India vs South Africa, 1st T20: As it happenned...

Despite a brilliant hundred from Rohit Sharma, India ended up losing the first Twenty20 International of the Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela series at Dharmasala on Friday. For South Africa, Jean Paul Duminy played a solid innings, after the openers Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers laid a solid foundation. Second match will be played at Cuttack on Monday.

Over 19.4 || Score 200/3 (Duminy 68, Behardien 32)

Sreenath Aravind started the final over with good delivery, giving away a single to Farhaan Behardien. And a poor throw from long-off resulted in two runs, thus giving strike to dangerous JP Duminy. Then, Duminy dismissed the third ball over the mid-on boundary, untraceable.

And with a gentle push towards to mid-on, Duminy raised his fist to celebrate the win.

Over 19 || Score 190/3 (Duminy 59, Behardien 30)

Jean Paul Duminy, South Africa's leading scorer in this format, probably done the job for his team. He hit the first delivery for a four, then followed it up with a well-timed six. And in the process, he also reached his fifty.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar conceded 14 runs to leave 10 runs to defend in the last over for India. And its the debutant bowling it. Baptism by fire, as they say.

Over 18 || Score 176/3 (Duminy 47, Behardien 30)

Duminy played cheeky shot, just clearing the long off boundary for a six, start the  over. But Mohit Sharma managed to leak only five more runs to make it a 11-run over.

South Africa need 24 from 12 balls.

Over 17 || Score 165/3 (Duminy 33 Behardien 29)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar denied a certain wicket. Umpire, instead, signaled leg byes. That happened in the second delivery of the over and Duminy, the beneficiary. But Bhuvi did well too complete over, conceding only nine runs.

South Africa need another 35 runs from 18 deliveries.

Over 16 || Score 156/3 (Duminy 33 Behardien 28)

Easy pickings for Jean Paul Duminy. Three successive sixes for him as Axar Patel continued to feed the talented South African with off the radar deliveries.

Behardien started with a two, followed by two singles. Then, the Duminy show. 22 runs from the over.

Over 15 || Score 134/3 (Duminy 15, Behardien 25)

What an over. Ashwin seemed to have control Behardien after Duminy took a single off the first delivery. Behardien played out three dot balls, then suddenly, out of the blue, lofted a huge six over the deep midwicket boundary, which left the Indian spinner fuming. The South African then took a single to keep the strike.

South Africa need another 66 runs from 30 balls.

Over 14 || Score 126/3 (Duminy 14, Behardien 18)

Mohit Sharma returned to the attack and conceded 11 runs. Farhaan Behardien played an exquisite lofted straight drive to end the over with a four.  South Africa need 74 runs from 36 balls.

Over 13 || Score 115/3 (Duminy 12, Behardien 9)

JP Duminy survived a close LBW shout from Axar Patel in the first ball of the over. But the South Africa shed any sign of inhibition and hit the spinner for a six over the deep midwicket. Then, Farhaan Behardien hit his second four through the extra cover.  11 runs from the over.

South Africa need another 85 runs from 42 balls.

Over 12 || Score 104/3 (Duminy 5, Behardien 5)

Ravichandran Ashwin bowled another tight over, giving away only five runs. There's an appeal for stumping against JP Duminy, but the South African batsman just about made the ground.

Over 11 || Score 99/3 (Duminy 1, Behardien 4)

Another excellent over. Debutant Aravind got his first international wicket, thanks to a perfect slow delivery. South African skipper Faf du Plessis failed to read the delivery and the stumps strewn over.

WICKET: Faf du Plessis b Sreenath Aravind 4 (5b)

Again, six runs and a wicket. Farhaan Behardien is the new man.

Over 10 || Score 80/2 (du Plessis 3, Duminy 0)

Excellent over from Ravichandran Ashwin. Removed dangerous AB de Villiers, who just reached fifty, with a deceiving delivery.  AB hit the fourth delivery for a four to bring up his fifty, but it fired up Ashwin to produced a good delivery.

WICKET: AB de Villiers b Ravichandran Ashwin 51 (32b)

Six runs and a wicket.

In the previous over, Axar Patel leaked seven runs.

