India vs South Africa, 1st T20I - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: South Africa tour of India, 2015 Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala Date & Time: Oct 02, 07:00 PM LOCAL

Three T20Is with just a few months to go for the World T20. No doubt that both India and South Africa will be looking to test their resources and combinations as much as possible before the big event in similar conditions. India have lacked international experience in the shortest format and will be thinking a lot more in terms of team combinations and the right fits. For South Africa it a chance to get used to the conditions as well as check out the players equipped to perform best in these conditions.

Dharamsala is a picturesque ground famed for helping seamers a lot. The dew factor is something that will have to be accounted for as well. Toss and teams in just a bit.

Lovely strokes apart, the partnership between Kohli and Rohit has given India a distinct edge. They have added 50 in just 35 balls and have looked very comfortable against spin and pace alike. 75/1 after 9 overs is a superb base to build on from. Plenty of good hitters to follow as well.

Sreenath Aravind, the left-arm pacer from Karnataka, has been handed his India cap by MS Dhoni. He's a canny customer who has had some success in the T20s, particularly the IPl. He's known to mix his slower ones well along with the seamers. Not an out and out pacer though but someone who should be able to lend Dhoni some control. Big moment for the young man. He will be a bundle of nerves as he prepares to face off against the likes of de Villiers and Amla.

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77 was added in no time by the openers but Amla was finally dismissed while going for a quick second. de Villiers pushed him for the extra run but Amla was nowhere in the frame when the bails were lifted at the bowler's end. Dhoni called for the throw to be at the other end and it proved to be the right one.

AB de Villiers was looking seemingly ominous, bringing up his fifty with nonchalant ease. India desperately needed someone to get rid of him and Ashwin did exactly that with a nicely tossed up delivery that beat AB in the flight, spun past him and hit the stumps. That will give the hosts a new surge of hope.

Two wickets in two overs for India. Faf du Plessis plays on a slower delivery from Aravind, giving him his first international wicket. That has put them back in the game. Ashwin is getting some turn as well and those are encouraging sings for India.

They need 66 in 30 balls but South Africa will still feel that they have their noses ahead at this stage. One good over will change the equation tremendously, either way. This will be an interesting finish.

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He smashed three sixes off Axar Patel in an over to tilt the equation in South Africa's favour. He put on a good stand with Farhaan Behardien as South Africa inched closer to victory. Duminy's clinical hitting gave South Africa a distinct edge in the end overs. He was lucky though to have been adjudged not out against a plumb LBW shout off Bhuvneshwar but made it count thereafter.

Sreenath Aravind had to defend 10 off the last over but Duminy proved to be better than the debutante when it went down the wire. A full toss was smashed over the mid wicket fence and hat sealed the deal as South Africa went 1-0 up in the series.