Set against the beautiful backdrop of snow-capped pines and cedar trees, India and South Africa dished out a performance that can very well set the tone for the remainder of the series. Rohit Sharma became only the second Indian and 15th across all countries to score a T20I century, while JP Duminy came up with an innings that turned the game on its head.
A T20 game is mostly about moments, and both India and South Africa had theirs. It just so happened that Duminy, their leading run-scorer and second overall in the format, cashed in at the right time. South Africa started well, then fumbled, and eventually recovered to script a memorable seven-wicket win. Duminy batted like a man-possessed, remaining unbeaten on 68 off 34 balls with seven sixes.
Dharamshala wasn't a third time lucky for India having previously beaten England in 2013 and then West Indies last year despite Rohit setting the tone with a sublime century that formed the base of India's fourth highest total T20s. It was one of the finest T20 innings, at par with Chris Gayle's 110 in 2007 and Suresh Raina's 101 in 2010.
Not once was he troubled by any kind of delivery or against a particular bowler. The South Africans went short against him, perhaps banking on the surface to bounce him out. Instead, Rohit reveled against their ploy, almost murdering anything that was even remotely targetted at his body.
Virat Kohli, who had termed Rohit unstoppable after his record-breaking 264 against Sri Lanka last year, had the best seat in the house to witness what transpired out of his partner's bat. Rohit and Kohli's alliance saw India scoring 138 runs for the second wicket, and even though both fell in successive overs, the hosts had run away with advantage.
The only small chance Rohit survived was a caught and bowled off Merchant de Lange when he was on 24. Rohit's first boundary, a slash off Kyle Abbott became the first of the 12 to come from his bat. Kohli was equally effective at the other end, finding the occasional boundary and rotating the strike well. During his innings of 43, Kohli completed 1000 runs in T20Is.
A T20 game is mostly about moments, and both India and South Africa had theirs. It just so happened that Duminy, their leading run-scorer and second overall in the format, cashed in at the right time. South Africa started well, then fumbled, and eventually recovered to script a memorable seven-wicket win. Duminy batted like a man-possessed, remaining unbeaten on 68 off 34 balls with seven sixes.
Dharamshala wasn't a third time lucky for India having previously beaten England in 2013 and then West Indies last year despite Rohit setting the tone with a sublime century that formed the base of India's fourth highest total T20s. It was one of the finest T20 innings, at par with Chris Gayle's 110 in 2007 and Suresh Raina's 101 in 2010.
Not once was he troubled by any kind of delivery or against a particular bowler. The South Africans went short against him, perhaps banking on the surface to bounce him out. Instead, Rohit reveled against their ploy, almost murdering anything that was even remotely targetted at his body.
Virat Kohli, who had termed Rohit unstoppable after his record-breaking 264 against Sri Lanka last year, had the best seat in the house to witness what transpired out of his partner's bat. Rohit and Kohli's alliance saw India scoring 138 runs for the second wicket, and even though both fell in successive overs, the hosts had run away with advantage.
The only small chance Rohit survived was a caught and bowled off Merchant de Lange when he was on 24. Rohit's first boundary, a slash off Kyle Abbott became the first of the 12 to come from his bat. Kohli was equally effective at the other end, finding the occasional boundary and rotating the strike well. During his innings of 43, Kohli completed 1000 runs in T20Is.
