JP DUMINY underlined his worth as a master tactician in the shortest format as he and Farhaan Behardien paced the Oxigen Proteas to a seven-wicket victory over India with two balls to spare in the opening T20 International in the Freedom Series at Dharmashala on Friday.
India, after being sent into bat, posted their highest total against South Africa of 199/5 on the back of an outstanding century by Rohit Sharma (106 off 66 balls, 12 fours and 5 sixes) and, in fact, looked like getting quite a few more until the Proteas pulled it back in the last four overs thanks in the main to Kyle Abbott who took 2/29 in 4 overs. His wickets were the key ones of Sharma and Vifat Kohli who had shared a partnership of 138 in 12.2 overs.
The Proteas made an excellent response when AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla put on 67 in the six power play overs which put them 21 ahead of India at that stage. The momentum then swung back India’s way when South Africa scored only 37 runs in the next three overs for the loss of three wickets, including both De Villiers (51 off 32 balls, 7 fours and a six) and Amla who was unnecessarily run out.
Ravi Ashwin (1/26) seemed to have put India in control but then Duminy and Behardien turned the game back South Africa’s way as they managed to stop the required run rate going much above 12.
The key over was the 16th when Duminy hit three successive sixes to leave a target of 44 in the last four overs. They scored 20 off the next two and the 19th over turned out to be decisive as the Proteas scored 14 runs to reduce the target to 10 off the last over to be bowled by the debutant, Sreenath Aravind. He started with two blockhole deliveries that cost only 3 runs but the third ball was a low full toss which Duminy deposited out of the ground.
Duminy finished on 68 (34 balls, 1 four and 7 sixes) for a strike rate of exactly 200 in what was one of his finest innings in this format to date while Behardien built on his recent form against New Zealand with 32 off 23 balls (4 fours and a six).
Their partnership of 105 came in 9.1 overs and was the fastest of the match.
Duminy was named Man of the Match.
The second of three T20 International matches will be played at Cuttack on Monday.