Over 8 || Score 80/1 (de Villiers 42, du Plessis 0)

Ravichandran Ashwin struck in his first over. Lucky break for India. A run-out to give Indians the lifeline in the match.

After three singles and a wide, AB de Villiers and Hashim Alma tried to steal a tight single, but a good throw from Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the bowling end help Ashwin effect the run out.

WICKET: Hashim Amla run out 36 (24b)

Proteas skipper Faf du Plesis arrived in the centre to give company to AB.

Over 7 || Score 72/0 (Amla 34, de Villiers 37)

Axar Patel somehow reduced the scoring rate. The spinner leaked only five runs, all singles. There was a dropped chance too, as MS Dhoni failed to hold on a tough chance behind the stumps.

Over 6 || Score 67/0 (Amla 31, de Villiers 35)

Given the circumstances, Mohit Sharma produced a brilliant over to concede only seven runs. Amla hit a four off the fifth delivery through the mid-on area.

South Africa need another 133 runs from 14 overs to win the match. And India need some dramatic turns of events.

Over 5 || Score 60/0 (Amla 25, de Villiers 34)

Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers continue to play exquisite shots to plunder runs against a seemingly lifeless Indian bowling attack. Another big over for the visitors, as Aravind leaked 14 runs, which included two fours - one each to the two openers.

Over 4 || Score 46/0 (Amla 18, de Villiers 27)

MS Dhoni introduced Mohit Sharma into the attack, only to find AB de Villiers punishing the pace Indian bolwer. 12 runs from the over, including two successive fours.

South Africa need another 154 runs.

Over 3 || Score 34/0 (Amla 18, de Villiers 16)

Another good over for the Proteas as Bhuvneshwar Kumar found himself wanting against the quality of Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. Amla started the over with a single, then de Villiers took three balls to his second four, straight boundary. A single followed, before Amla caressed through the square leg boundary for his third four.

Over 2 || Score 24/0 (Amla 13, de Villiers 11)

Another big over for the visiting team as AB de Villiers joined the chase with a six and a four off successive deliveries of debutant Sreenath Aravind's first over. de Villiers started the over with a single, then a couple. Amla took a single, to give the strike to AB.

South Africa need another 176 runs.

Over 1 || Score 10/0 (Amla 10, de Villiers 0)

South Africa started the chase in best possible way with imperious Hashim Amla hitting the first ball of the innings for a four. Then a couple, before hitting another  four. Ten runs from Bhuvneshwar Kumar's first over.

Over 20 || Score 199/5 (Dhoni 20, Axar 2)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni finished the innings with a mighty six, straight over the field. Kyle Abbott, most economical South African bowler, gave away ten runs in his final over. At one time, India were looking to score 220+ runs, but a flurry of wickets towards the end restricted the innings under 200.

Over 19 || Score 189/5 (Dhoni 12, Axar 0)

Flurry of wickets for South Africa. Chris Morris returned to remove dangerous Suresh Raina off the third delivery of his final over. Then, the very next delivery, Ambati Rayadu perished to a run out.

WICKET: Suresh Raina lbw b Chris Morris 14 (8b)
WICKET: Ambati Rayudu run out 0 (1b)

But MS Dhoni somehow managed to get a four off the fifth delivery, thanks to a fine edge, through the square leg area. Axar Patel in the new man.

Over 18 || Score 182/3 (Raina 13, Dhoni 6)

Productive over for India. MS Dhoni started with a four through the fine leg, then Raina hit a six over the square leg boundary off the fourth delivery.

Marchant de Lange leaked 12 runs in his final over. His figures read 4-0-47-0.

Over 17 || Score 170/3 (Raina 6, Dhoni 1)

Kagiso Rabada completed his spell, and conceded 32 runs. After a quite start to the over, Suresh Raina hit a six off the penultimate delivery, thanks to a top edge. Rabada almost got Raina's wicket, as the Indian batsman played a loose return shot, which the bowler failed to hold on to.

Over 16 || Score 162/3 (Raina 0, Dhoni 0)

Double blow for India as Kyle Abbott removed both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Abbott got the wicket of Virat off the third delivery, thanks to clean catch by JP Duminy at the boundary.

