In-form Ishan Kishan’s minute-a-mile half-century helped him lock his place within the prime order as India accomplished a 30-run victory over South Africa in its solely warm-up match forward of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday.
Ishan went hammer and tongs to smash seven sixes and two fours as his 20-ball 53 underlined one other dominant present from Indian batters, who piled up an enormous 240 on a placid wicket on the DY Patil Stadium.
The T20 World Cup defending champion then used as many as 9 bowling choices together with three overs from Abhishek Sharma (2/32), proscribing South Africa for 210 for seven.
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Nonetheless, frontline pacer Harshit Rana (0/16) left the sector after sending down his solely over of the evening, through which he pulled out of his run-up twice and ultimately didn’t return.
South Africa experimented by sending George Linde (0) to open with Aiden Markram (38 retired out), which didn’t yield any end result with the previous being dismissed for a four-ball duck within the first over from Arshdeep Singh (1/29).
Ryan Rickelton hit a 21-ball 44 with three sixes and 4 fours whereas Jason Smith struck 35 off 23 balls. Whereas Dewald Brevis (2) fell cheaply, Tristan Stubbs smacked 4 sixes to make a 21-ball 45 not out.
India tempo spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the match.
Earlier within the first half, Ishan confirmed his array of strokes together with some highly effective flicks on the on-side that went crusing over the ropes to make the one half-century of the sport.
Ishan got here out firing on all cylinders to placed on an 80-run stand with Abhishek contained in the PowerPlay. With Sanju Samson struggling for runs, Ishan is predicted to open the batting alongside Abhishek within the match opener towards USA at Wankhede on February 7.
Ishan walked away instantly after citing his fifty, as India maximised its alternative to have one ultimate hit earlier than the USA sport.
Enjoying on a well-recognized turf, wicketkeeper-batter set the tone with a fiery knock. As many as 29 got here within the fifth over of the sport when Ishan tore into Anrich Nortje, smacking 4 sixes and a 4. On one event, he even tried to maneuver away from a bouncer however Nortje’s supply hit the blade and sailed over the advantageous leg fielder for a six.
Nonetheless, if Ishan was in his prime type, Abhishek actually didn’t seem in his common component by way of his 19-ball 24.
Tilak Varma, who had proved his health and preparedness for the ICC occasion after an damage lay-off within the earlier outing for India A right here two nights in the past, was cleaned up by Marco Jansen after he had raced to 45 off solely 19 balls with three sixes and as many fours.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav (30 off 16 balls) additionally appeared to maximise his time within the center although his trademark leg-side flicks didn’t all the time come out nicely. Suryakumar additionally loved a lifeline when he was dropped on 18.
Vice-captain Axar Patel hit a number of lusty blows for a 23-ball 35 but it surely was Hardik Pandya who supplied late fireworks, clobbering three sixes and two fours to make 30 off 10 balls earlier than falling to Corbin Bosch.
Printed on Feb 04, 2026