (Source: BCCI)
India come into the three-match T20 series brimming with confidence and they should – they’ve ended South Africa’s unbeaten run of ODIs, unbeaten series run and taken away the top ranking in the end. As the two teams enter the final leg, India would hope to start the T20s in the same flawless fashion that they have protrayed in the 50 over matches. South Africa, on the other hand, would be boosted by six changes in the 14-man squad. They would also take heart from the fact that they were able to beat India in the rain shortened ODI in Johannesburg – venue for the first T20. Focus will be on a returning Suresh Raina who is looking for a spot in next year’s World Cup squad. JP Duminy will lead the Proteas in Faf du Plessis’ absence. Catch live score and updates from India vs South Africa, 1st T20.
The first T20 between India vs South Africa is being played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. It is the first ODI of the three-match series. It is being aired live on Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 1 HD (commentary in English), Sony Ten 3 and Sony Ten 3 HD (for commentary in Hindi). Viewers can stream India vs South Africa live on SonyLiv.com on the website and the app.
India vs South Africa, Live Cricket Score and Updates, 1st T20:
India needed that wicket. That one wicket to break the partnership and the momentum that South Africa had garnered. Yuzvendra Chahal provides that as Behardien walks back after scoring 39 runs from 27 balls. Got to the pitch of the ball but didn't time it properly and is picked up by Pandey at long-on. South Africa are 129/4 after 15 overs
Virat Kohli is getting some treatment in the dugout. He;s off the field of play and seeing South Africa taking control of things now. Ankle trouble apparently for the skipper. Physio seated right next to him. South Africa are 121/3 in 14 overs. Bumrah goes for 9 runs. Good recovery after going for a six on the first ball
Hendricks brings up his first T20 fifty. 51 from 37 balls with five boundaries and a six. A double to get there. How important it may prove to be in the end and in South Africa's chase in the end? Will it take the hosts to a win? South Africa: 112/3 in 13 overs
Hendricks and Behardien are giving South Africa some much needed life in this chase. Chahal facing the brunt of the big hitting. After Behardien's boundary, Hendricks joins in with consecutive boundaries. 14 runs from the 12th over. South Africa are 103/3 in 12 overs. 101 needed from 48 balls
Another slower ball, another South Africa batsman fails to pick it, another catch. Dhawan with his second take and David Miller departs for 9 from 5 balls. Hardik Pandya the bowler this time. Rolls his fingers over the ball at the last minute, Miller was on to the shot in an attempt at clearing the long off boundary but is taken by Dhawan at mid-on. South Africa are 48/3 in 7th over
South Africa had a massive task to chase 204 runs in the 20 overs and it has become even tougher as the skipper and explosive JP Duminy walks back. Another slower one by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and this time he gets Duminy. A leg cutter from Bhuvi, Duminy is quick to his shot and gets the elevation on it but not the distance. Raina runs back and takes a good catch. Raina runs from midwicket towards the rope to hold on. South Africa are 38/2 in 5 overs
After a strong start, South Africa lose their first wicket. JJ Smuts is undone by Bhuvneshwar Kumar's knuckle ball. Slower one that by Bhuvi and the South Africa opener went at it early. Takes the leading edge and goes up in the air. Judged well by Dhawan to hold on. SOUTH AFRICA 29/1
Dane Paterson to bowl the final over of India's innings. Over begins with India on 194/5. Good final over for South Africa. No boundary in the final over but two doubles. INDIA: 203/5 in 20 OVERS. This is India's highest T20I score against South Africa.
