India cruise past South Africa by 30 runs in T20 World Cup warm-up

GUWAHATI: India delivered an emphatic all-round performance to defeat South Africa by 30 runs in a high-scoring T20 World Cup warm-up match at Navi Mumbai on Wednesday, sending out a strong statement ahead of the marquee tournament.

Batting first, India posted an imposing 240 for 5, powered by an explosive top-order display. Opener Ishan Kishan laid the foundation with a rapid half-century, setting the tempo early. The momentum was sustained through the middle overs by Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav, who kept the scoreboard ticking with aggressive strokeplay.

The late surge was provided by Hardik Pandya, whose blistering cameo in the death overs propelled India well beyond the 230-run mark. Axar Patel played a steady supporting role, ensuring India finished with a formidable total.

In response, South Africa showed intent but never fully threatened to overhaul the steep target. Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Marco Jansen struck the ball cleanly to keep the chase alive briefly. However, regular wickets at crucial junctures stalled their momentum.

India’s bowling unit delivered timely breakthroughs, with Abhishek Sharma claiming two wickets. Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel were effective in the middle overs, applying pressure and restricting the scoring rate.

The match served as valuable preparation for both teams, but India will take confidence from a dominant display in all departments as they fine-tune their plans ahead of the T20 World Cup.

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