WICKET: Virat Kohli c JP Duminy b Kyle Abbott 43 (27b)

And off the last delivery, Abbott sent back Rohit. This time, a mis-timed pull shot ended with a catch at Chris Morris at long leg.

WICKET: Rohit Sharma c Chris Morris b Kyle Abbott 106 (66b)

With today's hundred, Rohit becomes the second Indian to hit centuries in all forms of the game after Suresh Raina.

Over 15 || Score 158/2 (Rohit 103, Kohli 42)

Brilliant Rohit Sharma completed his maiden T20 century with a six off Marchant de Lange in the final delivery of the 15th over. The 28-year-old took 62 balls to reach the landmark, with the help of 12 fours and 5 sixes.

The over produced 18 runs as the Rohit-Virat partnership nears 150-run mark.

Over 14 || Score 140/1 (Rohit 91, Kohli 39)

Morris returned. Pressure telling on South African fielders. JP Duminy, certainly one of the best fielders in the world, failed to read the ball and ended up losing the footing in the Dharamsala dew, patrolling at square leg. That happened in the third delivery.

Morris started well, conceding only a single off the first two deliveries. But Rohit Sharma hit two successive fours, both through the square leg area.

Some fight in the middle between Rohit Sharma and Kagiso Rabada in the previous over. Gandhi and Mandela, are they watching!

Over 13 || Score 129/1 (Rohit 82, Kohli 37)

Faf du Plessis returned to Kagiso Rabada, who had a figure of 2-0-10-0. But the youngster was taken to the cleaners by Rohit Sharma, hitting the first delivery for a six. After a couple fo singles, the Mumbai batsman hit his second six of the over, over the midwicket boundary. But strong finish from Rabada, with two dot balls.

In between, Virat Kohli becomes the first Indian to reach 1000 T20 runs and 20th overall. But he is the quickest in the world in terms of innings taken to reach the figure.

Over 12 || Score 115/1 (Rohit 69, Kohli 36)

Perfect way to start an over. Rohit Sharma lofted the first delivery over the midwicket boundary, then after a single, Virat Kohli punished Imran Tahir with two successive sixes either side of the straight field. 21 runs from it.

Over 11 || Score 94/1 (Rohit 61, Kohli 23)

South African skipper Faf du Plessis introduced  second spinner in JP Duminy. Rohit took a single off the first delivery, Kolhi responded by rotating the strike. Rohit, then, went for a loft shot over the midwicket, and survived a hard chance for the fielder in the boundary. Eight runs from the over.

Rohit and Virat have put a 72-run partnership from 7.5 overs.

Over 10 || Score 86/1 (Rohit 56, Kohli 21)

Terrific innings from Rohit Sharma. The right-handed batsman improvised, lofting a shot over the slip cordon for his eighth four and reached his FIFTY off 39 deliveries. That happened in the third ball of the over. And yet again, he played another improvised shot, a scoop, to pick a yorker for a four through the fine leg.

Ten runs from the Kyle Abbott over.

Over 9 || Score 75/1 (Rohit 46, Kohli 20)

Imran Tahir continued. And he continued to test the Indian batsmen with his veritable spin. But Virat Kohli somehow managed to get a four, off the third delivery, through the cover point. 10 runs from the over as Indian busied themselves with running, rotatin g the strike.

Over 8 || Score 65/1 (Rohit 40, Kohli 19)

Brilliant batting from Virat Kohli. Started with a six over the long on boundary, then followed it up with a four  through the long leg. Then four singles followed as Indian batsmen milked the attack. 14 runs from Chris Miller's second over.

Over 7 || Score 51/1 (Rohit 38, Kohli 7)

Danger man Imran Tahir introduced and the spinner contained the Indian batsmen, giving only five runs.

Over 6 || Score 46/1 (Rohit 35, Kohli 5)

Another productive over for India. Chris Morris into the attack, and he styarted with a wide delivery. Kohli took a single, then a dot ball later, Rohit Sharma played a fine glance and found a four as Jean Paul Duminy failed to save the ball crossing over the square leg boundary.  After a couple of singles, Rohit hit his first six, over the long over.

