Sanju Samson blasted a 47-ball century as India eased to a 61-run victory over South Africa in the first T20 international in Durban.
This was the first meeting between the sides since the T20 World Cup final in June but, unlike that match in Bridgetown, which India won by just seven runs, this was an altogether more one-sided affair.
Samson’s second consecutive T20 hundred proved the major difference between the sides as he helped India post a commanding 202-8.
The wicketkeeper-batter’s knock of 107 included 10 sixes and seven fours, while seamer Gerald Coetzee finished the pick of South Africa’s bowlers with 3-37.
South Africa struggled to find any momentum during their reply as several players got starts but were unable to kick on.
Heinrich Klaasen top scored with 25 but, when both he and David Miller fell to Varun Chakravarthy, who claimed 3-25, in the 12th over the Proteas’ cause looked forlorn.
It proved to be the case as Varun’s fellow spinner Ravi Bishnoi flummoxed their lower order en route to 3-28 as the hosts were dismissed for 141.
The sides meet again in the second of four T20s at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday.
