The first T 20 match between India and South Africa was played at the Dharamsala stadium in Himachal Pradesh but due to all round performance South Africa won the match by 7 wickets. India with its batting prowess decided to bat after winning the toss. After the quick run out dismissal of the opening batsman Dhawan by a superb throw from AB DEVILLERS, Rohit Sharma and the rising star VIRAT Kohli steadied the ship. The two together added about 138 runs on the board and Virat hoisted premium spinner Imran Tahir over the mid wicket for a splendid six to become the maiden Indian who crossed 1000 runs in T20s.
Rohit sharma was also not far behind as he mauled De Lange over the long of to bring his century. After hitting 106, he was out pulling ABBOT and in the same over KOHLI also departed in the similar fashion. The new ball did the trick for South Africa, as India could muster only 41 runs in the last 5 over. Whole team scored 199 runs and the task was cut out for South Africans as they had to score 200 runs in the allotted 20 overs.
Indians were sitting pretty however the pitch played true to its nature. South Africans started very confidently with AB and Amla knocking 77 runs for the first wicket. Partnership was broken in the First over of ASHWIN when Amla was run out. De Villiers was deceived by a superb delivery from the same bowler when he tried to hit him and instead got the ball on the pads which later on deflected to the stumps.
The departure of AB opened the game up for India as South Africa had to score 107 runs of 61 deliveries. In walked JP Duminy and Ashwin was closed to striking again as he got him stumped but the replays showed that the batsman was in the crease when the bails were taken off. Axar patel too appealed for LBW against Duminy however it was turned down by the Umpire in spite of appearing to be a close decision. Any batsman of his caliber would make the opposition count for the two missed opportunities and he did exactly by hitting the next ball for a six. He along with BEHARDIEN saw the SA through by hitting Arvind for a boundary in the last over. Duminy was awarded the man of the match for his sensational knock of 68 runs.