Over 5 || Score 32/1 (Rohit 24, Kohli 3)

Rohit Sharma continued his fearless brand of cricket. Took to Marchant de Lange and dispatched the third delivery for a four behind square. But, Rohit survived a half-chance as big man de Lange made a valiant attempt to complete a return catch. Seven runs from the over.

Over 4 || Score 25/1 (Rohit 18, Kohli 2)

After Dhawan's fall, Virat Kohli joined Rohit Sharma in the centre as Kagiso Rabada continued with his second over. Four runs from the over, all singles.

Over 3.1 || Score 21/1 (Rohit 18)

Shikhar Dhawan failed to make his ground. He tried to steal a single off a miss field. And paid the price. Just missed by mili-metres as AB de Villiers effected the run out from a poor throw.

WICKET: Shikhar Dhawan run out 3 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Over 3 || Score 21/0 (Rohit 18; Dhawan 2)

First bolwing change for South Africa. Faf du Plessis brought in fast bowler Marchant de Lange for Abbott. De Lange, who used to be a javelin thrower like former Proteas bowler Fanie de Villiers, is known for his ability to extract bounce.

Rohit Sharma got a single off the first delivery, then after a dot ball, Dhawan rotated the strike with another single. Off the fourth delivery, Rohit pulled over the midwicket for a four. He followed up it with another exquisite cover drive off the last delivery of the over, after making some room.

Over 2 || Score 11/0 (Rohit 9; Dhawan 1)

Kagiso Rabada shared the new ball with Abbott, and right-arm pacer started with a wide, down leg side. Dhawan played the next delivery with a gentle hand, nudging for a single towards the covers.

Rabada showed signs of control in his first spell, sending down a perfect yorker to Rohit in the fourth delivery. Then, classic Rohit punch for his second boundary. The Indian opener stood tall and delivered a quality cover drive off the penultimate delivery of the over. A single to end to over.

Over 1 || Score 4/0 (Rohit 4; Dhawan 0)

Rohit Sharma faced the first delivery of the match, bowled by Kyle Abbott. The Proteas started with fire and by the fourth delivery, have their first appeal, against Rohit, for a LBW. It just missed the line.

But the very next delivery, Rohit played a lofted cover drive for the first runs, first boundary.

Shikhar Dhawan is Rohit's opening partner for India.

A minute's silence to pay respects to the late BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, before the game starts!

The specially minted toss coin @Paytm #FreedomSeries #IndvsSA @ianuragthakur pic.twitter.com/Usm9aOBrIr

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 2, 2015

India XI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wk), Sreenath Aravind, Ravinchandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Virat Kohli,  Axar Patel,  Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayadu, Rohit Sharma

ALSO SEE: India's Team Profile & Squad

South Africa XI: AB de Villiers (wk), Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis (capt), JP Duminy, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott, Marchant de Lange, Imran Tahir​

ALSO SEE: South Africa's Team Profile & Squad

TOSS: Faf du Plessis won the toss and South Africa will bowl first. BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur was also in the centre, to reveal the specially minted coin for the toss, in honour of Mahatama Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

Sreenath Aravind is making his debut.

India's limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni returns after a brief hiatus and he will become the first captain to play 50 times in the Twenty20 Internationals.

ALSO READ: 1st T20 - Players to watch out 
 

In between, read our preview to the big game HERE.

TEAMS:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wk), Sreenath Aravind, Ravinchandran Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Virat Kohli, Amit Mishra, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayadu, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), Mercahnt de Lange, AB de Villiers, Jean Paul Duminy, Imran Tahir, Eddie Leie, David Miller, Albie Morkel, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Khaya Zondo

MATCH OFFICIALS

Umpires: Vineet Kulkarni (IND) and Chettithody Shamshuddin (IND)
TV umpire - Anil Chaudhary (IND)
Match referee - Chris Broad (ENG)
Reserve umpire - CK Nandan (IND)

. @ABdeVilliers17 tells us what freedom means to him. What does it mean to you? - @Paytm #FreedomSeries #IndvsSA https://t.co/BQtVzOPZKC

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 2, 2015

Cricket is back. And what a way to start the Freedom Series, aptly named after the two luminaries Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela at the abode of Dalai Lama, Dharamsala. His Holiness, unluckily, will miss the action as he is currently in United States tending to his health.