Hardik Pandya returns in Style! India bowl out South Africa, seal a HUGE victory

Hardik Pandya smashed fifty as India beat South Africa in the 1st T20I. SA were bowled out for their lowest score.

Hardik Pandya showcased his comeback in grand style with a sparkling unbeaten 28-ball 59 as India outplayed South Africa by 101 runs in the 1st T20I on Tuesday.

Returning after recovering from a quadricep injury, Pandya smashed six fours and four sixes, powering India to a competitive 175/6 in 20 overs.

After being asked to bat first, India found early momentum through Tilak Varma (26) and Axar Patel (23), who added crucial runs in the middle overs. South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi (3/31) and Lutho Sipamla (2/38) tried to restrict the visitors but Pandya’s late assault lifted India to a strong total.

In reply, South Africa suffered a shocking batting collapse and were bowled out for 74 in just 12.3 overs, their lowest-ever total in T20I history. Dewald Brevis top-scored with 22, while the rest of the batting order crumbled against India’s clinical bowling effort.

Axar Patel (2/7), Jasprit Bumrah (2/17), Arshdeep Singh (2/14) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/19) shared the spoils, while Shivam Dube (1/1) and Hardik Pandya (1/16) added to South Africa’s misery.

With this emphatic win, India took a 1-0 lead in the T20I series.

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