A fan breached security to enter the ground and went on to touch the feet of India captain Rohit Sharma during the first T20I against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram. The incident took place at Greenfield International Stadium on Wednesday, September 28 where India registered a win in the first match as well.
Left-arm India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh took three wickets in the second over, leaving the South African struggling in the middle. Arshdeep removed Quinton de Kock (1), Rilee Rossouw and David Miller for golden ducks and South Africa slipped to 9/5 as Deepak Chahar picked up two more as well. Later, Aiden Markram and Wayne Parnell fought back in the middle and towards the end, Keshav Maharaj played a knock of 41 off 35 lifting South Africa to 106/8 as well.
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In reply, India got off to a poor start. Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a two-ball duck by Kagiso Rabada and then former captain Virat Kohli followed Rohit back to the dugout as Anrich Nortje dismissed Virat Kohli for only three. In spite of early hiccups, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav steadied the ship, with Rahul playing the role of an anchor. Both Suryakumar (50* off 33) and Rahul (51* off 56) scored their fifties and took India home on a tricky pitch with 20 balls to spare as well. India will play against South Africa in the second T20I at Guwahati on October 2.
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Rohit Sharma said afater the win: “The wicket was tricky. You learn a lot playing such a game. You understand what the team needs to do in tough conditions. It was nice to play a game like that. We knew the bowlers will get something seeing grass on the pitch, but we didn’t expected help for the full 20 overs. It was still damp. Both teams were in the contest and the team that played better won the game. We started well, got 5 wickets in quick time and that was the turning point. Perfect showcase of how to bowl when there is help for the pacers (talking about Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep). We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Got to respect the conditions. Lost two wickets and that partnership between KL and Surya got us home.”
