India secured a dominant 102-run victory against South Africa in what was described as their first major preparation match before the upcoming home T20 World Cup. Despite losing the toss and being forced to bat first on a challenging, damp, and dewy pitch a scenario considered the "only doubt" for the massive title favourites India responded emphatically.
The key performance came from all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who single-handedly anchored the innings with a brilliant knock of 59 runs off just 28 balls, guiding India to a competitive total of 175. While the rest of the Indian batsmen struggled with the difficult conditions, Pandya rose above them.
In the second innings, the Indian bowlers delivered a crushing performance, expertly exploiting the pitch conditions to continuously take wickets. Their collective effort resulted in South Africa being bowled out for a mere 74 runs, marking their lowest-ever T20I score.
This massive win, achieved despite the adverse circumstances, serves as a clear warning to all contenders ahead of the World Cup.
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