Shreyas Iyer shelled a relatively straight-forward chance at deep mid-wicket to give Rassie van der Dussen a reprieve in the first of five India-South Africa T20Is in Delhi on Thursday, June 9.
Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller led South Africa’s stroke-filled run-chase in the first T20I against India in Delhi on Thursday, with the visitors sealing the game with seven wickets and five balls remaining.
The experienced pair added 131 for the fourth wicket, the second best among-full member nations in T20Is and the highest ever for South Africa. While Miller struck four fours and five sixes during his 31-ball 64*, van der Dussen smashed seven hits to the fence and five over it, including the winning reverse-sweep boundary to finish unbeaten 75 off 46.
The right-hander endured struggle during a major part of the first half of his innings, and was 30 off 32 at one point, despite having struck a four and a six till that point. He had changed a broken bat too, shortly after which, he smashed a full blooded hoick off Harshal Patel straight to Shreyas Iyer at deep mid-wicket.
Iyer, one of India’s safest fielders, shelled the chance much to the hosts disappointment, with the batter at 29 off 31 at that juncture, South Africa needing further 62 off 28. The 33-year-old struck 45 off 15 thereafter, helping South Africa accomplish their best ever T20I run-chase.
Shreyas Iyer dropped Rassie van der Dussen on 29 (30).
The South African went on to score 75 runs and win the Proteas the match.
The finest of margins. #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/PctXCTIUmw
— bet365 (@bet365) June 9, 2022
SunnyG had “cheekily” said Shreyas purposely dropped Rassie van der Dussen’s catch when he was batting at below 100.
Surely we’ve seen a lot of T20 to know better.
— Sarah Waris (@swaris16) June 9, 2022
The Indian fan wearing an India jersey and seated behind Shreyas Iyer, who pumped his fists when Iyer dropped Rassie van der Dussen, is not anti-national but a certified fantasy cricket player. #INDvSA
— Jamie Alter 😷 🇮🇳 (@alter_jamie) June 9, 2022
Rassie van der Dussen pulled off a Tewatia.
Was 29(30) when he was dropped by Shreyas Iyer. Dussen went on to smash 45 off the next 15 balls.
— Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16) June 9, 2022
Shreyas Iyer dropped an easy catch of Rassie van der Dussen when he was on 29(30). RvD ended with 75 (46). Scored 45 in 15 after the drop.
Most disappointing was the smile on Shreyas Iyer’s face when he was shaking RvD’s hands after the match – no remorse at all. ☹️ #IndvSA pic.twitter.com/49YgevPXR7
— Aditya (@forwardshortleg) June 9, 2022
Rassie after a win first went to Shreyas Iyer thanks mate for dropping my dolly catch Dropping catch is also a big crime Iyer 🤬#INDvsSA
— Sahill Warhade (@Sahill_Warhade) June 9, 2022
Iyer takes that catch and we’d be frying Rassie for supper pic.twitter.com/GoY3PLMSZa
— Born Sinner (@justkholii__) June 9, 2022
We missed golden chance for making world record in international cricket. Iyer dropped Rassie’s catch that cost us. We’ll Played South Africa you deserve this victory🙌🏻
I think Pant’s captaincy let us down
Yuzi had done only 2 overs The purple cap winner of IPL
🙂— Rajput Suraj Jamwal (@shiv_17__) June 9, 2022
Sunny Gavaskar slyly to Graeme Smith in the commentary Box after Iyer dropped Rassie “Do you reckon they want to keep him in?”
Next moment Rassie “Hold my beer 🍺” 😂😂🤣🤣— Rahul D / राहुल / راہول (@rdalwale) June 9, 2022
South Africa had got off to a flyer in the chase despite skipper Temba Bavuma being dismissed for 10 early in the innings. All-rounder Dwaine Pretorious, who was promoted to No.3, smashed a four and four sixes during a 13-ball 29, helping his team to accumulate 60 off the first five-overs, before being deceived by Harshal Patel’s change of pace.
Earlier, Ishan Kishan top-scored for India with a 48-ball 76 after Bavuma opted to bowl. Iyer scored 36 off 27, while skipper Rishabh Pant (29 off 16) and Hardik Pandya (31* off 12) ensured that India ended strongly to register highest T20I score at the venue.