Hardik Pandya doesn't need time to get himself settled in the middle. After a dot ball, he smacks Chris Morris for two consecutive boundaries. The second is a yorker and Pandya is on it like a flash to send it for a boundary. Morris looks almost surprised with that outcome. INDIA: 194/5 in 19 OVERS
MS Dhoni moves away from the off stump, tries to play it down but misses it completely. Chris Morris strikes. Expected a wide yorker again but this time it is on the leg stump. INDIA ARE 183/5 IN 19th OVER
MS Dhoni after six runs in six balls adds a four to his inning. A low delivery, outside the off stump by Chris Morris and it is sliced away for a boundary. Nothing that the fielder at third man could do to run and prevent that. INDIA 175/4 in 17 overs
After going for just seven runs, Shamsi errs in the field to let Manish Pandey bat on. Moves to his right at short fine leg and lets this go from his grasp
Shikhar Dhawan goes for 72 runs from 39 balls. A little shuffle, tried to sweep over the keeper but smart bowling by Phehlukwayo to bowl a slower one. Dhawan was well into the shot but the ball never came as quickly as the Indian opener expected. Gets some on his shot and Klaasen dives forward to take the catch. INDIA 155/4 in 14.4 overs
Junior Dala is back into the attack. He had two wickets in his first spell in T20 cricket. This time he concedes 11 runs as Shikhar Dhawan continues his thumping hitting. Two boundaries in that over. India are 149/3 in 14 overs
South Africa review for a leg before on Manish Pandey. Tabraiz Shamsi, once again, is convinced. He's off and running in Tahir-esque celebrations. Pandey misses this delivery as he went on the back foot. Review says it was going on to hit the side of the leg stump. Stays umpire's call. South Africa retain their review and Pandey survives. INDIA 128/3 in 12 overs
FIFTY! Shikhar Dhawan brings up his 4th T20 fifty. 51 from 27 balls - six boundaries and two sixes. Gets there with a thumping boundary into the vacant region. Poor delivery and duely dispatched. INDIA 127/3 in 12th over
Manish Pandey after some singles to get off, beats the long off fielder for a six. Read the Shamsi delivery well and went after it. Little the foelder on the boundary could do. INDIA ARE 122/3
Virat Kohli has been given out leg before off Tabriaz Shamsi. The left arm spinner looked convinced. Kohli wants to review. It has pitched in line and going on to hit the leg stump. Kohli goes for 26 runs from 20 balls. South Africa's wrist spinner gets the biggest wicket. INDIA ARE 108/3
In the short run at least, Kohli adds to Shamsi's woes. After being dropped on the first ball and chuckling at the luck, he smacks a four and a six to hurt the wrist spinner's confidence. India are 98/2 after 8 overs.
Virat Kohli has been dropped by Behardien at long on. Came straight at him. Shamsi could have struck with the first ball but for this embarrassing gaffe by Behardien. Kohli survives at 10 runs from 11 balls. Will this hurt South Africa? If ODI series is an impression, it might.
Suresh Raina's return to the Indian team ends with 15 runs from 7 balls. Tried to continue the blitzy hitting but this time he gets the time all wrong. Miscues it and falls comfortably into Junior Dala's hands. The debutant has two wickets. INDIA are 49/2
Shikhar Dhawan seems to have gloved his half pull but a half hearted appeal from South Africa players. Klaasen went up. Dala once again did not appeal. Probably some noise and a bit of deflection as it went behind. However the umpire says that it was a wide.
Suresh Raina is the new man in for India and he hasn't taken long to get ready for South Africa journey. Making his international return and Paterson once again suffers. Four and then six to end his second over. Paterson has gone for 31 runs in his two overs.
Rohit Sharma tries to ramp the ball over the keeper but gets the faintest of edges. South Africa players look convinced. The bowler is less than enthused. Rohit Sharma doesn't look bothered. There is a spike on the Snicko and Rohit Sharma goes for 21 from 9 balls. India lose their first wicket: 23/1
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan open for India. Dane Paterson opens the bowling for India. Second ball and Rohit Sharma sends it for a six. Goes soaring into the third man region. Fifth ball and Rohit sends it for another six. This one has gone towards the leg side. And for good measure, Rohit plays it uppishly to end the over and brings up a boundary. 18 runs from the first over
INDIA XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni(w), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
South Africa XI: JJ Smuts, Reeza Hendricks, Jean-Paul Duminy(c), AB de Villiers, Farhaan Behardien, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dane Paterson, Junior Dala, Tabraiz Shamsi
South Africa: "AB de Villiers is not playing today. He hurt his knee in the last game, so we want to rest him. Klaasen, Junior Dala are playing," says JP Duminy at the toss. Worth noting that Australia series begins on March 1.
India: "Suresh Raina is back in the team, Manish Pandey, Unadkat is playing in place of Kuldeep who hurt his thumb in the last game, Bhuvi returns," says Kohli at the toss.
TOSS: South Africa have won the toss and they're bowling first. Virat Kohli also wanted to bowl first and "get a target"
Shaun Pollock: It looks like a good surface, and the ball will come nicely onto the bat. The skipper's decision at the toss will entirely depend on the team's strategy. There won't be any lateral movement off the deck and it is a belter of a track to bat on
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the first T20 between India and South Africa. Wanderers has seen India win the third Test but lose the solitary ODI in the six-match series. What will be the outcome today?